Citizens Campaign for the Environment

CAMPAIGNS

Artificial Turf

What is artificial turf?
Artificial turf has changed from the days of “astroturf” on cement. The latest versions include “crumb rubber” to fill in the gaps between and soften the surface, often placed on concrete. Crumb rubber, made by shredding and grinding used tires to the size of coarse sand, contains a variety of dangerous chemicals.

New concerns about health impacts to children from crumb rubber
While there is still much to be learned about the possible health impacts of artificial turf, there is much that is already known:

Crumb rubber contains known carcinogens, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs);
Crumb rubber contains heavy metals, including lead;
Just like dirt, crumbs can end up in children’s mouths, clothes and hair.
The following chemicals have been found to be emitted in gas form and leached into water from crumb rubber, especially during warmer weather, by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station:

Benzothiazole, a skin and eye irritant
Butylated hydroxyanisole, a recognized carcinogen and suspected endocrine toxicant
n-hexadecane
4-(t-octyl) phenol

Recent studies, release in 2006 and 2007, have raised a number of significant adverse health impacts especially to our children. While scientists learn more about these impacts, our children should not be used as guinea pigs.

Other health concerns persist
In addition to toxicity concerns, there are other, unique health challenges raised by synthetic turf. Unlike grass, synthetic turf lacks the ability to absorb – and be cleaned by – rain, leaving bodily fluids, bacteria and other germs on the field.

New York and Connecticut begin to address artificial turf
CT Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced in May 2008 that he negotiated for $200,000 of a $750,000 settlement would be used to fund a study on the impacts of artificial turf. The lawsuit was against the Montville Commons Shopping Center for causing significant flooding issues in Montville, CT. The study is to be conducted by the state's Agricultural Experiment Station, which has a history of investigating artificial turf. The New York State Legislature introduced legislation (A9503-Englebright / S6531-Alesi) this fall to place a six-month moratorium on building new artificial turf fields across New York State and conduct a study on the possible health impacts of crumb rubber and artificial turf.

Common Questions

Isn’t recycling good for the environment? Shouldn’t we be reusing the tires?
Yes and yes. However, increasing environmental exposures to chemicals in order to avoid landfilling the tires is not environmentally sound.

What about pesticides? Would we have to use pesticides if we had “natural turf”?
No. There are many effective techniques for managing turf without resorting to toxic pesticides. Many grounds, including some golf courses, are maintained using little-to-no pesticides. Synthetic turf vs. pesticides is a false dichotomy.

There are other schools and colleges with synthetic turf. Doesn’t that mean they are safe?
No. Many of those schools had lead paint on their walls 50 years ago and now lead paint is banned for health reasons. The information about the health impacts of crumb rubber has only recently come to light. Many of those schools are now stuck with the turf for many years or, if the danger risks become more pronounced, face spending even more money to dismantle them and properly dispose of their components. Schools should avoid this outcome and refrain from building new artificial turf fields.

Click here to view New Haven, CT-based Environment & Human Health, Inc.’s report on artificial turf

Updated by epepper 5/30/08