Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Widespread Occurrence of Non-Extractable Fluorine in Artificial Turfs from Stockholm, Sweden

Researchers found widespread non-extractable fluorine — indicative of PFAS compounds — in artificial turf fields across Stockholm, with total fluorine detected in all 51 samples tested, raising concerns about PFAS contamination in synthetic turf materials and potential exposure for athletes and nearby ecosystems.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Widespread Occurrence of Non-Extractable Fluorine in Artificial Turfs from Stockholm, Sweden

This is a duplicate entry for the study on PFAS contamination in artificial turf from Stockholm. The research documents widespread fluorinated compounds in synthetic turf materials alongside microplastic rubber particles. See ID 46939 for context.

2023
Article Tier 2

The dark side of artificial greening: Plastic turfs as widespread pollutants of aquatic environments.

This study found that artificial turf fibers made of polyethylene and polypropylene are widely present in river and ocean waters, having been transported there by stormwater runoff from sports fields, gardens, and rooftops. The findings reveal artificial turf as an underappreciated and widespread source of microplastic fiber pollution in aquatic environments.

2023 Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
Article Tier 2

Simultaneous sampling for microplastics and environmental contaminants from artificial turf: development of a new integrated microplastics eluate lysimeter

Researchers developed a simultaneous sampling protocol for collecting microplastics alongside persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals from artificial leachates, providing a more holistic approach to monitoring potentially harmful contaminant emissions from soils and materials.

2025 Environmental Sciences Europe
Article Tier 2

Health impacts of artificial turf: Toxicity studies, challenges, and future directions

Researchers reviewed toxicology studies on artificial turf, documenting that chemicals leaching from crumb rubber fill—including PAHs, phthalates, and PFAS—are known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, while calling for more rigorous human epidemiology and ecotoxicology studies to properly assess health risks from field use and runoff.

2022 Environmental Pollution 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Concept development of granular traps : A study to reduce the spread of microplastics from artificial turf

This Swedish engineering thesis developed a concept for granular traps to prevent microplastics from artificial turf sports fields from spreading to surrounding environments via stormwater runoff. Tire crumb rubber and artificial turf infill are major sources of microplastic pollution in urban waterways.

2021 KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Article Tier 2

Mechanisms of Generation and Ecological Impacts of Nano- and Microplastics from Artificial Turf Systems in Sports Facilities

This review examines how artificial turf in sports facilities generates nano- and microplastics through mechanical wear, UV radiation, and weathering of synthetic grass fibers and infill materials. These plastic particles have been detected in drainage systems and surrounding soils near sports facilities, with laboratory studies showing harmful effects on soil organisms and aquatic life. The findings highlight artificial turf as an overlooked but significant source of microplastic pollution in urban environments.

2025 Environments 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental impacts of artificial turf: a scoping review

This scoping review examines the environmental impacts of artificial turf, documenting concerns around microplastic pollution from synthetic grass fibers and infill materials, chemical leaching, and end-of-life waste disposal.

2024 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying the Sustainability of Football (Soccer) Pitches: A Comparison of Artificial and Natural Turf Pitches with a Focus on Microplastics and Their Environmental Impacts

A comparative life cycle assessment of artificial turf and natural grass football pitches found that artificial turf generates substantial microplastic emissions, particularly from rubber crumb infill, with total environmental impacts differing by metric.

2024 Sustainability 7 citations
Review Tier 2

Artificial sport surfaces and adverse effects for human health. A literature review

This literature review evaluates health risks from artificial sport surfaces using recycled tire rubber infill, finding that the EU classifies rubber granules as microplastics and that their hazardous chemical content raises bio-accessibility concerns especially for children using playgrounds.

2024 European Journal of Public Health
Article Tier 2

Dynamic material flow analysis of microplastics lost from artificial turfs: A case study from Norway

Researchers used dynamic material flow analysis to quantify microplastic losses from artificial turf football fields in Norway over their entire service life. The model estimated that significant quantities of rubber infill microplastics are lost annually to surrounding environments via runoff and wind, informing the EU REACH restriction on intentionally added microplastics.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 3 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Tyre granulate on the loose; How much escapes the turf? A systematic literature review

Without mitigation measures, an average artificial football turf loses approximately 950 kg/year of tire rubber infill to the environment, with snow removal adding up to 830 kg/year more. The most effective reduction strategies target snow clearing, mechanical brushing, and granulate carried off by players.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Fate of recycled tyre granulate used on artificial turf

Researchers reviewed the environmental fate of recycled tyre rubber granulate used as infill on artificial turf fields, finding that while the material provides significant CO2 savings compared to alternatives, dispersal of approximately 3,000-5,000 kg per field per year to surrounding environments raises microplastic pollution concerns.

2021 Environmental Sciences Europe 35 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Exploring the Human Health Impact of Artificial Turf Worldwide: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review found that artificial turf infill and fibers contain concentrations of PAHs, cadmium, mercury, and zinc that exceed European safety limits. While bioaccessibility varied by chemical, cancer risks were identified for children with pica behavior exposed to PAHs and for heavy metal exposure via dermal, inhalation, and ingestion pathways.

2024 Environmental health insights
Article Tier 2

Global evaluation of the chemical hazard of recycled tire crumb rubber employed on worldwide synthetic turf football pitches

Forty-two organic chemicals including PAHs, phthalates, and vulcanization agents were analyzed in 91 crumb rubber infill samples from synthetic turf football pitches globally, finding widespread contamination with hazardous compounds and identifying key chemical hazards for risk assessment.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Hazardous compounds in recreational and urban recycled surfaces made from crumb rubber. Compliance with current regulation and future perspectives

Researchers characterized 42 hazardous chemicals including PAHs, phthalates, and antioxidants in 40 crumb rubber surfaces used in sports fields and playgrounds, finding that most samples meet recent EU limits for rubber granulates but exceed standards for consumer products, and that multiple endocrine-disrupting compounds were widely detected at parts-per-million concentrations.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
Article Tier 2

A threat beneath the surface: Microplastic contamination in the groundwater of one of Europe's largest wetland complexes

Researchers confirmed microplastic contamination in groundwater samples from one of the world's most populous regions, documenting particle abundance, polymer types, and potential infiltration pathways from surface contamination through soil to subsurface aquifers.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Identifying sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in an arid environment with de facto reuse

Not relevant to microplastics — this study traces sources of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance) contamination into Lake Mead, a major drinking-water reservoir, finding that the Colorado River and treated wastewater are the dominant PFAS inputs, with domestic laundry and cosmetics as significant household sources.

2026 Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Are volatile methylsiloxanes in downcycled tire microplastics? Levels and human exposure estimation in synthetic turf football fields

Researchers measured volatile methylsiloxane levels in crumb rubber from recycled tires used as infill on synthetic turf football fields and found these chemicals present in all 135 samples tested. The concentrations were highest in commercial crumb rubber before field application, likely originating from silicone-based additives used in tire manufacturing. While the estimated human exposure doses through dermal absorption and ingestion during play were below health concern thresholds, the study confirms that synthetic turf microplastics serve as vectors for these emerging pollutants.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Release of Fluoro-Contained Free Radicals and Polyfluorinated-Like Molecules from Photoaged Fluorinated Microplastics: Identification and Formation Mechanisms

Fluorinated plastics (like PTFE) can release free radicals and polyfluorinated compounds under UV radiation, potentially adding to the environmental load of PFAS-like substances. This research raises concerns about fluorinated microplastics as a previously overlooked source of persistent toxic chemicals in the environment.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental risks of breakdown nanoplastics from synthetic football fields

Researchers collected drainage water from a synthetic football field and tested whether nanoplastics released from the turf materials were toxic to aquatic organisms. They found that broken-down particles from the rubber granules used as infill were highly toxic to water fleas, particularly chemicals from the granule surfaces. The study raises concerns about the environmental impact of synthetic sports turf on nearby waterways.

2024 Environmental Pollution 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of rubber tips of artificial turf fields by goldfish

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.

2023 Scientific Reports 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial Distribution of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Waters from Central and South Florida.

Researchers mapped the spatial distribution of 30 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across tap and surface waters from Central and South Florida using solid-phase extraction and LC-MS/MS. PFAS were detected in all samples at concentrations up to 169 ng/L, with the highest levels near military airbases, wastewater facilities, and airports in the Biscayne Bay area.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances in water: Occurrence, analytical methodologies, and remediations strategies: A comprehensive review

This review comprehensively compiled information on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water, covering their sources, health effects, analytical detection methods, and remediation strategies for removing these persistent contaminants from aquatic environments.

2023 Reviews in Analytical Chemistry 6 citations