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The European authorities have introduced the limits for the PAHs in the recycled rubber used in synthetic turf pitches, and its content must not exceed 20 mg/kg. If the limit is met, a playground or a field can be considered safe for children and sportsmen. The evaluation of all possible risks has been conducted by The Risk Assessment Committee of the European Chemicals Agency, (ECHA). According to ECHA, it was important to make this research as the rubber contains controversial and potentiallly harmful PAH particles. If within the limits, the rubber that is made out of recycled end-of-life tires is safe and not harmful to people who spend much time training and playing on the grounds that contain this type of recycled material.

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.

The Synthetic Turf Council (STC) – a non-profit trade association serving the synthetic turf industry – invites you to join the 2023 STC Annual Conference on October 16 – 18 to celebrate the STC’s 20th anniversary. The conference will take place in New Orleans, LA at the InterContinental New Orleans Hotel. The theme, "The Power of STC Starts with You," emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and action in achieving the goals of the larger organization, highlighting that the power of our association truly starts with each and every member.

European Commission asks the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to assess potential risks in playgrounds. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in synthetic turf infill materials will be reviewed for potential risks by ECHA. The European Commission (EC) ordered the agency to analyze any dangers to children in a letter dated January 6 to ECHA executive director Sharon McGuinness. The study's scope includes loose mulches and granulated PAHs used in playgrounds, gardens and landscaping. According to the EC, the assessment's goal is to determine if the respective applicable concentration limits for eight PAHs found in infill materials are effective.

The European Chemical Agency’s Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) is proposing an EU-wide ban on microplastics infill in sports and other play surfaces from 2028 due to ‘possible’ environmental releases. Since our tyres contain a mixture of natural rubber and synthetic polymers (TDRM), these are deemed to have been intentionally introduced into infill materials. The ECHA further claims that 16,000 tonnes of this material is ‘released’ into the environment annually and constitutes its justification for the proposed ban.

The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has welcomed and lauded a European Commission’s decision to lower the concentration limit of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in synthetic turf infill materials. The news came from the European Rubber Journal (ERJ) on July 26. The magazine writes that on July 20, the European Commission lowered the limit of PAHs in granules and mulches used as infill materials for synthetic turf or playgrounds from the current 100mg/kg to 20mg/kg.

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.

A Turkish company Hatko reports about its innovative sound barriers made from recycled tire rubber that allow local communities in Turkey to reach a higher-quality living standards. Hatko’s sound barriers made from tire-derived crumb rubber decrease traffic noise, even at its maximum levels, in residential areas near highways with high vehicle traffic, or near intercity railways and tram routes, double roads, etc. This enables to increase the life quality of life for residents in the vicinity of such routes, providing calm and peaceful atmosphere for living.

A Turkey-based company Hatko – manufacturer of noise barriers from recycled end-of-life tire rubber – reports it has become a part of "The longest mid-span suspension bridge in the world project". Now, Hatko’s noise barriers from recycled tire rubber are used in the 1915 Çanakkale Brige Project. 1915 Çanakkale Bridge and Malkara-Çanakkale Motorway Project is a large-scale development project for Turkey’s transportation and infrastructure. Reportedly, the bridge will cut down the crossing of the Çanakkale Strait to six minutes but the project itself will be making a sizable contribution to the country's economy.