To clear the doubt whether rubber turf in fields could pose a serious threat to players by raising the risk of cancer, the Obama administration has hired three federal agencies to investigate the link. Rubber turf is made of recycled tire materials and is used in most sports fields and kids’ play grounds all over the nation.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will examine the link between exposure to rubber turf and cancer, and any adverse effect on the health of players.

The rubber turf was introduced with an aim to provide better cushion and traction for playing any kind of sports. The investigation will receive a grant of $2 million from federal budget and will involve a technical team of nearly 50 federal employees, according to Laura Allen, spokeswoman for the EPA.

In March Last year, USA Today published a report stating that the artificial turfs used in thousands of playgrounds, daycare centers and schools across the nation were found to contain high levels of lead that was enough to potentially harm children.

In the same year, other event brought the rubber turf in limelight when a soccer coach at University of Washington announced a list of 38 young athletes who were diagnosed with blood cancers, like leukemia and lymphoma and had played on synthetic fields for long. While playing on the rubber turf, the crumbs of rubber get into their mouths, ears, and clothing.

However, there are no evidences so far to blame the artificial turf for causing blood cancer. The new study would definitely let us know about the actual risks of crumb rubber turf.