Latest Blogs

The Obama administration announced this month a federal study to look into the potential health risks of crumb-rubber synthetic turf used on athletic fields and elsewhere. Three agencies will carry out the study. They are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

In a letter Florida Senator Bill Nelson sent to President Obama in January 2016, he urged the authorization of a study saying, “Parents and athletes of all ages want and deserve conclusive answers on whether exposure to crumb-rubber turf can make one sick. Combining the resources and expertise of three federal agencies to help find those answers is the right thing to do.” 

The Synthetic Turf Council research shows that the U.S. has over 12,000 synthetic crumb-rubber fields across the country in schools, parks and multisport facilities. 

What is crumb-rubber artificial turf? 

NBC News reported that crumb-rubber artificial turf is a popular playing surface found in thousands of U.S. schools, parks and professional stadiums. It is made from a combination of green nylon blades of "grass" and black crumb-rubber infill, created by pulverizing millions of recycled tires. The crumb-rubber turf was designed to be more durable and less expensive to maintain than natural grass fields. It is also softer and more yielding which was considered less likely to cause injuries than any previous generations of artificial turf. 

Is there a link between crumb-rubber artificial turf and cancer? 

Critics say there is, and California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has determined that carbon black, which makes up 20-40 percent of crumb rubber, has been identified as a cancer-causing chemical. 

Back in 2008, a national nonprofit organization, Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), studied 14 samples of synthetic turf material. EHHI researchers found 12 out of 96 chemicals in crumb rubber to be known carcinogens, or cancer-causing agents, and about 40 percent of the 96 chemicals are irritants to the eyes, skin or lungs.

 USA Today in 2014 reported that the University of Washington associate women’s soccer coach, Amy Griffin, claimed there is a connection between crumb-rubber fields and cancer. Sixty-three former soccer players of hers were found to have cancer after playing on artificial turf. Griffin readily admitted in an NBC Nightly News interview that there is no scientific correlation between artificial turf and cancer, and organizations like AstroTurf, FieldTurf  and SPRINTurf reportedly cite dozens of studies suggesting it does not. 

Griffin's list of athletes with cancer who have played on synthetic turf now stands at 200 athletes, 158 of whom are soccer players, according to ESPN. 

Even though critics and supporters of crumb-rubber turf do not agree on the potential health risk of crumb-rubber artificial turf, they do agree, according to NBC News, that the federal government needs to take a clear position on this subject. 

“Developing cancer, or other serious injury, while playing on artificial turf is a concern. Please contact our team of experts at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. for a no-cost consultation,” said Fort Myers Defective Product Attorney, Randall Spivey.

Fort Myers Defective Product Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.