Artificial Turf
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Soccer, Artificial Turf, and How Associations Play Into the Mix

A new report that looks at the correlation between soccer players and cancer is questioning the safety of artificial turf fields and has triggered responses from groups on both sides of the issue.

A new report that looks at the correlation between soccer players and cancer is questioning the safety of artificial turf fields and has triggered responses from groups on both sides of the issue.

A University of Washington assistant soccer coach is warning about the potential dangers of artificial turf, including a possible link to cancer.

A recent NBC News report profiled coach Amy Griffin, who has compiled a list of 38 soccer players who have been diagnosed with cancer.  In question is the possibility that crumb rubber, the black granular material in artificial turf that is made of shredded car and truck tires, could be carcinogenic.

Griffin’s list and the possible connection between artificial turf and the occurrence of cancer in soccer players has a number of health and industry groups weighing in:

  • Of the all chemicals found in crumb rubber, the International Agency for Research on Cancer labels four as carcinogens, which at low levels of exposure are considered safe.
  • The advocacy group Safe Healthy Playing Fields Coalition, however,is supporting legislation that would require that artificial turf fields have warning signs, and it opposes a bill proposed in Maryland that would use state funds to construct these types of playing fields.
  • The Synthetic Turf Council, meanwhile, told NBC News that existing research proves artificial turf is safe. “We’ve got 14 studies on our website that say we can find no negative health effects,” said Davis Lee, an STC board member. While not “absolutely conclusive,” he added, “there’s certainly a preponderance of evidence to this point that says, in fact, it is safe.”

Studying the relationship between environmental exposure and cancer is difficult, pediatrician Joel Forman told NBC News, which also reported that no research has linked artificial turf to cancer.

Griffin said she hopes that more studies are done and that she is ultimately proven wrong.

“I’m looking for answers, because I’m not smart enough to come up with them on my own,” she told NBC. “I would love someone to say, ‘We’ve done some tests and we’ve covered all of our bases. … And yes, it’s safe.’ That would be awesome. … I would love to be proved wrong.”

(ChoochartSansong/ThinkStock)

Katie Bascuas

By Katie Bascuas

Katie Bascuas is associate editor of Associations Now. MORE

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