Recent discussion about the dangers of crumb rubber artificial turf found on the country’s football fields has cause some municipalities to take action. Such artificial turf football fields are made of ground up tires, known to contain carcinogenic substances.
A number of parents have voiced their concern and insisted the fields be replaced right away, but city officials have said they will do so once the fields are renovated, RÚV reports. There are plans for one field to be renovated this summer and another two next year.
Reykjavík Mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson states he has contacted the Environment Agency of Iceland and the Public Health Authority to see if new guidelines should be issued regarding the use of such fields. He suggests the government establish a fund to finance the replacement of the crumb rubber artificial turf. Football fields on school grounds have been under examination as well. Those were installed by the Football Association of Iceland, and Dagur suggests its officials should be contacted about how to replace them.
The town of Seltjarnarnes has decided to remove all crumb rubber from its football field once it will be renovated this spring.
The Environment Agency has stated that the crumb rubber is not harmful in limited amounts. The fields in question are 127 in 59 municipalities.
