Sports chiefs fail to warn of 3G pitch cancer risk

Telegraph investigation finds lack of action over carcinogenic chemicals found in artificial grass

THE Government and the country’s sports authorities have failed to properly warn millions of footballers and rugby players – including children – to limit their exposure to artificial grass pitches containing cancer-causing chemicals, an investigation by The Daily Telegraph has found. Those responsible for recreational and professional players have also failed to ensure so-called “third generation” (3G) facilities comply with regulations governing toxic substances, despite having promised to do so.

The Football Association (FA) is in talks over selling Wembley Stadium for £1billion to fund the roll-out of hundreds of such pitches, with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) ploughing millions of pounds into their construction.

The pitches are coated in granules made from used car tyres to help replicate the characteristics of grass.

However, they also contain trace levels of carcinogens and there have been mounting fears that repeatedly swallowing crumbs, inhaling dust or fumes, or getting them lodged in cuts or scrapes could be hazardous to health.

A report in February 2017 by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), “found no reason to advise people against playing sports on synthetic turf containing recycled rubber granules” after concluding there was “a very low level of concern” from exposure to substances found in them “based on the current evidence available”.

However, it recommended players “wash their hands” after games, do not swallow rubber crumbs, “clean any cuts or scrapes” and remove clothes and shoes outside. It also recommended that owners and operators of pitches measure the concentration of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) and other substances “and make this information available to interested parties”.

Exactly four months later, a stakeholder group featuring the FA, RFU, Rugby Football League and two government departments acknowledged the ECHA report, vowing to work with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Public Health England “to deliver the ECHA recommendations and take steps to disseminate ECHA’S recommended guidance regarding basic hygiene measures to pitch owners and users”.

Almost a year after it was made, that pledge has yet to be fulfilled, raising serious questions about the commitment of the stakeholders to carrying it out.

The Telegraph contacted all 20 Premier League clubs to ask them about their use – or otherwise – of crumbrubber 3G pitches, with Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion the only two to provide a response.

Chelsea said their surfaces used new rubber rather than recycled tyres while Brighton indicated their infill was from used tyres and said they would advise users about the recommendations.

The two Premiership rugby clubs who play on crumb-rubber 3G pitches, Saracens and Newcastle Falcons, respectively, did not respond or redirected questions to the RFU.