3G News
Scottish professor calls for 3G ban
Calls for ban on 3G pitches grow after professor finds cancer-causing chemicals in artificial surfaces
Calls for a ban on 3G football pitches have intensified after a professor from Scotland found cancer-causing chemicals in the artificial turf
The findings have followed on from a recent report in the United States that linked cancer in 168 footballers with the 3G surfaces.
Goalkeepers Lewis Maguire, 18, from Richmond, Yorkshire, and Robbie Jones, 30, from Cardiff, have both been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and fear it was caused by playing on the surface, reports the Daily Record .
Samples of rubber crumb - pellets spread on the artificial turf to improve its bounce - were sent for testing by the Environment Scientifics Group and the results were passed to Professor Andrew Watterson, an environmental
health expert from Stirling University.
He said: “This report confirms and reveals the presence of a number of carcinogens in the rubber crumb.”
“If the chemicals and metals remain locked into the crumb, there will be no exposure. However, it seems to be fairly clear there may be some potential risk from some of these substances to sports people.”
“To what extent and what effect carcinogenic compounds may be taken up through inhalation, skin absorption or ingestion and under what conditions remains the big question.”
The rubber crumb, which is made from recycled car tyres, has been linked to cancer clusters. Tests on samples revealed a number of
chemicals linked to poisoning, such as arsenic, lead and admium.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - found by a 2014 US study to be “highly mutagenic cancer-causing compounds” - were also present, including benzo(e)pyrene and chrysene.
A 1993 study into benzo(e)pyrene said the substance promotes tumours forming on skin. And, in 1978, experts found exposing mice to chrysene led to a huge rise in tumours.
Amateur goalkeeper Robbie, diagnosed a year ago after playing on 3G three times a week for twelve years, wants a ban on building new pitches.
Robbie said: “If there’s any evidence the stuff could be harmful, there should not be any more built until it is investigated.
Going for a Burton...
Council approve new sports facility for Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium
A proposal to build a £1m sports facility at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium has been accepted by the local council.
The League One high-flyer’s Community Trust (BACT) is behind the project to create the hub with an artificial pitch with changing rooms to be used by the people of the town.
East Staffordshire Borough Council have given the green light to the plans and the project has secured £843,510 of its total budget via the Premier League and the Football Association (FA) Facilities Fund.
According to BACT head of community Andy Taylor, the club has been working on the project with the FA, Premier League and Football Foundation for more than a year. The remainder of the finance is due to come from the council and partnerships with local businesses.
10 I PC APRIL/MAY 2016 Burton Albion Chairman Ben Robinson
“We are now concentrating on securing the remaining funding by getting more partners on board,” said Taylor. “If all goes to plan, the facility could be up and running by September.”
Burton Albion chairman, Ben Robinson, added: “The football club’s focus has always been on the community and this facility will
be a great asset for the people of Burton upon Trent.”
At the time of going to press, the club was second in League One, with a reasonable chance of automatic promotion to the Championship - their highest ever level.
Kids play on them and I think parents should think twice about that.”
The Sports and Play Construction Association, who represent the artificial pitch construction industry, could not be contacted.
However, the industry have previously slammed health fears, citing independent studies which say rubber crumb is safe to play on.
Although there are alternatives, such as coconut husk, rubber crumb is used in about ninety percent of the UK’s artificial pitches due to the low cost.
The safety labels on rubber crumb products warn workers laying pitches not to breathe the vapour and avoid skin contact.
SAPCA to raise profile
Public affairs
appointed for Reed
Sports Think Tank director Andy Reed has been appointed by the Sport and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) to oversee its public affairs activities.
Reed - the former MP for Loughborough - will be charged with raising the profile of SAPCA and its objectives to “key industry stakeholders and influencers”, using his knowledge and contacts within sport and national governing bodies.
The trade association has 200+ members and Reed said he wanted to “make a real contribution to SAPCA in achieving its goals and ambitions. It is particularly important [to raise SAPCA’s profile] as the new government sport strategy will change the landscape and there is a renewed recognition of the role of sports business,” he added.
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