Recycled Rubber Coalition Applauds State of California Study on Synthetic Turf Fields Containing Crumb Rubber
WASHINGTON – March 14, 2025 – The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) published a study this week examining the potential health risks associated with the use of synthetic turf fields by athletes, referees, coaches and spectators.
The report found “no significant health risks to players, coaches, referees and spectators from on-field or off-field exposure” to crumb rubber infill based on the assessment method and available data. It is consistent with dozens of other peer-reviewed studies including one from the U.S. EPA, Centers for Disease Control and Consumer Product Safety Commission published last year.
CalOEHHA’s mission is to protect and enhance the health of Californians and its environment through scientific evaluations that inform, support and guide regulatory and other actions. CalEPA’s mission is to restore, protect and enhance the environment and ensure public health, environmental quality and economic vitality.
“The California study adds to the definitive body of evidence that crumb rubber infill is safe to use in our communities,” said Scott Gerber, spokesman for the Recycled Rubber Coalition. “These findings should give our leaders confidence that products using recycled rubber play a vital role in keeping communities active, healthy and safe. We thank CalEPA and CalOEHHA for their deep evaluation and rigorous study of this important issue.”
The report examined the potential health risks associated with the use of synthetic turf fields containing crumb rubber by athletes, referees, coaches and spectators.
The report concluded that long-term use of these fields does not result in exposures to chemicals that pose significant non-cancer health hazards or to sensory irritants (ie., chemicals that can cause irritation of the eyes or airways). The report also found that the cancer risks from the crumb rubber infill used in the artificial turf fields are “insignificant” for athletes, coaches and referees.
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) contracted with OEHHA in 2015 to conduct this study. The report's findings are the result of a multi-agency effort including the Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology Branch, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the CalEPA.
The full report can be found at: https://oehha.ca.gov/sites/default/files/media/2025-03/DraftTurfReport031325.pdf
About The Recycled Rubber Coalition:
The Recycled Rubber Coalition (RRC) is a national organization of companies that recycle rubber or manufacture materials from recycled rubber products. Our coalition is also a resource for policymakers and the public on the responsible and safe uses of recycled rubber, and we work closely with state and local policymakers to identify ways we can increase the recycling and reuse of rubber and in particular, prevent tire waste and scrap tire dumping. Additional information about the Recycled Rubber Coalition can be found by visiting https://recycledrubbercoalition.org, on Facebook @RecycledRubberCoalition, and on X @Recycled_Rubber.
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