LANCASTER, PA — A study released by the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found no significant health risks associated with exposure to crumb rubber infill used on synthetic turf fields, according to the agencies’ report.
The study evaluated potential health risks for athletes, coaches, referees and spectators using synthetic turf fields containing recycled rubber materials.
Researchers examined multiple exposure pathways among users ranging from age two to 70 and concluded the material did not present significant non-cancer health hazards.
The report also found cancer risks associated with crumb rubber exposure were “insignificant” for people using the fields.
The research, commissioned by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, examined 35 fields over a nine-year period and involved collaboration among several California state agencies.
The findings align with earlier federal research conducted jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Jeff Coté, president and chief operating officer of Lancaster-based Ecore International, said the report adds to existing research on recycled rubber materials.
“This study adds to a growing body of scientific research confirming that recycled rubber materials can be used safely in sports and recreational environments,” Coté said.
“For decades, recycled rubber has helped deliver durable, high-performance surfaces while also diverting millions of end-of-life tires from landfills,” he said.
Crumb rubber infill is commonly used in synthetic turf fields as well as other athletic and recreational surfaces, including playgrounds, indoor training facilities, and running tracks.
Ecore International, headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, produces recycled rubber materials used in flooring, surfacing, and industrial applications and serves customers in more than 75 countries.
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