You really won't believe this.
A researcher and coach at the University of Washington has claimed that playing 5-a-aside on astroturf pitches may cause cancer.
Amy Griffin, a former goalkeeper, is studying the possibility that artificial surfaces can cause cancer, as the rubber underneath the pitches can be made up of dangerous elements, like; lead, benzene, mercury and arsenic.
Griffin points to the fact that 158 athletes in America have developed cancer while using such surfaces, although she had admitted that she is not absolutely certain of her findings, according to the
Independent.
Speaking to
NBC News, Griffin said:
"I've coached for 26, 27 years, my first 15 years, I never heard anything about this. All of a sudden it seems to be a stream of kids".
FIFA has responded to the suggestions, saying that such findings, “did not substantiate the assumption that cancer resulting from exposure to crumb rubber infill could potentially occur”.
Research to date present no obvious dangers from artificial pitches, but not a great deal of study has been carried out on the issue.
