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Even though earlier media reports stated that the EU was about to introduce a legislation prohibiting the use of artificial turf on playing surfaces, The European Commission stated that the information was misleading. The authoritative body added that it was only focusing its work on health risks posed by some microplastics and looking into developing its sustainable substitutes.

There is a potential risk that application of <5mm crumb rubber infill in artificial sports surfaces like synthetic turf will be banned due to an ongoing probe by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This claim was reinforced by CEO at the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA). The potential ban may negatively impact tire recycling’s commercial segment given that significant amount of crumb rubber recovered from old tires is used to produce sport surfaces and rubber infill.

Even though studies and researches on the safety of tire-derived crumb rubber infill in artificial turf prove there is ho hazard to human health, debates over the issue are going further. In the beginning of March, Rubber and Plastic News reported that a bill before the Maryland General Assembly had added a new dimension to the controversy surrounding tire-derived crumb rubber used as infill in synthetic athletic turf.

Synthetic Turf Council has announced its plans to hold 2019 Spring Membership Meeting and its second annual Awards Ceremony on March 11-13 in Washington DC, at the Hyatt Regency Seattle. It is still possible to present candidates for the Awards Ceremony as nominations will remain open until January 31. To apply, proceed to the website of Synthetic Turf Council The STC event will kick off with exceptional networking at the Welcome Reception and Exhibitor Showcase on March 11.

The last issue of Tyre Asia published in December/January featured the second part of Robert Weibold’s interview on tyre recycling. Earlier, Tyre Asia interviewed Robert Weibold on the state of the tyre recycling industry. As the problem of waste tyre accumulation and disposal around the world gets acute, Robert shared his view on how to sustainably tackle the problem.

Dеpаrtmеnt of Hеаlth of Wаshington Stаtе rеcеntly publishеd а rеsеаrch rеport on risks of cаncеr аmong Wаshington’s soccеr tеаms. Thе rеsеаrch intеndеd to rеspond to concеrns of cаncеr cаsеs аmong thе soccеr plаyеrs bеcаusе of plаying on synthеtic turf fiеlds. Thе soccеr coаch from thе Univеrsity of Wаshington submittеd а list of 53 formеr or currеnt rеsidеnts of Wаshington who hаd cаncеr in 2016 аnd plаyеd soccеr on аrtificiаl turf fiеlds bеforе. Howеvеr, this list without othеr еvidеncеs could not dеtеrminе whеthеr thеrе wаs а highеr cаncеr risk аmong thе plаyеrs thаn thе rаtе еxpеctеd in thе gеnеrаl populаtion of Wаshington.

This post is a summary of numerous researches and articles published by European and American research institutions. Dozens of independent researches carried out in Europe and U.S. throughout the past decade inferred that tire-derived rubber infill in the artificial turf poses no threat to human health. Researchers assert unanimously that exposure of athletes’ skin to crumb rubber infill on stadiums and playgrounds yields no elevated risk of cancer. As the issue has been assuming additional importance, it achieved the level of the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) which, together with the European Committee of Standardization, carried out comprehensive researches about crumb rubber exposure on human health.

Good news came from the answer to the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) from the Portuguese team members of the CEN/TC 366, department responsible for the standardization of recycled materials obtained from end-of-life tires (ELT) of European Committee of Standardization, on how crumb rubber affects human health.