Artificial turf has become more common in recent years and due to growing concern the question that has been asked repeatedly is whether the contaminants that it may contain, some of which are known to cause cancer, can endanger the health of people.

There are basically three different types of rubber granules interspersed in artificial turf.
EPDM or TPE granules, which are especially fabricated for that purpose, showed that PAH -exposure is low and poses no special risk to health in difference to SBR granules made from shredded car tyres.
Even if there is relatively high VOC- exposure as regards freshly filled granules, it solely concerns worker´s health and can be corrected by means of air ventilation or using TPE granules which open up the advantage of a lower risk in general. VOC-exposure poses no risk for the health of players.

The fine particulate burden may exceed the threshold values in halls which do not have active ventilation systems. Even if this burden is not caused solely by the rubber granules efforts should be made to comply with the threshold values.

references: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, BAG der Schweiz, BASPO-Tagung Magglingen 13.09.07 / OBA 210807

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