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Health Concerns Due to Artificial Turf

Artificial turf has been around since the 1960s and has been installed everywhere, from football stadiums--the Houston Astrodome being the first stadium with artificial turf--to hockey fields, and even such locations as stores, schools and hotels. It is popular in so many places, yet health concerns are abound when it comes to artificial turf.

  1. Lead Contamination

    • Children under six are most at-risk of lead contamination of older nylon fields made of artificial turf. The unsafe lead levels come from surfaces that include recycled tires in the turf, also known as "crumb rubber." Small rubber pellets are likely to fall off the turf, and the risk of lead contamination lies in children, or athletes, inhaling and swallowing them.

    Higher Frequency of Sports Injuries

    • Physicians and trainers have noticed a greater injury frequency when sports are played on artificial turf. According to the Hospital of Special Surgery, injuries such as ligament tears, sprained ankles, and even concussions have been reported while playing on AstroTurf. University of Iowa's John Powell also found that professional football teams had more major knee injuries when playing on artificial turf than those playing on natural grass.

    Overheating

    • Artificial turf absorbs heat from the sun and during the warm months, the surface can get hotter than natural grass. According to the website MomsTeam, the temperature of artificial turf on a 98-degree Fahrenheit day, can rise to more than 120 degrees. With the surface being so hot, playing sports becomes a health hazard, where players can become dehydrated.

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