Environmentalists warn that if the EU does not classify rubber granules made from processed tires as banned microplastics, it could lead to serious environmental harm. The European tire and recycling industries, however, strongly oppose this claim.
In 2019, a report from the EU regulatory body, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), proposed broad restrictions on microplastics, including a total ban on their use in cosmetics, cleaning products, and fertilizers. The European Recycling Industries Confederation (EuRIC) pointed out that banning the practice of shredding waste tires for use as infill in artificial turf fields could result in a significant increase in tire incineration, leading to higher carbon emissions.
Currently, environmental organizations are advocating for a complete ban on rubber granules, arguing that they pose serious risks to human health and environmental safety. They claim that wind and human activity can spread rubber granules from artificial turf into the wider natural environment. The ECHA report has proposed several options for managing tire rubber granules used as infill (commonly in artificial turf sports fields), including banning the placement of these materials on the market after a six-year transition period.
In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), released the second part of a report on the characteristics of crumb rubber used in artificial sports fields: "Part 2—Characterization of Exposures to Recycled Tire Crumb." This report is part of the Federal Research Action Plan (FRAP), which focuses on the use of recycled tire crumb in sports fields and playgrounds. The FRAP, initiated in 2016 by the EPA and CDC, is a multi-agency research project aimed at identifying the chemical characteristics of tire crumb. The study found no significant differences in exposure to certain chemicals between players on artificial turf fields using tire crumb infill and those on natural grass.
This final report is the largest of its kind conducted in the U.S. Its release was met with widespread attention from the tire industry, tire recycling businesses, the artificial turf industry, and waste recycling organizations, all of whom recognized the significance of the study and commended the EPA for completing the work.
Thomas Womble, CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling, stated, “Safety remains one of our top commitments to the public, our employees, and the environment. I thank the EPA and other federal agencies involved in this project for reassuring the public about the use of recycled crumb rubber.” He noted that this study adds compelling new evidence to the literature, demonstrating that recycled crumb rubber is a clear win for both public safety and the environment.
The report found that players on artificial turf fields containing crumb rubber infill were exposed to specific chemicals—such as pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, zinc, and lead—but that these substances in the air were “similar to or lower than those found in typical public spaces,” and even “considerably lower in some cases.” There were no significant differences in air emissions, with metal concentrations in the air being “comparable to or similar to typical public spaces,” and the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) showing no significant variations.
These findings align with similar studies that conclude “the health risks of playing on these artificial turf fields are negligible” and that there is “no reason to advise against playing on artificial turf fields with recycled crumb rubber infill.” While the study itself is not a risk assessment, the agencies noted that the findings improve the understanding of the levels of these specific chemicals in the air and can provide valuable information for future risk assessments.
Melanie Taylor, president and CEO of the Synthetic Turf Association, based in Forest Hills, Maryland, said, “We appreciate the EPA’s dedication and time in producing this report, and we’re pleased to see it confirm what other studies have found: artificial turf and its components are safe.”
“The use of artificial turf fields adds thousands of additional hours of playtime across the U.S. each year, saves millions of gallons of water annually, and provides more stable playing surfaces. Our industry has long been committed to providing safe and sustainable recreational spaces, and we are thrilled that the largest U.S. study on crumb rubber infill confirms that playing on these fields poses no increased health risk,” said the Synthetic Turf Council in a statement.
The Washington, D.C.-based Rubber Recycling Alliance also issued a statement: “This report adds to the growing body of evidence that confirms what we have long known: crumb rubber infill is safe, and fields using crumb rubber are as safe as natural grass. For those of us in the tire recycling industry, the safety of playgrounds and playing fields for the children we care about is of paramount importance, which is why we have supported this research from the beginning.”
The Rubber Recycling Alliance added: “We thank the EPA, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission for their comprehensive efforts over the years in conducting this thoughtful and thorough evaluation. In short, as expected, ‘while some chemicals are present in tire crumb and may be emitted,’ the report concludes that such emissions are ‘likely to be limited.’”
When the report was released, the U.S. Tire Industry Association responded, stating that the “Federal Research Action Plan on Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields,” launched in 2016, played a key role in addressing concerns around tire crumb infill. The collaboration of multiple agencies, including the CDC and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ultimately resulted in these comprehensive findings.
Roy Littlefield, vice president of government affairs for the U.S. Tire Industry Association, said, “We are grateful to the EPA and other federal entities involved in this landmark study for reaffirming public confidence in the use of recycled crumb rubber. The Tire Industry Association has always been a strong advocate for crumb rubber recycling and has actively opposed state legislation that seeks to restrict its use.”