Requirements for suppliers and manufacturers to provide available information on potential health and environmental impact of artificial turf with rubber infill are included by the report of New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene “A Review Of The Potential Health And Safety Risks From Synthetic Turf Fields Containing Crumb Rubber Infill”.

Aspects treated in the report imply investigations of items such as chemical content of products, potentional COPC emissions from products over time, as well as heat absorbency characteristics and injury factors; additionally it treats a continuous evaluation of new technologies.

In general the report did not sound any alarm bells over the installation and use of synthetic turf, with or without crumb rubber infill.

Even when “exposure to COPC´s from the crumb rubber may occur, the degree of exposure is likely to be too small through ingestion, dermal or inhalation to increase the risk of any health effect.”

The major health concern from these synthetic turf fields with crumb rubber is related to heat respectively to potential heat exposures. Sports field managers are recommended to establish accessible shade areas and drinking water fountains and to educate the staff just like customers on the potential for heat-related illness and how to recognize and prevent heat-related symptoms.

Read Article of NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at www.home2.nyc.gov

or read it in pdf format here: Full Report of NYC Department