Safety of Artificial Grass

There are around 800 artificial grass football stadiums used by North American schools, colleges and professional teams including around half of the NFL, and the demand for new artificial grass stadiums is growing.

The artificial grass surface is preferred because it enables a uniform playing surface that is easier to care for than grass and it is more environmentally friendly because of the savings in terms of watering as well as no need for potentially hazardous chemicals.

However some health experts are concerned over the use of artificial grass due to the fact that it is made from green-colored polyethylene/nylon or polypropylene ribbons couched in a layer of cushioning rubber particles. The rubber crumbs might be more readily identified as shreaded automobile tire rubber.

The concern comes over the fact that it may be possible to ingest the small particles or inhale their fumes. The toxic chemicals can irritate the eyes and lungs and have been linked to cancer. A study has also shown that recycled tire crumbs release chemical compounds into the air under hot weather conditions.

Artificial grass also gives athletes an injury commonly referred to as turf burn more readily than would happen on natural grass which can lead to a bacterial infection that can be life threatening called MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

All of that doesn't even take into account the pending court case where it is claimed that artificial grass is responsible for exposing people to abnormally high levels of lead which is being released by the aging synthetic grass.

The popularity of artificial grass arenas is not diminishing. In fact it is increasing as players prefer playing on the true surface. The advocacy group Environment & Human Health Inc. has called for a moratorium on installing new artificial grass on fields and playgrounds until more studies have been done.