Microplastic release from sand-filled artificial-grass tennis court and development of a device to prevent the release of synthetic grass into the environment

Abstract

［Introduction］ Marine microplastics （MPs） represent a global environmental concern. There are various sources of MP release. Release of MPs has been reported some sports facilities, such as artificial turf sports fields. In this study, we first surveyed whether MPs were released from a tennis court made of artificial grass and sand. Second, we developed a device to prevent the release of MP from tennis courts into the environment.

 

［Methods］ We first surveyed whether artificial grass was torn and produced plastic tips or MPs. We measured the number of plastic tips remaining in tennis courts and estimated the number of plastic tips that migrated to the ditches surrounding the tennis courts, rainwater basins, and a drainage basin. After confirming the release of plastic tips from tennis courts into the environment, we developed a device to capture plastic tips using a plastic pail and plastic meshes of various sizes.

 

［Results］ We collected plastic tips of torn artificial grass from tennis courts, ditches, rainwater basins, and a drainage basin. Then, we developed a device to capture the plastic tips and confirmed that the device with a fine mesh size could catch plastic tips efficiently in laboratory experiments and verification tests by setting the trap in the sewage pipe.

 

［Discussion］ The present study revealed that MPs are released into the environment from tennis courts made of artificial grass and sand. In this study, we developed a device to prevent the release of MPs from tennis courts. We set the trap in the sewage pipe of the tennis courts and confirmed that the trap effectively captured the MP. It is suggested that this type of trap be set in the Japanese tennis courts made with artificial grass and sand to prevent the release of MPs from tennis courts into the environment.