New EU Report Finds No Concerns From Phthalate Exposure in Recycled Rubber Used in Synthetic Turf

The European Chemicals Agency Concluded No Concerns to Players and Workers from Exposure to Phthalates in Recycled Rubber Granules for Synthetic Turf Sports Fields

WASHINGTON (March 10, 2017) – On February 28, the European Chemicals Agency (“ECHA”) published a report concluding there was no concern from exposure to substances, such as phthalates, found in recycled rubber granules used as infill material in synthetic turf for football fields. Eileen Conneely, director of ACC’s High Phthalates Panel, which represents the manufacturers of high molecular weight phthalates, issued the following statement in response to the recent ECHA report:

“The European Chemicals Agency’s new report finding ‘no concern’ to human health from phthalate exposure in the rubber used for synthetic turf joins a large body of evidence supporting safe uses of phthalates. Specifically, the ECHA report found that ‘no concerns to players and workers were identified from the concentrations of phthalates…in rubber granules as these are below the concentrations that would lead to health problems.’ As ECHA notes, these conclusions are consistent with the results of other recent studies, including those conducted in the Netherlands and Washington State.

“In use for more than 50 years, phthalates have been researched not only by industry, but also by universities, government agencies and independent laboratories around the world. These comprehensive regulatory reviews have concluded that, in most cases, the risk to human health from phthalate exposure is negligible.

“The High Phthalates panel urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fully consider ECHA’s findings, along with the large body of research showing extremely low risks of harm from phthalate exposure, when it publishes its own report on recycled tire crumb used in sport fields.”

To learn more about additional research conducted on phthalates, please visit https://www.americanplasticscouncil.org/phthalates/Research-Phthalates/.

To read ECHA’s press release on the “An Evaluation of the Possible Health Risks of Recycled Rubber Granules Used as Infill in Synthetic Turf Sports Fields,” please visit https://echa.europa.eu/-/recycled-rubber-infill-causes-a-very-low-level-of-concern.