Possible Link Between Artificial Turf and Cancer

The Federal Government is now investigating a possible link between lead in artificial turf fields and cancer.

Three government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency announced this week they will begin research into the recycled tire crumbs that layer artificial soccer fields.

The issue of artificial turf was spotlighted when it was used in the 2015 Women’s World Cup. It was the first World Cup to be played on turf.

Hampton Dellinger led a gender discrimination lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of international women soccer players against soccer’s governing body, FIFA, and the Canadian Soccer Association.

The men’s World Cup has always been played on a grass field, which is the standard for high level international matches.

“People who know anything about soccer know that the most important games at the international level are played on grass,” said Dellinger.

Artificial turf fields became popular because of the low costs and ease of maintenance.

According to a report by USA Today, the EPA had advocated for the use of artificial turf since 1995. But they recently admitted in a statement that “more research needs to be done.”

The rubber crumbs are also popular as a playground surface.

While Dellinger’s lawsuit sought to protect the players from short-term injuries like skin infection, the long term risk could be much greater.

“I think it is long overdue and a great thing that federal agencies are going to take an in-depth and very scientific review of whether artificial turf surfaces are safe,” said Dellinger.

The real concern is for soccer players who spend years playing on the artificial turf.

“Children around the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area, whether they are playing Rainbow soccer or some of the other great youth football, that is soccer leagues, are playing for years and that’s why there really needs to be intensive, scientific, rigorous studies on the safety or not of artificial turf,” said Dellinger.

According to the USA Today, there are over 11,000 artificial turf fields across the country.

‹

Decades After the Dangers of Lead Became Clear, Some Cities Are Leaving Lead Pipe in the Ground

Written by MICHAEL PHILLIS Prandy Tavarez and his wife were expecting a baby when they bought a four-bedroom house in a well-kept neighborhood of century-old homes here. They got to work making it theirs, ripping off wallpaper, upgrading the electrical and replacing windows coated in paint that contained lead, a potent neurotoxin that can damage […]

UNC Finishes Lead Testing in All Campus Drinking Fixtures

After testing every single drinking water fixture in university facilities, UNC says it's officially finished with its lead detection efforts.

As UNC Continues Lead Testing, Which Buildings Have Reported Contamination?

The presence of lead in some water fixtures led UNC to conduct widespread assessment of its water quality. Here is what it's found so far.

Top Stories of 2022: Widespread Traces of Lead Found in UNC Campus Water Fixtures

To reflect on the year, Chapelboro.com is revisiting some of the top stories that impacted and defined our community’s experience in 2022. These stories and topics affected Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the rest of our region. What started as a learning exercise for some early college students rapidly turned into a campus-wide issue, after traces […]

Kenan Stadium, 6 Other UNC Buildings Detect Lead Levels in Water Fixtures

As UNC continues its sampling and testing of water across campus following the discovery of detectable lead levels, a new batch of results was shared on Thursday and added seven more buildings to its ongoing list. The university’s Environment, Health and Safety department said that Kenan Stadium, the Taylor Campus Health Building, the Ackland Art […]

UNC Professor Details Summer Project that Discovered Lead Levels on Campus

UNC has been sampling its water across campus to see whether there’s a presence of lead. But who thought to test in the first place?

UNC Reports 'Detectable Lead' in 6 Buildings After Further Testing

Six different buildings on UNC’s campus recently had lead in specific water fountains, according to the university, as results of testing were shared following prior lead detection in Wilson Library. UNC alerted the campus community through an email just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, saying the Environment, Health and Safety department has removed the fixtures […]

Lead Detection in UNC Library Leads to Removed Fountains

After detecting lead in multiple tests, UNC announced it is removing several drinking fountains from Wilson Library.  The University’s Office of Environment, Health and Safety shared the news in an email to the campus community on Thursday around 3:30 p.m. “Other drinking fountains in the building were tested, showed no detectable levels of lead and […]

Possible Link Between Artificial Turf and Cancer

The Federal Government is now investigating a possible link between lead in artificial turf fields and cancer. Three government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency announced this week they will begin research into the recycled tire crumbs that layer artificial soccer fields. The issue of artificial turf was spotlighted when it was used in the […]

›