In an effort to confront ongoing questions about the safety of artificial turf, the Environmental Protection Agency recently released the results of a small study measuring toxins in specific types of  artificial turf made with recycled tire material or “tire crumb.”

The limited study, which measured levels of particulates, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), took various samples from four states at only eight sites—six ball fields and two playgrounds—out of about 5,300 synthetic surfaces currently in use. While levels of contaminants found in the air around the fields and in or on samples of turf material itself were, on average, below levels of concern, some findings did suggest contamination. The results are not considered to be conclusive. Instead, the findings and data collection methods are paving the way for more comprehensive future studies, which the EPA says have been lacking to date.

Such future studies will be important to resolving conflicting conclusions from federal agencies. In June 2008, the Centers for Disease Control  issued a health advisory on the potential of exposure to lead in artificial turf. The next month, the Consumer Product Safety Commission  issued a press release suggesting that synthetic turf is "OK to install, OK to play on." Notably, unlike the recent EPA tests, which focused on a broader array of contaminants, the information from the CDC and CPSC is specific to hazards only from lead in the synthetic grass fibers embedded in the turf.

This Spring government agencies are expected to review the EPA study and other relevant findings, and decide whether additional safety research is needed in an EPA-convened meeting.
 
As we’ve said before, we believe a more thorough study is needed to adequately assess all the risks associated with all types of materials used in artificial playing fields. Meanwhile, school officials and parents who are concerned should follow the “Take precautions” advice in our earlier blog posting on the CDC health advisory.

—Kristi Wiedemann