How2Day: The Environmental Concerns of Artificial Turf

Artificial turf is usually made of synthetic material that most often includes old recycled tires, which are shredded into crumbles called in-fill. The durable material is used as a surface for turf fields and playgrounds because of its easy maintenance. Yet according to a 2007 report published by Environment and Human Health Inc. (EHHI), concerns have been raised by public health analysts about the chemicals released by artificial turf and the impact those chemicals have on humans and the environment.

EHHI reports a 2007 study conducted by the Connecticut Agricultural Experimentation Station that determined artificial turf, when exposed to ambient temperatures, releases toxic gases into the environment. In particular, its study concluded that high levels of benzothiazole, butylated hydroxyanisole, n-hexadecane and 4-(t-octyl) phenol were emitted in addition to other harmful chemicals at lower toxicity levels. When humans and animals are exposed to these chemicals, their eyes and skin become irritated, and sensory function is hampered. For this reason EHHI recommends you refrain from using sports fields and playgrounds with artificial turf on very hot days when off-gassing and leaching of chemicals is most likely to occur.

Once it rains or snows, wastewater runoff from artificial turf fields and playgrounds can get into your ground water, pollute it and therefore impact the quality of your drinking water. Recycled rubber tires contains metals, such as zinc, lead and cardmium that can penetrate water wells and contaminate them. Furthermore, if poisonous wastewater from artificial turf enters streams or ponds, it can jeopardize the health of wildlife that inhabits them by changing water conditions.

In-fill also releases dust particles into the air when the artificial turf is used. The dust particles contain poisonous chemicals, such as those that artificial turf releases into the air as gases. Dust particles remain in the air briefly but eventually fall to the ground where they are absorbed into the soil. According to EHHI, crumbled rubber tires contain high amounts of zinc, which is especially toxic to plants and can cause them to die.

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