Artificial turf as a source of harmful compounds in indoor air of sports arenas

Abstract

Background Artificial turf fields, cushioned with rubber granulates for outdoor or indoor football, have raised health concerns in many countries. Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) granulates made from recycled vehicle tires are widely used also among the one hundred indoor football arenas in Finland. Aims The aim was to investigate the chemical composition (VOC, PAH, metals) of the rubber granulates, the levels of air pollutants, and nuisance and health detriments among adolescent arena users in five indoor arenas. Methods Three permanent arenas (73000-132000 m3) and two pressurized canvas domes (35000-65000 m3) were studied during daily activity in the end of winter season. VOC, PAH, and particulate samples were collected from indoor air along with continuous monitoring of thoracic particles (PM10). VOC emission and PAH content were analyzed from rubber granulates vacuum-sampled from the field surface. The performance of arena ventilation was investigated using air flow, temperature, and CO2 measurements, and smoke test. Results The total PAH contents of three SBR granulate samples were clearly higher (38-65 mg/kg) than those of two other types of rubber granulates (0.1 and 2 mg/kg). The indoor air PAH concentrations were negligible. Total indoor air VOCs were high in one arena (440 µg/m3). Some compounds (benzothiazole, aldehydes) were frequently found in both the SBR-rubber and indoor air. The PM10 concentrations (10-20 µg/m3) in arenas were comparable to urban outdoor levels, but inside two arenas they were about twice as high as outside. As many as 49 adolescent football players out of 90 (54%) reported at least one symptom or nuisance (dusty air, sore throat, running nose, odd smell, eye or skin irritation) during or after training in winter season. Conclusions There were large differences in VOC emissions and in PAH content between different types of rubber granulates. The indoor air of all five arenas was reported to cause symptoms.