Like anything which seems "too good to be true," synthetic turf fields come with a set of environmental and health problems which should be of concern for administrators and parents.

• Synthetic turf fields are made from plastic, an unsustainable petroleum-based product; they are not biodegradable and cannot easily be recycled. They often replace natural turf fields which are living ecosystems, capable of sequestering carbon in their biomass, recharging and filtering rainwater and pollutants, and cooling ambient temperatures.

• Most synthetic fields use rubber from recycled tires (crumb rubber or "SBR") as infill to cushion the surface. This toxic waste material presents significant potential human health risks, and has been banned in some countries. Chemical toxins cannot be removed from recycled tire material.

• High lead levels have been detected in aging synthetic turf fields made from nylon and polyethylene. Sun and wear break down the turf fibers into a dust contaminated with lead that can be rubbed off onto hands or other areas of the body. Lead is a proven and potent neurotoxin and children are particularly vulnerable to its effects.

• Crumb rubber absorbs, rather than reflects sunlight, causing the field surface to reach dangerously high temperatures on hot days. (Viewed from above, synthetic turf fields appear black.) This can create unsafe playing conditions, limit field availability and require large amounts of water to cool playing surfaces.

• Synthetic turf fields can be ideal locations for bacterial growth, and the harsh chemicals required to disinfect these fields present additional health risks of their own.

• One reason often cited in favor of synthetic fields is that they eliminate the need for toxic pesticides. Properly developed and maintained natural turf fields do not require pesticides. See natural playing fields.

• The cost of installation, maintenance and replacement of synthetic turf (up to one million dollars per field) far exceeds the modest cost for the rehabilitation and maintenance of natural turf (about $10-20,000 per year).

Resources:

Grassroots Environmental Education has produced an educational advocacy flyer called "Ten Things You Should Know About Synthetic Turf."

For more information on the scientific research currently being conducted on crumb rubber and its effects on human health, please visit Environment and Human Health or the University of Albany.