Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Human Health Issues onSynthetic Turf
Human Health Issues onSynthetic Turf
Thomas Serensits
Penn State University
USA
Thomas Serensits
Penn State University
USA
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Human Health – Synthetic TurfHuman Health – Synthetic Turf
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Human Health Issues on Synthetic TurfHuman Health Issues on Synthetic Turf
• High SurfaceTemperature
• Risk of Skin Infection(Staphylococcusaureus)
• High SurfaceTemperature
• Risk of Skin Infection(Staphylococcusaureus)
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
High Surface TemperatureHigh Surface Temperature
• Traditional Astroturf
– 30° C hotter than natural grass (Buskirk, et al., 1971,
Koon et al., 1971, Kandelin, et al., 1976)
• Infilled Synthetic Turf
– Surface = 93° C (Williams and Pulley, 2002)
– Not as hot as traditional Astroturf (McNitt et al.,
2008)
• Traditional Astroturf
– 30° C hotter than natural grass (Buskirk, et al., 1971,
Koon et al., 1971, Kandelin, et al., 1976)
• Infilled Synthetic Turf
– Surface = 93° C (Williams and Pulley, 2002)
– Not as hot as traditional Astroturf (McNitt et al.,
2008)
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Research ObjectiveResearch Objective
• Investigatetechniques to reducesurface temperatureof infilled syntheticturf
– Irrigation
– Amendments to infill
– Tarping
• Investigatetechniques to reducesurface temperatureof infilled syntheticturf
– Irrigation
– Amendments to infill
– Tarping
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Surface Temperature Research atPenn State
Surface Temperature Research atPenn State
• 9 synthetic turfproducts
• Irrigation
• Tarp covering
• Calcined clay
• 9 synthetic turfproducts
• Irrigation
• Tarp covering
• Calcined clay
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
IrrigationIrrigation
• 2 cm of water appliedat midday
• Infrared Thermometer
• Test 1: air temp = 30° C
• Test 2: air temp = 25° C
• 2 cm of water appliedat midday
• Infrared Thermometer
• Test 1: air temp = 30° C
• Test 2: air temp = 25° C
• ANOVA
• Dunnett’s Test
– Temperature at eachtime interval to pre-irrigation temperature
• ANOVA
• Dunnett’s Test
– Temperature at eachtime interval to pre-irrigation temperature
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
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Minutes After Irrigation
Astroplay Fieldturf GeoturfAstorturf Nexturf SofsportOmnigrass 51 Omnigrass 41 Sprintturf
Surface temperature of synthetic turf surfaces on 03 Aug
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
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Astroplay Fieldturf Geoturf Astroturf Nexturf
Sofsport Omni 5100 Omni 4100 Sprintturf Nat turf
Surface temperature of unirrigated Kentucky Bluegrassplots
Surface temperature of unirrigated plotsSurface temperature of plots prior to irrigation
Surface temperature of plots immediately after irrigation
Surface temperature of synthetic turf surfaces on 02 June
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Calcined ClayCalcined Clay
• Prolong the coolingeffect of irrigation?
• 80:20 m3 m-3
• Compared tostandard turf systems
• Irrigation at 1:00 PM
• Prolong the coolingeffect of irrigation?
• 80:20 m3 m-3
• Compared tostandard turf systems
• Irrigation at 1:00 PM
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
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-10 15 40 65 90 115 140 165 190 215
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Astroturf Fieldturf Rubber + ProfileSprinturf KBG Asphalt
Surface temperature of plots prior toirrigation
Surface temperature immediately after irrigation
Surface temperature of unirrigatedplots
Surface temperature of unirrigated Kentucky Bluegrassplots
Surface temperature of synthetic turf surfaces including infillamended with Profile (calcined clay) on 02 June
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Tarp CoveringTarp Covering
• 2 cm of water - 6:00 AM
• Tarp removed - 1:00 PM
• Temperatures recordedfor 3 hours
• Result: No difference
• 2 cm of water - 6:00 AM
• Tarp removed - 1:00 PM
• Temperatures recordedfor 3 hours
• Result: No difference
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Surface Temperature ConclusionsSurface Temperature Conclusions
• Temperatures rebounded 20 minutes afterwatering
– 10 degrees cooler than non-watered for 3 hours
• Calcined clay, tarping – no effect
• Cloud cover and haze influence
• Temperatures rebounded 20 minutes afterwatering
– 10 degrees cooler than non-watered for 3 hours
• Calcined clay, tarping – no effect
• Cloud cover and haze influence
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Human Health Issues on Synthetic TurfHuman Health Issues on Synthetic Turf
• High Surface Temperature
• Risk of Skin Infection (Staphylococcusaureus)
• High Surface Temperature
• Risk of Skin Infection (Staphylococcusaureus)
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Risk of Skin InfectionRisk of Skin Infection
• Staphylococcusaureus bacteria
• Methicillin-resistantS. aureus (MRSA)
• Synthetic turf –harboring S. aureus?– Antimicrobial
Treatments
• Staphylococcusaureus bacteria
• Methicillin-resistantS. aureus (MRSA)
• Synthetic turf –harboring S. aureus?– Antimicrobial
Treatments
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Research ObjectiveResearch Objective
• Determine if S. aureus bacterium is presenton infilled synthetic turf
• Determine if S. aureus bacterium is presenton infilled synthetic turf
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
S. Aureus SurveyS. Aureus Survey
• 20 fields (summer)
• Indoor and outdoor
• High and low useareas
• All bacteria and S.aureus
• 20 fields (summer)
• Indoor and outdoor
• High and low useareas
• All bacteria and S.aureus
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
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Infill Type
High Use Low Use* = Indoor Field
Colony forming units (CFU) detected on R2Amedia per gram of crumb rubber infill or rootzone
CFUs g-1: Indoor (0-7267) vs. Outdoor (0-80,000)
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
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Infill Type
High Use Low Use* = Indoor Field
Colony forming units (CFU) detected on R2Amedia per gram of crumb rubber infill or rootzone
Natural Grass
No S. aureus found via selective media, gram stain,or latex agglutination tests at any test location
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Additional Survey FindingsAdditional Survey Findings
• Fibers – fewer CFUs
• Microbial colonies – fungi and bacteria
• S. aureus temperature range: 7-48° C (37° C)
• Fibers – fewer CFUs
• Microbial colonies – fungi and bacteria
• S. aureus temperature range: 7-48° C (37° C)
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Surfaces that test positive (+) or negative (-) for thepresence of S. aureus colonies
Surfaces that test positive (+) or negative (-) for thepresence of S. aureus colonies
Source ResultPublic areasHuman hands +Human faces +Computer mouse -Elevator button -Outside door handle -Computer keyboard -
Source ResultAthletic training facilityNatural turfgrass playingfield
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Synthetic turf playing field -Cold pool -Blocking pads* +Sauna -Football* -Weight equipment* +Towel hamper -Stretching table +Used towels* +Trash can for drink cups -*Sampled immediately after use
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
S. Aureus on Synthetic TurfS. Aureus on Synthetic Turf
• Synthetic turf - moreabrasive than naturalgrass
• Skin Break = EntryPoint
• Synthetic turf - moreabrasive than naturalgrass
• Skin Break = EntryPoint
http://www.simonlangley.co.uk
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
• Increased incidence of S. aureus infectionfor athletes who shave ankles prior totaping
– Small cuts from shaving create entry points
• Increased incidence of S. aureus infectionfor athletes who shave ankles prior totaping
– Small cuts from shaving create entry points
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
Conclusions - Skin Infections onSynthetic Turf
Conclusions - Skin Infections onSynthetic Turf
• Synthetic turf is not a breeding ground forS. aureus
• Infections most likely in locker room, weightroom
• Abrasions create entry points for bacteria
• Synthetic turf is not a breeding ground forS. aureus
• Infections most likely in locker room, weightroom
• Abrasions create entry points for bacteria
Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface ResearchPenn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research
College of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Crop and Soil Sciences
http://ssrc.psu.edu/