Crumb Rubber Turf Alternatives Considered in New Canaan

NEW CANAAN, CT- Officials are considering turf options for Dunning Field as the current turf approaches the end of its life expectancy.

Several Federal agencies are investigating if crumb rubber turf poses any health threat to players, according to NBC News.

Limited studies thus far have shown no danger, but there have been several anecdotal stories of soccer players getting cancer after playing on surfaces. The Safe Fields Alliance coalition of turf manufacturers said it believes there is no greater danger to playing on synthetic fields than natural ones.

The headmaster of Greens Farms Academy in Westport suggested in an Advertiser letter that schools could use an organic infill made from cork oak trees.

New Canaan Athletic Director Jay Egan said he worried that the infill doesn't have enough shock absorption for football play.

Another possible option is extruded cork composite as the top layer with a middle lawyer of cryogenic rubber and sand on the bottom.

Read the full Advertiser story here.

Image via Perfect Grass/Flickr Commons