Researchers report that exposing chicken embryos, a model of higher vertebrate development, to pollutants leached from crumb rubber used in artificial turf infill led to embryonic mass loss and developmental malformations, particularly in the brain and cardiovascular system, as well as gene dysregulation in multiple biological pathways, suggesting the need to reexamine the potential toxicity of crumb rubber used in artificial turf such as playgrounds and athletic fields.
Article #19-09886: "Artificial turf infill associated with systematic toxicity in an amniote vertebrate," by Elvis Genbo Xu et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Larsson, McGill University, Montreal, CANADA; tel: 514-952-3238; e-mail: hans.ce.larsson@mcgill.ca ; Nathalie Tufenkji, McGill University, Montreal, CANADA; tel: 514-398-2999; e-mail: nathalie.tufenkji@mcgill.ca
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences