SYNTHETIC TURF

Photo courtesy of Activitas , Inc .

By Mary Helen Sprecher

Some key advancements in sports facilities are in the area of synthetic turf . The following is a synopsis of some of those changes , as compiled by the American Sports Builders Association and recorded in its publication , Sports Fields : Construction and Maintenance Manual .

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS In April , the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) published a multi-agency research report on synthetic turf sports fields that use crumb rubber infill . The findings showed no significant difference in the exposure to certain chemicals between players who played on synthetic turf fields that used crumb rubber infill and those who played on natural grass fields . In making its report , the EPA also cited three independent studies regarding synthetic turf fields or system components . Netherlands National Institute for Health and Environment wrote that the “ risk to health from playing sports on these synthetic turf fields is virtually negligible .”

European Chemicals Agency found “ no reason to advise people against playing sports on synthetic turf containing recycled rubber granules as infill material .” National Toxicology Program found there “ was no evidence of toxicity in mice from ingestion of crumb rubber .”

Full information on the study , including a breakdown of all findings , can be accessed on the EPA ’ s website , www . epa . gov . Another resource is the Synthetic Turf Council , www . syntheticturfcouncil . org .

The synthetic turf industry has also developed other infills as alternatives to crumb rubber , including shoe rubber , coconut fiber , quartz core infill , coated SBR crumb rubber and others . Field contractors can provide more information on these systems .

PFAS , per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances , have been an issue of concern in the health and environmental sector . While PFAS is often brought up in conjunction with synthetic turf , it is worth noting that the compounds that have been identified as “ PFAS of concern ” have never been used in the production of synthetic turf ( and that additionally , there is no standardized test that can measure individual PFAS in turf ).

In the past , fluoropolymer processing aids were used in producing some turf fibers ; however , U . S . manufacturers have committed to not adding PFAS in turf any longer as of this year .

RECYCLING , RECLAMATION AND REUSE For a long time , one of the most worrisome aspects of synthetic fields was their finite lifespan ; unlike a natural grass venue , they can ’ t be brought back to game-ready condition . As a result , disposal of a used field meant the

26 SportsField Management | September 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com