Does exposure to the crumb rubber in turf fields cause cancer?

Key takeaways:

• Crumb rubber—the material used to create artificial turf fields—contains potentially harmful chemicals that have led some to question the safety of playing on turf fields and playgrounds.
• Exposure levels remain very low, and research has not found a link between artificial turf and cancer.
• There are still precautions you can take to reduce your risk of exposure, such as washing your hands and clothes after playing on a turf field.

Artificial turf fields have become more common in recent years, sometimes replacing natural grass fields as a lower-maintenance, more cost-effective solution at local schools, parks, recreation facilities, and even in personal yards.

But you may be wondering about the materials used to create these artificial fields and if they have an impact on your health, including your risk of cancer. That’s why we’re tackling what it means to play on artificial turf and seeing if the grass is really greener on the other side.

What materials are used to create artificial turf?

If you’ve ever spent any time on an artificial turf field, you’ve probably noticed the little black pellets that get caught in your shoes and end up in your car or home later.

These pellets are shredded vehicle tires, known as crumb rubber, and are used to create a soft, cushiony running surface. They are interspersed between synthetic grass blades to create the artificial turf surface. A football field needs between 20,000 and 40,000 tires to create enough crumb rubber to properly fill the space.

Various academic, intergovernmental and research organizations universally categorize tire rubber as a microplastic. It’s comprised of potentially harmful compounds, including materials such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, phthalates and volatile organic hydrocarbons (VOCs). PAHs and VOCs are both classified as carcinogens, meaning they are materials that can cause cancer.

और पढ़ें | What are microplastics and do they cause cancer?

Are we exposing ourselves to dangerous chemicals by playing on artificial turf?

Current evidence shows that regardless of whether you are exposed to turf through indirect contact (air), or direct contact through skin or ingestion, your exposure to the crumb rubber (and the compounds it’s made from) is still low.

The lowest level of exposure would be coming near the turf but not touching it directly, such as jogging across the field with shoes on or breathing the air above it.

To test this type of exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) conducted a multi-agency study in 2017. The study involved two groups of subjects—one participating in activities on artificial turf surfaces containing crumb rubber and the other doing the same activities on natural grass surfaces.

The results found no difference in the levels of PAHs in players’ bodies through blood and urine testing, regardless of whether they played on (and breathed the air above) artificial turf or natural grass fields. VOCs can be more difficult to evaluate because they are processed and cleared from the body relatively quickly—particularly through blood and urine—making them less likely to be detected after exposure. However, the study found no meaningful differences between the levels of PAHs and VOCs in participants using artificial turf compared to those using natural grass.

Direct-to-skin exposure includes instances such as crumb rubber sticking to your sweaty skin after you fall on the turf. Ingesting crumb rubber can happen when some gets in your mouth after you take a tough fall. This also goes for young children or toddlers, who can be more likely to accidentally ingest crumb rubber if they see small piles and want to play with it.

But the same is true here: Both direct-to-skin contact और ingestion are not proven to be dangerous, and the chemical compounds in crumb rubber are not absorbed through skin in large enough amounts to pose a significant health or cancer risk. The same goes for swallowing small pieces of crumb rubber. That’s according to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, who released results from a major study testing this theory in 2026.

Is crumb rubber linked to cancer?

No—there is no evidence that exposing yourself to crumb rubber from artificial turf fields, playgrounds or any other locations will cause cancer or increase your risk of developing cancer. Current research suggests that exposure to crumb rubber is very low and remains below established safety thresholds for potentially harmful chemicals.

While the available evidence is reassuring, following these simple hygiene practices can help further minimize your exposure to crumb rubber:

• Wash your hands. Thoroughly clean your hands and any areas of exposed skin after using a turf field or playground—especially before eating.
• Avoid ingestion. While inevitable at times, if crumb rubber gets into your mouth, avoid chewing or swallowing the rubber materials.
• Clean your clothes. If you notice visible tire dust or black marks on the fabric of your clothing, change your clothes and wash what you were wearing while on the turf.

There’s a lot to consider when deciding between artificial turf and natural grass, and we’ve only touched the surface here—but oftentimes, you aren’t given a choice. It can be a relief to know your chemical exposure from playing on turf is low; there’s no need to sweat about this one!