RIVM has conducted research into the health risks of playing sports on synthetic turf fields with an infill of rubber granulate. The results of this research indicate that playing sports on these fields is safe. The risk to health from playing sports on these synthetic turf fields is virtually negligible. While rubber granulate contains harmful substances, these substances are only released from the rubber granulate in very small quantities after ingestion, contact with the skin or evaporation in hot weather. RIVM recommends adjusting the standard for rubber granulate to one that is closer to the standard applicable to consumer products.

Rubber granulate from 100 synthetic turf fields in the Netherlands was tested for hazardous substances. The rubber granulate was analysed in the laboratory to determine which substances it contains and how much. This provides a representative picture of rubber granulate present in the Netherlands.

Based on various earlier studies, RIVM concluded that it was unlikely that playing sports on synthetic turf fields with rubber granulate would have any health effects and that people playing sports could continue using rubber granulate fields. In 2006, RIVM conducted a thorough study of the information available worldwide at that time about the possible health effects of exposure to rubber granulate. In 2007, RIVM performed air measurements above synthetic turf fields and published a report on the matter. RIVM works in an international network of experts and never bases any of its recommendations on a single study.