Consultants say artificial turf is safe

ERJ staff report (DS)

Hartford, Connecticut -- Milone & MacBroom, a Connecticut-based firm specialising in environmental science, has completed a study on the water quality, air quality, and temperature of three synthetic turf athletic fields infilled with crumb rubber and silica sand in Connecticut. Their study lasted 1 year (2008) and the results of their findings show that the three factors mentioned above, along with any other environmental factor, should be of no concern with regards to the safety of synthetic turf fields.

The report is featured on the site of FieldTurf Tarkett, a prominent manufacturer of the artificial sports surfaces, but it is not clear if the company paid for the independent research.

FieldTurf says the report sought to answer three questions:

• Does the temperature of the synthetic field become excessively hot in summer months?
• Does the crumb rubber infill material have an effect on air quality?
• Do metals leach from the crumb rubber infill material at a level that would adversely affect the quality of water?

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Press release from FieldTurf Tarkett