Comment
With the national newspapers picking up on the health and safety concerns over rubber crumb - albeit for just a couple of days - the industry was quick to respond with a plethora of statements, denials and, in some instances, gobbledygook.
In this update article, Pitchcare’s Peter Britton reviews the current state of play and questions whether anyone is actually taking on board the concerns
I
t is sometimes very difficult to write this type of article with a sense of objectivity, such can be the sensationalism surrounding such topics but, when the national papers - both tabloids and broadsheets - picked up on the potential health
hazards of rubber crumb back in mid-February, it prompted us to release our cover story early. For the record, it had been written in mid-January. It generated much comment across social media, email and various other outlets and was even highlighted on TV sports channels as a topic of concern.
As is often the way with the nationals, the furore has since abated, but the problem has not, and will not, go away. Indeed, a Twitter poll carried out by Pitchcare on the matter resulted in 21% having no concerns over the safety of rubber crumb, 22% who were concerned and 57% who said that more research was needed.
Let me state clearly, at this juncture, that this is not another ‘natural turf is best’ article, although I clearly believe that to be the case. No, it is purely about the potential health risks of rubber crumb - especially to children - and, therefore, its use as ‘fall safety’ in playgrounds and landscaped areas is of equal concern.
For the moment, I am not concerned about the claims of serious injury to players using 3G surfaces, eye infections, allergic reactions or, indeed, the numbers of replacement pitches being required after just a few years, making a mockery of, it would appear, the manufacturers’ claims of longevity.
No, I am concerned about the scientific finding coming out of America regarding rubber crumb’s carcinogenic properties and the problems it causes to the respiratory system. These findings have prompted over forty US States to ban further installations, whilst many have additionally recommended that existing surfaces with ‘crumb rubber’ infills be replaced.
Having reviewed the available information (documented in my previous article), I made the request that both the Football Association and the Rugby Football Union consider their stance on the installation of 3G surfaces - with rubber crumb infill - until such times as definitive research is undertaken here in the UK and/or the EU. The request was made
PC APRIL/MAY 2016 I 45
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