Artificial Turf Football Fields: Environmental and Mutagenicity Assessment

The public has recently raised concerns regarding potential human health and environmental risks associated with tire crumb constituents in the artificial turf of football fields. The aim of the present study was to develop an environmental analysis drawing a comparison between artificial turf football fields and urban areas relative to concentrations of particles (PM10 and PM2,5) and related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); aromatic hydrocarbons (BTXs); and mutagenicity of the organic extracts from PM10 and PM2,5. No significant differences were found between PM10 concentrations at an urban site and on a turf football field, both in warm and in cold seasons, either with or without on-field activity. PM2,5 concentrations were significantly higher at the urban site in the cold season as was the PM2,5 and PM10 ratio. BTXs were significantly higher at urban sites than on turf football fields both on warm days and on cold days. The toluene to benzene ratio was always comparable to normal urban conditions. The concentration of PAHs on the monitored football fields was comparable to urban levels during the two different sampling periods, and the contribution of PAHs released from the granular material was negligible. PM10 organic extract mutagenicity for artificial turf football fields was higher, while PM2,5 organic extract mutagenicity was lower, compared to the urban site that was studied. However, both organic extract mutagenicity values were comparable to the organic extract mutagenicity reported in the literature for urban sites. On the basis of the environmental monitoring, artificial turf football fields present no more exposure risks than the rest of the city.