For several years we have seen many stories reported around the use of recycled rubber crumb infill in artificial sports surfaces. Specifically, stories debating the potentially carcinogenic properties of said surfaces.

Just a few days ago in fact, Welsh newspaper the Daily Post, ran a story with the attention grabbing headline 'New Parc Eirias football pitch sparks cancer fears'.

Reading the story there is nothing new here. The cancer fears which were sparked appear to have come from a local mother with legitimate concerns about the surface, seemingly from other stories she has read online. Specifically, the publicity generated last year from a documentary on Dutch television which raised concerns over the type of infill being used in Holland which led to a surge in closures of 3G pitches there.

What has been problematic about all of this are the claims and counter-claims from both sides of the argument. Not being a scientist, one is left to listen to evidence by those who have expertise in these areas. However, as with anything where huge sums of money are at stake, one needs to make sure they are aware what agenda bias could be behind any proclamation.

Therefore it has been most useful this past week to see the results of an evaluation into the risk of substances in recycled rubber that is used on artificial sports pitches, produced the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This body states on their website that they are "independent from all external interests and impartial in our decision making." They go on to say "Our decisions are science based, consistent and impartial." So hopefully what they are saying can be trusted as being non-partisan.

Thankfully the headline from their investigation is that they believe the concern for players on these pitches, including children, and for workers who install and maintain them is at most, very low.

They are very open though in explaining how several hazardous substances are indeed present in recycled rubber granules. These include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, phthalates, volatile organic hydrocarbons (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic hydrocarbons (SVOCs). Exposure to these substances through skin contact, ingestion and inhalation was considered.

Based on the information available, the ECHA says:

• The concern for lifetime cancer risk is very low given the concentrations of PAHs typically measured in European sports grounds.
• The concern from metals is negligible given that the data indicated that the levels are below the limits allowed in the current toys legislation.
• No concerns were identified from the concentrations of phthalates, benzothiazole and methyl isobutyl ketone as these are below the concentrations that would lead to health problems.
• It has been reported that volatile organic compounds emitted from rubber granules in indoor halls might cause irritation to the eyes and skin.
• In the studies that ECHA evaluated, which are listed in the report, the concentrations of PAHs in recycled rubber granules were well below the limits set for carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) substances for consumers in REACH (this being a EU regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & restriction of CHemicals.)

However, ECHA has also highlighted several uncertainties in its evaluation. Therefore, ECHA suggests the following action to be taken:

• Consider changes to the REACH Regulation to ensure that rubber granules are only supplied with very low concentrations of PAHs and any other relevant hazardous substances.
• Owners and operators of existing (outdoor and indoor) fields should measure the concentrations of PAHs and other substances in the rubber granules used in their fields and make this information available to interested parties in an understandable manner.
• Producers of rubber granules and their interest organisations should develop guidance to help all manufacturers and importers of (recycled) rubber infill test their material.
• European sports and football associations and clubs should work with the relevant producers to ensure that information related to the safety of rubber granules in synthetic turfs is communicated in a manner understandable to the players and the general public.
• Owners and operators of existing indoor fields with rubber granule infills should ensure adequate ventilation.
• In addition, ECHA recommends that players using the synthetic pitches should take basic hygiene measures after playing on artificial turf containing recycled rubber granules.

ECHA’s evaluation has been sent to the European Commission (read the full report here). The findings are preliminary and will be updated when new information becomes available.

For now though turf professionals and players alike, can be grateful to have a thorough, balanced report into the situation – but also be pleased to know that like all good science, the investigation is ongoing.