WESTFIELD—As questions about the health impacts from the use of crumb rubber under synthetic turf fields percolate through the city, some parents of soccer players who play on those fields are now requesting that their games be moved.
Several parents of players in the under-8 Westfield Football Club approached the football club’s board Sunday, requesting that their games be moved from the indoor artificial turf facilities. The request was made until more information is obtained about crumb rubber and athletes that play on and around the material, according to Christine Webber, a parent with a child in the league who was chosen to speak on behalf of several of the other parents on the issue.
Photo of the Roots Athletic Center on Root Road
“I made the request on behalf of the [under-8] players and families out of an abundance of caution,” Webber said.
According to Webber, events that have reportedly transpired over the past several months have created concerns for some parents, which includes the recent media coverage of crumb rubber, as well as legislation currently being discussed in Connecticut and elsewhere, that may prevent the use of crumb rubber on playgrounds and fields going forward.
Webber said that there is currently another federal study being done on the effects of crumb rubber, and until that study is finished, she said that her and other parents whose children play on the fields request that the games be moved to an outdoor location, and preferably to natural grass.
“I think that the parents are hopeful that it will come out that there aren’t any sort of effects coming out of the fields because they are great fields, but we want to make sure,” Webber said.
The study is expected to be done by the summer, according to Webber.
Webber said that there are questions being raised about adequate ventilation at the indoor fields, in addition to the possibility of health impacts from crumb rubber exposure. Studies thus far though, have been inconclusive according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). From an EPA webpage titled, “Federal Research on Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields”:
“[l]imited studies have not shown an elevated health risk from playing on fields with tire crumb, but the existing studies do not comprehensively evaluate the concerns about health risks from exposure to tire crumb.”
Westfield Football Club’s president Wade Avery said that the request was heard by the board and the concerns will be brought to Roots Athletic Center ownership. According to Avery, the concerns will be voiced and a proposed change will be made but the Westfield Football Club is not the only community club who has to make a determination on the topic. Several local communities, including Agawam, West Springfield and Chicopee, participate at Roots.
“This has to be worked out league-wide, so I have to compose the letter to them and see what they come back with,” Avery said. “This isn’t just a Westfield decision. We can express our concern that our coaches don’t want to play there but this is league-wide.”
Avery said that in the interim, it will be suggested that play occur on the outdoor turf fields, with the potential for play on grass fields being pursued later, if it is deemed necessary. However, the outdoor turf fields also have crumb rubber underneath them, according to Webber.
For Avery though, he does not see much risk in playing on the artificial turf fields.
“People have health concerns over inconclusive evidence,” he said. “I personally have been playing on turf fields for a long time.”
He added though, that parents do have the right to be privy to what their children are being subjected to and what the conditions are.
A comment made from a representative from Roots, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they are looking at the information and will “send out information” and have provided information on their website related to the safety of the use of synthetic fields and crumb rubber.
