EU - PAH Restriction Now Covers Materials Used in Sport Pitches and Playgrounds

​The Netherlands submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) an Annex XV dossier in 2018, proposing a restriction on eight polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in granules for use as infill material in synthetic turf pitches and of granules or mulches in loose form on playgrounds or in sport applications. 

Rubber granules are used as infill material in synthetic turf pitches and rubber granules and mulches are also used in loose form on playgrounds or in sport applications, such as golf courses, athletic arenas, horse arena footings, nature trails, or shooting ranges. Those granules and mulches are mainly from End of Life Tires (ELT) and the presence of PAHs in such materials is one of the concerns. As the materials are considered to be mixture under REACH and therefore not covered by the existing PAH restriction entry (entry 50 of Annex XVII to REACH Regulation).

After the evaluation and public consultation, it is concluded that the concentrations of the eight PAHs in granules and mulches using in such applications shall not be more than 20 mg/kg (0.002% by weight) of the sum of the following PAHs after August 10, 2022:

1. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)
   
2. Benzo[e]pyrene (BeP)
   
3. Benzo[a]anthracene (BaA)
   
4. Chrysen (CHR)
   
5. Benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbFA)
   
6. Benzo[j]fluoranthene (BjFA)
   
7. Benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkFA)
   
8. Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DBAhA)
   

The new restriction also requires granules or mulches placed on the market for such sport applications be marked with a unique identification number of the batch.

The new requirements are added to entry 50 of Annex XVII to REACH Regulation.