Synthetic Turf Reports and News
Synthetic Turf Report: Industry's Claims Versus the Science
Download Full Text of ReportOverview of the Problem
Summary of Findings
Recommendations
Journal article concerning the chemical analysis of the crumb rubber found in synthetic turf fields can be found at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-3711-7.
The research article in the Journal of Water, Air and Soil Pollution is authored by Gaboury Benoit, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry at Yale’s School of the Environment.
Press Release
EHHI President Nancy Alderman's OpEd: Children, students, and athletes should play on real grass fields
12 Reasons Why Synthetic Turf Fields Pose a Health Risk
Download Full Text of Brochure
EHHI's model for Getting Toxic Tire Mulch Removed from Children's Playgrounds
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Artificial Turf: Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires
Download Full Text of ReportIntroduction
Toxicology and Health Effects
Recommendations and Appendix
Synthetic Turf Research Conducted at Yale University
Artificial Turf: Exposures to Ground-Up Rubber Tires | Athletic Fields | Playgrounds | Gardening Mulch
EHHI's original report on exposures to ground-up rubber tires used as in-fill in synthetic turf fields. Testing of the crumb rubber was conducted at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
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NFL teams have been asking the league for years to install grass at every stadium.
Multiple teams have complained about the turf at the Jets' MetLife Stadium. Player Aaron Rodgers was injured during the first quarter of the game against the Bills. Rodgers went down with an injury in the first quarter, and when it happened, it appeared that his left ankle might have gotten caught in the turf at MetLife Stadium. See "more info" for the CBS Sports article.
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Soccer players who have played on synthetic turf and reported their cancer diagnosis to U of Washington coach Amy Griffin.
As of May 2020, 268 athletes have been diagnosed with cancer, 209 of whom are soccer players. Goalkeepers account for 60% of the reported cancers among soccer players. Most are blood cancers, which are the most heavily influenced by environmental exposure. See "more info" for full list.
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Spectrum News: Tractors Plowing Snow Create Cloud of Crumb Rubber
The Pittsburgh Steelers-Buffalo Bills game was held up due to a buildup of black rubber pellets on the field.
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ABC7: Rubber Mulch on LI Children's Playgrounds Raising Health Concerns
North Shore School district on Long Island is removing all of its rubber mulch playgrounds. You know the smell of burning rubber? That's what the playground smells like.
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Environmental
Epidemiologist Warns of Risks to Children's Health from Synthetic Turf Fields
Dr. Stuart Shalat, Sc.D, Sc.M, Director of the Division of Environmental Health at Georgia State University's School of Public Health, explains the dangers of synthetic turf fields.
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NBC Nightly News: Feds to Investigate Safety of Crumb Rubber Turf Fields
Three federal agencies have teamed up to investigate the safety of crumb rubber artificial turf.
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Metal analysis conducted at Yale University on synthetic turf crumb rubber infill and playground rubber mulch
The metal analysis conducted at Yale University shows that metals are present in, and presumably released from, the crumb rubber.
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