Assessment of the environmental impact of filling material in artificial turf: Final report for a two-year case study of water flows and emitted substances

Magnusson, S

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DiVA

Abstract

Chock-absorbing elastic infill materials used in artificial turf in football fields can be made of different types such as rubber, plastic, cork or other materials of different origins. It is primarily infill from recycled tires and environmental aspects such as chemical content and potential leaching to water that has been studied. However, other types of infill or other materials in artificial turf have been studied to a much smaller extent, even though they can also emit hazardous substances. This study aimed at analyzing the quality and quantity of water flowing from artificial turf fields constructed with different types of infill materials. The aim was to compare and assess the environmental impact of leached substances from the infill materials to drainage water. The method consisted of measurement of substances in drainage water as well as analysis of water flowing from the artificial turf fields, one of which was constructed with infill from recycled tire material, so-called SBR, and the other was constructed with infill from EPDM rubber. Lysimeters were installed in both artificial turf fields and water was sampled for further analysis of substances for a period of two years. Some water samples were taken directly from water in drainage wells. Sampled water was analyzed for metals and, inter alia, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and semi volatile organic substances by using a non-target screening method. Water flows throughout the artificial turf field was quantified. A maximal value for the dispersion of microparticles from infill material through the artificial lawn and the superstructure to drainage water was theoretically calculated. Infiltrated water that reached the drainage pipes or groundwater during the study period was about 1 % of total rainfall. It is possible that infiltrated rainwater is flowing horizontally out from the constructions. The concentrations of substances emitted from the infill materials that are transported with water through the superstructure of the artificial turf fields were below substance target values ​​for discharges into water, where there are guideline values. The levels of metals expected to be emitted were lower than estimated to be found in surface run off from park environments and low-traffic roads. An analysis of detected S-VOC substances was conducted by using the EPI suite tool. Analysis showed that the concentrations was of small concern regarding aquatic risk. The total potential mass of particles from infill material in drainage water was relatively very small in relation to the amount that could be spread to surfaces around the artificial turf field. The number of microparticles from infill and turf was not measured. The figure below illustrates measured water flows at the studied artificial turf field.

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