Tests of rubber granules used as artificial turf for football fields in terms of toxicity to human health and the environment

Abstract

Rubber waste, in the form of granules of styrene butadiene rubber and ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer with a particle size of 0.5 to 4 mm, is broadly used for the construction of synthetic surfaces of sport fields. This method of recycling may be significantly limited due to the restrictions on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content in rubber granules in the European Union since 2022. This also applies to the recommendations of the European Chemicals Agency in relation to the identification of other hazardous chemicals in this waste, including metal elements. The scope of the research included the identification of organotin compounds, PAHs content and 18 elements leached from recycled rubber granules in terms of substances harmful to human health and to natural environment. The research covered 84 samples of rubber granules collected from the surface of football pitches or supplied by recyclers in Poland. The test results showed an over-standard content of PAHs in rubber granules. This result confirms the need to develop alternative directions of rubber granules application: construction and hydro construction, reinforcing soil and roadsides, asphalt pavements, making retaining walls, anti-shock and anti-vibration slabs, soundproofing and damping screens, paving stones and landscaping elements.

Quantifying the Sustainability of Football (Soccer) Pitches: A Comparison of Artificial and Natural Turf Pitches with a Focus on Microplastics and Their Environmental Impacts

“…Accurate testing is especially relevant for EPDM and ELT because they are not specific types of polymers such as PET or PP; in fact, they are umbrella terms for a wide array of substances with different chemical compositions. Missing scientific data/consensus from the field is a tremendous issue, particularly with ELT as 90% of all AT pitches use this material; e.g., Mohajerani et al and Armada et al highlight that the rubber contains toxic organic substances and metals which are known to leak, whereas Grynkiewicz-Bylina et al pointed out that at a neutral pH, no toxic leachates were observed [68][69][70]. Although there are studies that show no acute toxicity to aquatic species, those studies also remark that their results are preliminary, need further validation, and may not represent real aquatic conditions, a conclusion that is also drawn in the review by .…”

Development of Louvered Noise Barrier with Changeable Sound Insulation from Waste Tire Rubber and Investigation of Acoustic Properties

“…Rubber granulate plates have good sound absorption and insulation properties [28]. Moreover, they are often used for the installation of artificial surfaces for sports grounds, tracks, and arenas [29]. This is the most common way of tire waste recovery, corresponding with the waste hierarchy and the principles of circular economy.…”

Badania zapraw cementowych i żużlowych z granulatami gumowymi SBR pod względem ekotoksykologiczności i wytrzymałości

“…Tires are made from rugged, hard-wearing rubber, so disposing of them is a major environmental challenge. They cannot be easily recycled, are difficult to reuse, break down into crumbs causing an increase in the content of microplastics in the environment [1][2][3][4][5]. Pilkington [2] emphasizes that the United States alone disposes of 246 million to 300 million used tires each year.…”

“…This concrete will then be stored as demolition waste in landfills or used to strengthen the ground. black and 40 different chemicals, waxes, oils, pigments, silica and clays [1,[17][18][19][20]. According to ETRMA [19], tires contain an exemplary composition: rubber/elastomers (48%), carbon black (22%), metal (15%), additives (8%), textiles (5%), zinc oxide (1% passenger tires or 2% truck and off-road tyres), sulfur (1%).…”

“…After entering the environment, they do not biodegrade, accumulate in living organisms and may negatively affect their organs and systems [35]. Exemplary leaching tests carried out by Grynkiewicz-Bylina et al [1] of 84 samples of rubber granulate taken from the surface of sports fields or delivered by recyclers in Poland indicated the excessive content of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) specified in the REACH Regulation [36].…”