Sports fields: synthetic turf made from microplastics soon to be banned

Sports fields synthetic turf made from microplastics soon to be

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    in collaboration with

    Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)

    Medical validation:
    September 07, 2022

    Every year, many synthetic sports fields are built. But they are strongly criticized. Their lawns, made from microplastics, may soon be banned.

    After the water bottles stuffed with microplastics, places to the sports fields. Accused of being “contaminated” by these particles, they could soon disappear. Indeed, the European Commission wants to ban all synthetic plots within six years. A drastic decision, which follows the many problems caused by plastic particles.

    Towards a ban on synthetic lawns

    These synthetic coatings raise concerns about their possible impact on human health and the environment, in particular because of the chemical substances present in their composition. This questioning is particularly significant when these aggregates are used as constituents of sports fields or playgrounds for children. “, already specified ANSES in a scientific opinion dating from 2018.

    Risks largely sufficient, according to the European Commission, to require the banning of synthetic lawns based on microplastics (in France, there are 4400 of them). ANSES nevertheless specified that these particles were not currently considered to be “cancerous”.

    This does not prevent these tire aggregates, used outdoors (for the practice of sports or for recreational activities) or indoors, from being disseminated everywhere in our environment: we thus find them in the bottles of water, milk, sodas, salt, honey, seafood and fruits and vegetables, but also in baby bottles or tea bags.

    Particles potentially toxic to human health

    Although the risks posed by these particles on human health are still unclear, numerous data show that the ingestion of certain microplastics leads to dysbiosis (an imbalance within the intestinal flora), and intestinal dysfunction in several animals.

    Ultimately, if it turns out that these pollutants have the same effect in humans, they could “êbe involved in the appearance of certain diseases, in particular cancerous or inflammatory “, specifies Inserm.

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