TY - JOUR A1 - Kittner, Maria A1 - Coesfeld, Bianca A1 - Schlau, Sven A1 - Werischak, Thomas A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Kalbe, Ute T1 - Simultaneous sampling for microplastics and environmental contaminants from artificial turf: development of a new integrated microplastics eluate lysimeter N2 - To get a better understanding of potentially harmful contaminant emissions from soils or materials into the environment, politics demand practical and holistic sampling concepts for environmental samples such as leachates containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) or heavy metals, and hazardous particulate matter like microplastics (MP). Of particular concern are MP emissions from artificial turf sports pitches. So far, there has been only very limited data on MP mass emissions from artificial turf potentially posing a risk to the groundwater and no sampling device that allowed simultaneous sampling for dissolved and particulate contaminants. In this study, a novel integrative microplastics eluate lysimeter was developed to determine contaminant emissions from three artificial turf systems at different ageing states (fabric-new, artificially aged, real-time aged). For the accelerated ageing, all environmental simulation parameters were based on Central German conditions and simulated outdoor stress during the turf service lifespan of 15 years. MP masses from eluates were analysed using thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, PAH concentrations using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and heavy metals using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Results showed that no PAH or heavy metal concentrations from the seepage water were above German legal limits for alternative granular construction materials considering soil and groundwater protection. Furthermore, it was found that only minimal MP emissions were released from new turf systems into the seepage water (< 1 mg/m2). Ageing of the artificial turf increased MP formation, especially from rubber infill and grass fibres, which are then carried into the seepage water. The highest total MP emissions over a simulated turf lifespan of 15 years were detected in two real-time aged turf systems ranging from 136.4–252.5 mg/m2. Considerably less total MP emissions were detected in accelerated aged artificial turf systems, one of which contained a synthetic rubber infill (5.4–8.0 mg/m2) and one without rubber infill (0.2–5.3 mg/m2). In summary, it was demonstrated that the newly developed MEL generated reliable and reproducible data and has thus proven itself as an integrated, straightforward and automated sampling device for simultaneous monitoring of particulate and dissolved pollutant emissions from simple soil matrices. KW - Lysimeter KW - Microplastics KW - Artificial turf KW - Thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons KW - PAH KW - Heavy metals KW - Soil samples PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-645301 DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01235-1 SN - 2190-4715 VL - 37 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Springer Open AN - OPUS4-64530 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Kalbe, Ute A1 - Krüger, O. A1 - Bandow, Nicole ED - Brown, R. ED - Gedde, U.W. ED - Hedenqvist, M.S. T1 - Influence of weathering on the leaching behaviour of zinc and PAH from synthetic sports surfaces N2 - Synthetic materials used for outdoor sports grounds consist of a mix of inorganic, organic and polymeric compounds that show ageing due to weathering and a complex leaching behaviour by percolation of rainwater, which can limit its lifetime. Additionally, weathering exposure induces degradation processes in the polymers, which leads to the formation of new surfaces allowing water to access additional reservoirs of leachable compounds. A laboratory test comprising artificial weathering, ozonisation and subsequent leaching was developed to investigate this behaviour in a reproducible and controllable way. The experiments showed a general decline of Zn, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations after an initial increase. Within this general trend, the course of concentration over exposure duration is very specific for individual sample materials and the analyte under investigation. The results indicate that weathering and degradation behaviour cannot be predicted from initial material conditions. Thus, weathering experiments are recommended to fill this gap of knowledge. KW - Athletic tracks KW - Artificial turf KW - Ageing KW - Artificial weathering KW - Polymer degradation KW - Rubber granules KW - Leaching KW - Contamination PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2017.09.021 SN - 0142-9418 SN - 1873-2348 VL - 63 IS - October SP - 621 EP - 631 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Amsterdam, The Netherlands AN - OPUS4-42205 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kalbe, Ute A1 - Krüger, Oliver A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Berger, Wolfgang A1 - Hally, S. T1 - Development of leaching procedures for synthetic turf systems containing scrap tyre granules N2 - Scrap tyres are widely reused in the form of granules as infill materials or component of sub-base layers in construction of sporting grounds such as synthetic turf areas and athletic track surfaces. The recycled rubber may contain organic and inorganic pollutants due to the presence of vulcanisation catalysts, stabilisers and other additives which can be released into soil and groundwater in the case of outdoor sports facilities. In order to evaluate the amount of potentially mobile pollutants, leaching tests can be employed. This study aimed particularly at the investigation of the feasibility of column tests using complete synthetic surface flooring or turf system assemblies. The release of zinc and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) leached from components of sports surfaces containing recycled rubber granules was considered. Additionally, batch tests on coated and uncoated styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) granules aged by artificial weathering were performed to indicate its possible influence on the leaching behaviour of zinc and PAH. The chosen approach of column tests simulating typical complete synthetic sports surface installations has been proven to be feasible and robust. The time-dependent leaching behaviour and interactions between single components can be evaluated by column tests. Zinc was the most relevant contaminant in the eluates and its leachability was enhanced after accelerated ageing by artificial weathering. Leachable PAH were found in relatively low but well detectable amounts which increase by ageing as well. KW - Waste rubber KW - SBR KW - Artificial turf KW - Leaching KW - behaviour KW - Column test KW - Batch test KW - Weathering PY - 2013 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-013-9248-5 SN - 1877-2641 SN - 1877-265X VL - 4 IS - 4 SP - 745 EP - 757 PB - Springer Science + Business Media CY - Dordrecht AN - OPUS4-29454 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -