What You Need to Know��

• California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released a final study assessing potential health risks from��recycled-tire��“crumb rubber” used as synthetic turf infill.����

• OEHHA reported no evidence of a��significant��risk of cancer or other health problems for athletes, coaches, referees, or spectators — including young athletes and toddlers.����

• The nine-year effort evaluated��35 fields��across California, analyzed��100+ chemicals, and included air sampling plus exposure research involving��1,000+ soccer players.����

• OEHHA said the findings may help inform California sustainability and waste-tire management goals as synthetic turf use expands statewide.����

Learn More��

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —��California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has concluded that crumb rubber infill made from recycled tires is not likely to pose a significant health risk to people who use or watch games on synthetic turf fields.����

In a March 5 press release, OEHHA said its final report found “no evidence of significant risk for cancer or other health problems” tied to crumb rubber exposure for players, coaches,��referees��and spectators, including young athletes.����

The assessment focused on crumb rubber, the small granules produced by grinding recycled waste tires and commonly used as��infill��between synthetic grass blades. OEHHA said the material helps keep turf fibers upright, adds cushioning and improves traction.����

“This study should ease concerns about the safety of crumb rubber use in synthetic turf fields,” said OEHHA Director Kris Thayer, “Athletes of all ages can use these fields without parents worrying about this commonly used material,” according to��.����

OEHHA said synthetic turf is widely used because it requires less maintenance, uses less��water��and can support play without rest periods. The agency cited more than 900 synthetic turf installations in California.����

The report was also framed as part of California’s broader waste-tire and sustainability efforts.

“Protecting public health is our top priority, and California is committed to making sure waste tires are managed safely so they don’t litter communities or pose risks to residents,”��CalRecycle��Director Zoe Heller said, according to��.����

To evaluate potential health impacts, OEHHA tested 35 synthetic turf fields across the state, selecting both older and newer sites and including locations from each of California’s climate regions. The agency collected multiple samples from each field to address variation in source materials��and also��took air samples during active field use and when fields were idle.����

OEHHA said it assessed more than 100 chemicals that could pose a risk, a broader scope than prior studies that reviewed fewer compounds. The agency coordinated with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to simulate sweat and digestion as part of��identifying��chemicals people could potentially contact.����

OEHHA also worked with researchers from UC Berkeley and the University of Arizona to examine how soccer players may be exposed — including through skin contact,��inhalation��and incidental ingestion. The team surveyed more than 1,000 soccer players ages 7 to 71 about play habits such as sliding and diving, and recorded games and practices to quantify field contact. Because goalkeepers tend to have the most contact with the surface, OEHHA said goalie data were used to estimate risk for players. The analysis also considered toddlers who might crawl on turf.����

In its risk characterization, OEHHA reported no acute risk for athletes, referees,��coaches��or spectators, including toddlers. In most cases, the agency said risks of sensory irritation, cancer, reproductive��harm��or effects on a developing fetus were “negligible.”����

This article is based on reporting originally published by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) on March 5, 2026.��

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NEW LONDON, Conn. — The largest classroom at Connecticut College earned LEED Silver certification after the completion of remodeling work.

Bill Hall’s Silfen Auditorium, which seats up to 150 people, was renovated in 2008 and brought up to date with tools for interactive teaching and learning, officials said.

"Our goal with all new construction projects on campus is to improve the learning environment while also working to reduce the College’s environmental impact," Vice President for Administration Ulysses Hammond, who oversees campus construction, said. "We want to maintain the College’s position as a model for environmental stewardship and as a resource for environmental education."

The classroom is named in honor of David and Lyn Gordon Silfen, alumni of the class of 1967, who funded the renovation.

KBE Building Corp. served as the construction manager of the project, with Ellenzweig Associates as the designer.

The auditorium is one of the few campus locations that can accommodate a large group and is also used for special events, community presentations and lectures, according to school officials.

Silfen Auditorium was one of the first major construction projects completed after the adoption of a college-wide green building policy in 2005.

A quarter of the total building materials were manufactured using recycled materials, and about half of the building materials were manufactured regionally.

The Forest Stewardship Council certified more than 95 percent of the total wood used for the project and 100 percent of the applicable equipment is Energy Star-rated.

All adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, carpets, furniture and seating are low-emitting materials that reduce indoor air contaminants and more than 63 percent of the construction waste generated on site was diverted from landfills, school officials reported.

The College has also applied for LEED certification for its 10,000-square-foot fitness center, which opened in 2009.

Construction also began this month on the school’s new Science Center, which includes a complete renovation of the college’s oldest building and a large addition, with hopes for LEED certification for the entire project.

"Connecticut College is committed to long-term sustainability, and we are proud to have our green building practices recognized," said Connecticut College President Leo Higdon. "Silfen Auditorium is an important learning space in our community, and its renovation has served as a model for other environmentally-sensitive construction projects on campus."

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