The most common infill material used in the constructions of artificial football turfs is styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) granulate. Evaluations from other Nordic countries suggest that artificial turfs are a significant source of microplastics. However, there is a lack of information on the actual dispersal of the rubber granules to the surroundings of the turfs and to the aquatic environments.
In the TEKONURMI project, the amount of SBR granule emissions from artificial turfs and the importance of the different routes of the granules are studied. The effects of SBR exposure on terrestrial invertebrates is also tested.
Based on the results of the project, a mass balance of the infill material will be compiled. As a result, a proposal of mitigation measures for different types of artificial turfs will be provided for municipalities and football clubs.