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Ingestion of rubber tips of artificial turf field by goldfish
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This Japanese study found that rubber crumb particles from artificial turf fields migrate through drainage systems into waterways and can be actively ingested by goldfish, which retained the particles in their intestines for up to 48 hours. The findings indicate that artificial sports turf is a source of marine microplastic that can be consumed by fish.
Abstract Marine microplastic is one of the global environmental issues. The present study examined whether rubber tips of artificial sports fields could be marine microplastic. We observed the migration of rubber tips from the artificial turf field to the surrounding ditch connected to sewer pipes and then examined the ingestion of rubber tips using goldfish Carassius auratus . The rubber tips found in sediments in the ditch suggest that the rubber tips could be sent to the river and released into the ocean. The goldfish ingested rubber tips with or without fish feed, and rubber tips are found in the intestine. However, the fish discharged the rubber tips within 48 h after the ingestion. These results indicate that ingestion of the rubber tips was not accidental but active behavior. Therefore, the artificial turf sports fields could be a source of marine microplastic and may cause hazardous effects on wild fishes through ingestion.
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Ingestion of rubber tips of artificial turf fields by goldfish
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Researchers found that rubber crumb infill from artificial turf sports fields can migrate into adjacent waterways and be actively ingested by goldfish, suggesting that synthetic sports fields are a potential pathway for rubber-derived microplastics to enter aquatic ecosystems.
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This study tracked whether polyethylene fibers from artificial turf sports fields break off and migrate into surrounding drainage systems connected to sewage pipes. The researchers found detached and worn fibers in drainage ditches, providing evidence that artificial turf is a source of microplastic fiber pollution in urban stormwater.
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Researchers fed lumpfish crumb rubber particles from car tires and tracked the ingestion, retention, and chemical uptake in the fish over time. They found that the fish ingested the rubber particles and absorbed tire-specific chemicals, including para-phenylenediamines and their transformation products, into their tissues. The study demonstrates that tire rubber is a source of microplastic and chemical exposure for marine fish that may encounter runoff from artificial sports fields.
Tracking Microplastics from Artificial Football Fields to Stormwater Systems
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Microplastic rubber granules from artificial football turf were tracked through stormwater systems, documenting transport pathways and quantities reaching the marine environment. The study quantifies artificial turf as the second largest source of intentionally added microplastics entering the environment in Sweden.
Emissions of >1 mm rubber granule infill from artificial turfs: a case study from two football pitches
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Those artificial turf soccer fields with rubber crumb infill are shedding tiny plastic rubber bits into the soil and, once it rains, that rubber can wash straight into local streams and lakes with little to stop it. Researchers found the amount escaping varied a lot between fields depending on how they're used and maintained, showing this is a real and manageable pollution source rather than a fixed problem. While this study focused on environmental spread rather than direct health effects, it's a reminder that the microplastics you might track home on your shoes after a game don't just disappear—they end up in waterways, adding to the broader mix of plastic pollution
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.