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Artificial Turf Lawsuit

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An artificial turf lawsuit may be an option for athletes who were diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia or any other form of cancer that could be related to the crumb rubber used to infill thousands of synthetic turf athletic fields and playgrounds in communities throughout the United States. Recent media reports suggest that scores of athletes – especially soccer goalies and lacrosse goaltenders – have been diagnosed with lymphoma or leukemia after playing on synthetic crumb rubber fields.

Free Legal Reviews

Bernstein Liebhard LLP is now investigating synthetic turf lawsuits involving various types of cancers, including lymphoma and leukemia. If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cancer and were regularly exposed to tire crumb from artificial turf, please contact our office today by calling (888) 994-5118.

What is Crumb Rubber?

Crumb rubber, also known as tire crumb, is manufactured from scrap tire rubber. The manufacturing process involves removing reinforcing materials and other contaminants and reducing the rubber to uniform granules. The resulting material can be used for:

• Athletic surfaces and fields
• Agrimats and equestrian footing
• Automotive parts and tires
• Construction/indoor
• Landscape, trails and walkways
• Molded and extruded products
• Playground and other safety surfaces
• Rubber modified asphalt and sealants
• Rubber and plastic blends

Tire crumb contains natural and synthetic rubber, as well as various chemical additives, including zinc, sulfur, black carbon, and oils that contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. There is some concern that the crumb rubber used in athletic fields and playground surfaces could expose the public to serious health risk. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that studies have not shown an elevated health risk from tire crumb in playing fields, it also acknowledges that the existing research is not comprehensive.

Tire Crumb and Cancer

In February 2016, the federal government launched an initiative aimed at evaluating cancer risks potentially associated with artificial turf containing crumb rubber. The government’s plan was prompted by informal research conduct by Amy Griffin, a former top soccer player, who was alarmed by a “stream of kids” who had become ill after playing soccer on artificial fields.

Between 2009 and 2016, Griffin identified 220 athletes who had developed cancer after playing on athletic fields containing crumb rubber. Lymphoma was the most frequently diagnosed cancer, followed by leukemia. More than 160 of the individuals tracked by Griffin were soccer players, including 102 goalies. Soccer goalies are more likely to be exposed to crumb rubber, as they spend more time on the ground compared to their teammates.

The EPA did launch a crumb rubber study in 2009, and ultimately concluded that, while the material did contain some potentially harmful substances, the amounts detected merited only a low level of concern. However, that study was limited to four tire crumb playing fields. In 2016, the EPA said it could no longer stand by the study’s findings.

Attorneys Now Investigating Artificial Turf Cancer Cases

Bernstein Liebhard LLP is now offering free, no-obligation legal reviews to anyone who was diagnosed with cancer – especially lymphoma or leukemia – that could be linked to crumb rubber used in turf athletic fields or playground surfaces. Please call (888) 994-5118 to learn more about filing an artificial turf lawsuit.