A former NHS boss believes his teenage son’s cancer was attributable to synthetic football pitches.
Nigel Maguire fears his son Lewis, 18, developed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after playing on artificial pitches and is now calling for a ban on the artificial surfaces because of the toxic chemicals they include.
The 52-yr-previous, who took early retirement from his job as chief govt of NHS Cumbria to look after Lewis, said his son fell ill halfway via a 12-week trial with Leeds United two years in the past.
Former NHS boss Nigel Maguire, 52, artificial turf football field from Cumbria, fears his son Lewis, 18 (pictured collectively), developed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after taking part in on synthetic soccer pitches due to the toxic chemicals they comprise
He warned that rubber pellets added to synthetic football pitches to present them bounce are made from outdated automotive tyres and comprise toxic chemicals including mercury, lead, benzene and arsenic.
He believes it’s the trigger for illness in players, notably goalkeepers – like his son – who come into closer contact with the plastic taking part in surface after they dive for the ball.
Mr Maguire stated: ‘Goalkeepers like Lewis dive dozens of times in coaching so they breathe it in or swallow it and it gets of their grazes.
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‘He used to come dwelling together with his package covered within the stuff. We’d must scrape it off.
‘The more I look into it, the extra horrified I’m. Anyone who thinks swallowing half a teaspoon a week of that stuff is a good suggestion is barking mad. If you cherished this posting and you would like to receive additional data concerning artificial turf grass futsal courts – https://wattpad.com, kindly check out our own internet site. ‘
Goalkeeper Lewis Maguire, 18 (pictured), fell unwell throughout a 12-week trial with Leeds United two years ago and was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
It’s feared the pellets – known as crumb rubber – could also be by accident swallowed, or develop into lodged in arm or leg wounds, when players hit the 3G turf.
Mr Maguire is now starting a campaign to lift nationwide awareness of the difficulty.
He has known as for a moratorium on building new 3G pitches and wants rugby and goalkeeping coaching on them to be banned till extra research is carried out.
‘If individuals knew the place the black rubber pellets came from and had been product of they’d suppose twice about letting their kids practice there,’ he said.
‘It is obscene so little research has been carried out. This multibillion-greenback business is conducting an industrial-scale experiment on our kids – it is a scandal.’
Last month it was revealed that frightened campaigners within the U.S. have linked artificial pitch use to more than a hundred and fifty most cancers instances.
It prompted the wife of former Liverpool and Everton participant Gary Ablett to voice concern over their use.
Following the revelations, Scottish League One staff Stenhousemuir sought guidance from governing physique FIFA and the Sports and Play Construction Association.
But both our bodies defended synthetic pitches, insisting they are completely safe.
Sportscotland and FIFA said there was no evidence linking them to cancer and that sufficient research had been achieved to show the pitches have been secure.
In America, producers have also denied artificial pitches pose a well being danger. But Mr Maguire insists further security research are wanted.
CAN Artificial Football PITCHES Cause Cancer?
Mr Maguire’s story comes just two weeks after British football chiefs have been urged to analyze claims that artificial pitches are a most cancers threat.
The warning came after University of Washington analysis urged the cancer diagnoses of lots of of young American gamers were linked to the surface.
The surface, often known as crumb rubber infill, is used on thousands of parks, colleges and professional pitches across the UK and US.
Typically made from crushed tyres, it’s unfold throughout artificial turf to enhance the natural bounce of the ball.
The tyres are crushed into gravel-sized black pellets, which protect artificial grass from put on and tear and permit it to soak up water more successfully.
However, research have discovered a mixture of deadly chemicals in outdated tyres, including mercury, lead, benzene, arsenic and other carcinogens.
It’s feared the pellets may be by chance swallowed, or change into lodged in arm or leg wounds when players make contact with the turf.
The makers of artificial turf strongly deny any such threat, as does the football-governing physique FIFA.
A spokesman for FIFA said its medical evaluation and research centre had already probed well being fears linked to synthetic pitches.
He added: ‘At that time, the conclusion was clear – the accessible physique of scientific research on this challenge did not substantiate the assumption that most cancers ensuing from exposure to crumb rubber infill could potentially happen.
Lewis’s doctor, paediatric oncologist Professor Josef Vormor, also mentioned any potential link between the illness and crumb rubber on pitches needs to be totally researched.
Last week, Jacqueline Ablett, 43, whose defender husband Gary died in 2012, said: ‘There ought to definitely be extra analysis into these pitches.’
The FA is monitoring their use. ‘We’re conscious of the issues and are monitoring trade research as well as conducting our personal,’ a spokesman said.
In Scotland a debate has also been raging over their suitability, amid claims soaring numbers of players are being injured while playing on the pitches.