EU lowers PAH limit for rubber granules used in synthetic turf

BRUSSELS—A European Commission regulation aimed at reducing carcinogenic materials in rubber granules used for synthetic turf has come into force.

Regulation 2021/1199 on polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), adopted by the Commission in July 2021, lowers the limit of PAHs in granules and mulches used as infill materials for synthetic turf or playgrounds from 100mg/kg to 20mg/kg.

The restriction covers eight PAHs and will not affect existing fields immediately but will ensure that any infill material used for refilling the fields is below the new limit, the European Chemicals Agency announced Aug. 10.

The regulation is unlikely to impact the use of end-of-life tires as rubber infill in sports pitches, according to ETRMA Secretary General Fazilet Cinaralp.

"In end-of-life tires PAHs are present as impurities, with reported levels of 12 ppm in average, and rarely reaching 20ppm," Cinaralp told European Rubber Journal in 2021, following the Commission's adoption of the regulation.

The regulation, she said, "will add trust, strengthen the market and help add transparency on the use of granules as infill material."