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I-Team: Feds To Investigate Safety Of Crumb Rubber Turf Fields

BOSTON (CBS) -- Following years of concerns, three federal agencies will investigate the safety of crumb rubber turf that is used on thousands of fields and playgrounds all over the country.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the joint effort to see if there are possible health risks to young athletes.

"Some of the government's best and brightest scientists are working to identify what is in recycled tire crumb, identify ways in which people may be exposed to it, and determine if it is harmful," CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye said.

The debate was the focus of an I-Team investigation in March 2015.

For years, the synthetic turf industry has maintained its product is safe, pointing to dozens of studies that show no link between crumb rubber and health risks.

However, a study released by Yale University last summer raised safety questions about the chemicals found in the crumb rubber that is made of recycled tires.

The issue really ramped up after a soccer coach at the University of Washington noticed cases of young players across the country diagnosed with cancer. She created a list, which is largely comprised of goalies who dive and roll around on the tiny black pellets.

Parents around the Boston area have demanded their school districts look at alternative playing field options until more research is conducted on the safety of crumb rubber.

Lawmakers like Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., have also joined the cry for more information.

Critics and supporters of the widely-used turf fields welcomed the announcement from the federal agencies. They hope the government can finally settle the score on the debate.

Ryan Kath can be reached at rkath@cbs.com. You can follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.

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