Recycling used tires in the form of aggregates for the production of synthetic floors and coatings is one of the main ways of recycling tire waste. These synthetic surfacings, increasingly used for sports grounds and outdoor or indoor playgrounds, have for some years raised concerns about their possible impact on health and the environment. In this context, the Agency draws up an inventory of the knowledge available on the subject. The data compiled relate to the chemical substances that enter into the composition of these grounds but also those used for their production, installation and maintenance.
The available studies do not highlight any health risk, they evoke potential risks for the environment
The Agency has identified more than fifty studies and expert reports published internationally on the risks associated with synthetic pitches, in particular by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Netherlands Institute for Health and environment (RIVM). This work mainly concerns synthetic sports grounds.
Most studies conclude that there is a negligible risk to the health of athletes and children. Existing epidemiological analyzes do not show any increase in the carcinogenic risk, in particular of lymphomas and leukemias, associated with the frequentation or installation of synthetic sports grounds, and this in particular, in view of the low concentrations of carcinogenic substances. emitted or released by tire granulate.
Furthermore, the available data suggest the existence of potential risks for the environment linked to the transfer of chemical substances into the environment (zinc, phenols, etc.) via soils and rainwater drainage systems. ANSES therefore recommends the development of methodological elements with a view to conducting environmental risk assessments, to be carried out locally before any installation of this type of coating.
ANSES also supports the proposal to restrict the content of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in rubber aggregates, currently being examined under the European REACH regulation, in order to guarantee the lowest possible content of these compounds of concern. .
ANSES proposes research priorities to supplement the risk assessments already available
During its analysis, ANSES identified certain methodological limitations in the available data. Indeed, they do not sufficiently take into account the variability of the composition of synthetic pitches. Thus, uncertainties remain as to the potential health risks associated with these materials, in particular in relation to emissions of volatile compounds. The Agency therefore recommends carrying out a broader analysis of the pollutants contained and emitted by these aggregates, in particular concerning the dust likely to be emitted, in order in particular to specify occupational exposure.
In addition, ANSES recommends acquiring more data on the specific uses of tire granules in playgrounds as a priority. Very little documented to date, these uses involve sensitive populations and concern other products such as glues, dyes, binders, smoothing agents.
ANSES also recommends furthering knowledge of the levels of exposure to synthetic pitches inside buildings and investigating the thermal risk of these coverings, which can represent significant concentrations of heat in an urban environment.
Furthermore, the Agency emphasizes that these research priorities may be reassessed in the light of work currently being carried out in Europe and the United States on the use of aggregates in synthetic turf pitches.
More generally, this work of analyzing data on the risks associated with synthetic coatings incorporating recycled tire granules, in line with the challenge of a more resource-efficient economy, raises the question of the identification of negative externalities ( including the risks for humans and the environment) to be integrated into the development of the circular economy, which the Agency, for its part, will strive to include in its reflection on its future expert work .