Lancaster, Pa.-company Ecore said a recent study confirms the safety of using recycled rubber materials used in sports and recreation environments.
Ecore International is a global leader in the circularity that transforms reclaimed rubber materials into high-performance products. The company said a study from the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) found “no significant health risks” to exposure to crumb rubber infill, like that used on synthetic turf fields.
“This study adds to a growing body of scientific research confirming that recycled rubber materials can be used safely in sports and recreational environments,” Jeff Coté, President and COO of Ecore said. “For decades, recycled rubber has helped deliver durable, high-performance surfaces while also diverting millions of end-of-life tires from landfills. Independent studies like this reinforce the important role recycled materials play in building safe, sustainable spaces for communities.”
The study evaluated potential health risks to athletes, coaches, referees and spectators when exposed to synthetic turf fields containing recycled rubber. Researchers examined multiple exposure pathways across users ranging in age from two years old to 70. The report found that exposure to crumb rubber infill did not result in significant non-cancer health hazards and that cancer risks associated with the material were “insignificant” for field users.
Commissioned by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), the study is one of the most extensive analyses conducted on recycled rubber surfaces. The research examined 35 fields over a nine-year period and involved collaboration between several state agencies. The findings are consistent with dozens of peer-reviewed studies, including a joint federal study conducted by the U.S. EPA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S> Consumer Product Safety Commission.