by Caitlin Gibson September 23 at 8:00 AM
For many athletes who play on artificial turf, the tiny granules of rubber that pad the field are familiar and ubiquitous. The black specks often get trapped in folds of clothing, carried home in shoes or embedded in scrapes and under fingernails.
Crumb rubber infill — the most common material used in artificial turf fields across the country — is intended to improve safety and create a more accessible, easily maintained playing field. But after recent public concerns about possible health risks from exposure to crumb rubber, several local jurisdictions are searching for clearer answers about its potential dangers and considering alternatives.
The issue is a modern one.
Synthetic turf with an “infill” system — involving a layer of tiny granules of rubber, sand, or other material between the turf fibers and a backing layer — was introduced in the late 1990s and has since become a popular alternative to natural turf fields, according to the Synthetic Turf Council. More than 11,000 synthetic turf athletic fields are in use at schools, colleges, parks and professional stadiums across the country, the council said. In the Washington area, where public school systems started transitioning to artificial turf in the mid- to late 2000s, crumb rubber is the most common infill choice. Organic alternatives are generally more expensive.
Artificial turf has often been considered preferable to natural grass because synthetic fields are easier to maintain, more durable and can be used in a variety of weather conditions. The padded surface has also been shown to reduce the likelihood of impact injuries. Some athletes, however, including numerous professional soccer players, have complained about the way artificial turf affects the game.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/artificial-turf-is-getting-a-closer-look-after-a-report-raises-safety-concerns/2015/09/22/fcf6a0ee-5649-11e5-abe9-27d53f250b11_story.html
