When it comes to youth athletics, some middle and high schools take it more seriously than others do. So when the opportunity came to replace grass fields with synthetic turf fields, many schools jumped at it. Others, have chosen not to switch, due in part to the belief that synthetic turf is hazardous to the health and well-being of the kids that use it. So what should you believe?
Synthetic fields have been quickly populating Nassau County, with the promise of decreased injury, extended game time and fairer competition across the board. But the field’s core layer, specifically its infill made of “crumb rubber” and recycled tires, has local advocates demanding additional studies on the risk of injuries and health concerns, namely the fear that the rubber itself causes cancer. Field temperature is also a concern, as the fields tend to get warmer in the summer season than grass fields.
FieldTurf VP of Marketing, Innovation and Customer Service, Darren Gill stated that the primary material option is crumb rubber, but it’s only one of the options available.
“In terms of the alternate products, there’s organic products. We have a system that’s made up of cork,” said Gill. “When it comes to recycled rubber, recyclers get paid to take tires, then convert them and sell the material back to us.”
In regards to crumb rubber, Gill said that there have been a decent amount of studies that have been peer-reviewed, and that the data comes back in several cases to show that artificial turf is safer than natural grass.
“What’s important to know is [FieldTurf] does not have any ownership of rubber manufacturers. If we didn’t think rubber was the best thing to be putting on our fields, we wouldn’t put it in there,” said Gill.
Congressman Steve Israel recently called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an updated, detailed study into crumb rubber infill as well.
“I learned that more and more facilities are using turf fields,” said Israel. “I saw reports that the EPA hadn’t adequately researched [field turf] safety.”
Although this is a hot topic, it is not so popular in the fields of research. Most studies are outdated, with the latest information available from a 2009 report by the EPA. The recycled tires made of the infill posed no threat, the study says, but the EPA admitted that “it is not possible to reach any more comprehensive conclusions without the consideration of additional data.”
Ken Spaeth, Division Chief Occupational and Environmental Medicine North Shore LIJ Health System added to the concerns of using tire crumb for turf fields.
“You have a large group of toxic substances that are in the materials that kids are playing on,” Spaeth said. “Aside from the chemicals, there have been questions raised if these surfaces increase risk of infections, like MRSA.”
As for the Massapequa School District, they do not have any artificial turf fields and declined to comment on this story. However, in a past bond proposal, there was talk about Oyster Bay committing with Massapequa to allow the district to use their turf field for Berner, but there has been no movement since then. As of now, there are no plans of using turf fields at Berner.
