Environmentalists and Industry Clash Over Rubber Granules: Microplastic or Sustainable Solution?

　　Environmentalists have issued a warning that if the European Union fails to classify rubber granules made from tires as banned microplastics, it could result in serious environmental damage. However, the European tire and recycling industries strongly disagree with this assertion.

　　In 2019, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), an EU regulatory body, published a report recommending broad restrictions on microplastics, including a complete ban on their use in cosmetics, cleaning products, and fertilizers. The European Recycling Industries Confederation (EuRIC) argued that banning the use of shredded waste tires as infill for artificial sports fields would lead to a sharp increase in tire incineration, causing greater carbon emissions.

　　Currently, environmental groups are pushing for a total ban on rubber granules, asserting that they pose significant risks to both human health and environmental safety. They argue that wind and human activities can disperse the granules from artificial turf into the natural environment. The ECHA report proposed several options for managing rubber granules used as infill (commonly in artificial sports fields), including a market ban on such materials after a six-year transition period.

　　In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC-ATSDR) published the second part of a study on the characteristics of recycled tire crumb 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 by the EPA and CDC in 2016, 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 fields.

　　This final report is the largest of its kind conducted in the U.S., and its release garnered widespread attention from the tire industry, tire recycling businesses, the artificial turf industry, and waste recycling organizations. All these sectors recognized the importance of the study and expressed appreciation for the EPA’s work in completing it.

　　Thomas Womble, CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling, said, “Safety has always been one of our top commitments to the public, our employees, and the environment. I want to thank the EPA and other federal agencies involved in this project for reassuring the public about the safety of recycled crumb rubber.” He added that this study provides strong new evidence to support the idea that recycled crumb rubber is undoubtedly a win-win for both the public and the environment.

　　The report found that athletes playing on artificial turf fields containing crumb rubber infill are exposed to specific chemicals—such as pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, zinc, and lead—but these chemicals are present in the air at levels “similar to or lower than those found in typical public spaces” and sometimes “significantly lower.” No significant differences were found in air emissions; the concentration of metals in the air was “comparable to or similar to typical public spaces,” and the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) did not show any significant variations.

　　These findings are consistent 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 containing recycled crumb rubber infill.” Although the study is not a risk assessment, the agencies noted that the findings improve understanding of the extent to which specific chemicals are released into the air and can provide 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 are pleased to see it confirm the findings of other studies: that artificial turf and its components are safe.”

　　“The use of artificial turf fields provides thousands of additional hours of playtime across the U.S. each year, saves millions of gallons of water

　　annually, and creates more stable playing surfaces. Our industry has always been committed to ensuring safe and sustainable recreational spaces, and we are thrilled that the largest study on crumb rubber infill in the U.S. confirms that playing on these fields poses no increased health risk,” the Synthetic Turf Council said in a statement.

　　The Rubber Recycling Alliance, based in Washington, D.C., 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 just 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 paramount, which is why we have supported this research from the beginning.”

　　The Rubber Recycling Alliance added: “We are grateful to the EPA, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission for their comprehensive efforts in conducting this thorough evaluation over the years. In short, as expected, ‘while some chemicals are present in tire crumb and may be emitted,’ the report concludes that these emissions are ‘likely to be limited.’”

　　Upon the release of the report, the U.S. Tire Industry Association responded, stating that the “Federal Research Action Plan on Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields,” initiated in 2016, played a critical role in addressing the concerns surrounding tire crumb infill. The collaboration among multiple agencies, including the CDC and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ultimately led to these comprehensive findings.

　　Roy Littlefield, vice president of government affairs for the U.S. Tire Industry Association, said, “We are thankful to the EPA and other federal agencies involved in this landmark study for restoring 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.”