A rash slide tackle on an artificial football pitch or falling in the playground can be painful but research could find the surfaces post more significant dangers to your health.

Across the world, studies are taking place over concerns 3G surfaces may cause serious illnesses.

Some say the risk of exposure to the rubber crumbs, the black granules recycled from materials such as scrap tyres and conveyor belts, could lead to diseases including cancer.

Crumb rubber pitches have increased in popularity since the turn of the century, with many facilities around the world, including hundreds in Scotland, using the surface from local pitches to a professional level.

Despite being in use for more than a decade, some argue there has been very little analysis of the potential effects of exposure not just on those who use and play on the surfaces but also on those who install and maintain them.

A renewed call has been made by the European Commission for more information on the concerns and for the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to act out on this, with a call for evidence issued by the body.

While the ECHA works on reporting about two or three topics a year, the analysis and subsequent proposals can take several years to come close to implementing.

Mark Blainey, senior scientific officer and restrictions process coordinator, told STV News the agency plans to produce a report for the commission by late January with a view to publishing it to the public a month later.

He added: "I think by February there will be an answer whether it appears there is a risk from the use or exposure to rubber crumb, that's the question the commission are asking: whether or not these substances are 'adequately controlled'.

"At the moment we're still gathering information. There are a number of studies that have already been done looking at what's in the rubber crumb, what people might be exposed to and looking at that information if there is a risk then it's very small.

"But what we want to do is look at that in more detail and see whether actually there is a problem that needs to be dealt with."

He added: "I think the studies are limited in what they have looked at so we don't know how the sampling was actually done, where they took the rubber crumb from.

"You don't know whether it gives a true picture of the possibilities for a risk. That's why we need to not only look at those studies but look at new studies being done.

"We can't discount these claims because we don't really know enough of what the situation was leading up to these issues and very serious illnesses and concerns.

"We don't know, for example, how long these people were exposed and to what."

One such example raised by Mr Blainey is the Environmental Protection Agency's ongoing comprehensive study in the US which hopes to include a large sampling exercise not only of the general public who use the pitches but professional athletes as well.

It covers a wider area and more variables than another example brought up by Professor Andrew Watterson, director of health research at Stirling University.

He slammed "one small study that looked at uptake of the various chemicals that could be in some of these pitches and it could be seven players over a three day period".

Prof Watterson said the ECHA will present its results next year, giving some detail on exposure and the potential hazards, but it would not be until 2019 that any action was considered depending on what recommendations follow the surveys.

He said: "It's not something to immediately get concerned about if you play on the pitches or if you're a parent and your children do but it's something that should be addressed.

"A lot of time is spent looking at musculature injuries to players, the safety side if you like, and the health side has in fact been neglected.

"It is something we need to deal with because there are other materials that are used; there are other alternatives that may be available.

"And I think it's in the interest of the people who buy the pitches, the interests of government and the interests of industry that we sort this out."

Prof Watterson added: "The US government said the studies were limited and didn't answer the questions that they in fact wanted.

"So we don't know if there is a risk and if there is we don't know how many people have been affected.

"I think in 2016 with the technology and materials that have been around for a long time we really should have had the answers by now. But we hope they'll be coming shortly."

The health researcher also highlighted the comparison between the lack of studies into the chemicals and the rubber used on the pitches and the current set of standards for toys.

All toys go under review before hitting the shelves in case there is any dangerous levels of chemicals emitting from the product - something which could become common practice with artificial pitches.

The professor said: "At the moment we appear to have different standards for rubber toys and crumb rubber in pitches. Again it would be good to have an explanation as to why that is.

"With the US research that's going on and research elsewhere it's a case of 'watch this space' but ask for the best information you can about the pitches your children are playing on and indeed the playground facilities.

"Not all contain crumb rubber for instance, the pitches may be many and various."

He added: "For the particular chemicals most people are concerned about it looks like the toy standard is twice as tough in some areas as it is for crumb rubber.

"So again there may be a good enough explanation for that but I think government and industry need to be very open, put this information in the public domain.

"I think that's the way we actually reduce and remove people's fears. Let's be transparent and put things in context on the basis of good research which we don't have at the moment."

While the American findings are due to be published by the end of the year there is already action being carried out in the Netherlands.

Quick to act on what little findings there are already out in the open, they have taken the "precautionary principle" of scaling back on the use until further evidence has determined a proper outcome.

In Scotland, the stance of Will McLeish, head of media at sportscotland, is to maintain with the rubber crumb pitches which have "been crucial to the development of sport in Scotland".

He said: "We've been working for many years now with our partners in local authorities, the Scottish FA and Scottish Rugby to help develop these 3G pitches and we know that there has been extensive research which has shown and validated the use of rubber crumbs.

"We take the safety of our users very seriously indeed but all the extensive research that has been carried out entirely validates the use of these surfaces and the crumb rubber.

"We welcome further analysis but all the materials we use on these 3G pitches are subject to rigorous testing at UK-accredited laboratory tests and must meet exacting standards of the EU and British Safety Standards."

He added: "It is right and proper we keep on top of all of the analysis of the top equipment used in the sports industry including on surfaces. We are in regular dialogue with the lead agencies on this matter.

"The ECA are conducting further analysis again I stress of all previous analysis done have validated the use of materials on these pitches but it's all right and proper that we keep across all the latest scientific and medical evidence.

"What we do know definitively is that if you're inactive then you increase the risk of c ancers and other chronic diseases.

"What we've been doing is ensuring we provide more and better opportunities for all ages and all abilities to take part regularly in exercise and that is helping them lead to a longer and healthier life."

A spokesman for the Scottish FA said: "There have been numerous scientific investigations into the crumb used in 3G pitches which conclude that the crumb rubber infill is safe for both children and adults.

"There has been no considerable evidence to suggest that they are anything other than safe. All materials for pitches in Scotland have to go through rigorous laboratory testing to meet European and British standards under UK-accredited test laboratories.

"Recent research by Labosport, an independent laboratory that specialises in the testing of sports surfaces, has assessed crumb rubber in the UK, EU and USA to the same test method that is required for the testing of children's toys (EN 71-3 Safety of toys Part 2: Migration of certain elements (Material of Category III)).

"It has not once found any toxicology issues doing these tests."