The Woodlands Township is reconsidering installing crumb rubber-based field turf at its Gosling Sports Complex after an NBC News report detailed concerns that chemicals in the field may cause cancer.
Although the township board approved the hiring of a consultant, DMA Sports Group, for the field turf project at its Oct. 16 meeting, the board is delaying a decision to move forward with the field turf installation at Gosling until it receives a report from the consultant. DMA will discuss the issue with the township board at the township's Nov. 20 meeting.
The township planned to install multipurpose field turf at three of the five planned sports fields at Gosling.
NBC News reported in October that Seattle soccer coach Amy Griffin conducted an unscientific study in which she found that of 38 U.S. soccer players who had been diagnosed with cancer, 34 were goalies who had constant contact with crumb rubber-based field turf.
John Powers, assistant general manager of community services for the township, said studies conducted so far on the safety of the field turf have not shown it causes cancer.
"At this time there is no scientific research that shows crumb rubber in any all-weather turf fields causes any cancer," Powers said. "There have been numerous studies over the years by various state agencies and the federal government and the synthetic turf industry, and so far there has not been anything that has been found to show that it causes [cancer]."
Powers said crumb rubber-based field turf has been in use for about 20 years. Two sports fields in The Woodlands use crumb rubber-based field turf—fields at Bear Branch Sports Park and Alden Bridge Sports Park.
Township Director John McMullan said he believes the long-term effects of field turf cannot yet be known.
"I think today this is unknowable," he said. "It's the nature of human knowledge. Some of this you can't know. What gives me a little bit of pause is part of the reason we've approved the artificial turf is to, one, improve the playing experience of our children, and perhaps save some water costs as well. But the alternative of grass is not a terrible alternative."
Township Director Mike Bass said if the township opts not to use the crumb rubber-based field turf, it would have other turf options to choose from.
"It's not just artificial turf or no artificial turf," Bass said. "There are other alternatives. And if we are concerned about it, we could explore the other alternatives. It might cost us a couple hundred thousand [dollars], but if we're unsure what time will show, then maybe [not using crumb rubber-based field turf is] the right answer."
