Environmental Pollution | Volume 310 | October 1, 2022
Health Impacts of Artificial Turf: Toxicity Studies, Challenges, and Future Directions

Numerous studies have shown that chemicals identified in artificial turf, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are known carcinogens, neurotoxicants, mutagens, and endocrine disruptors.

The Guardian | March 10, 2023
Artificial turf potentially linked to cancer deaths of six Phillies ball players — report
The lawn replacement — largely fallen out of favor in professional sports these days — contains large amounts of toxic chemicals

"A report on a possible link between a rare brain cancer that killed six professional US baseball players and toxic chemicals in artificial turf is raising a new round of questions over whether synthetic sports fields pose a health threat to athletes and others who use them."

MDPI | July 8, 2025
Artificial Turf Versus Natural Grass

The cost–benefit analysis revealed that natural grass offers a lower long-term expense over a 25-year period.

California Environmental Protection Agency | March 2025
Synthetic Turf Study

Chemicals Detected in Biofluid Extracts and Air Samples attributed to synthetic turf, and not to other environmental sources like industrial facilities and traffic: Benzene (potential carcinogen; lethal at high exposure), 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene (Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Do NOT wash away into sewer. The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. The substance defats the skin, which may cause dryness or cracking. Repeated or prolonged inhalation may cause effects on the lungs. This may result in chronic bronchitis. The substance may have effects on the blood and central nervous system.), 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects; Avoid release to the environment), 1-ethyl-2,4-dimethylbenzene (Causes skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause respiratory irritation), 2-ethyl-1,4-dimethylbenzene (Causes serious eye damage), butylbenzene (volatile organic compound [VOC] evaporates contributing to air pollution and potentially to climate change; difficult to remove from the environment), Benzothiazole, Butanal, Cyclopentasiloxane, Decamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, Octamethylcecane, D-Limonene, Dodecane, Furan, 2-methylheptanal, Indan, Mesitylene, Methacrolein, Methyl Isobutyl Ketone, Naphthalene, Octanal, Octane, p-Cymene, Styrene, TXIB "Kodaflex", Undecane, Acetone, m-Tolualdehyde

Washington Post | August 7, 2025
What's known about the other health risks of turf

The Children's Environmental Health Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai says there are "significant gaps in the evidence supporting the safety of artificial turf products" and they "strongly discourage" artificial turf playing surfaces.

Toxics Use Reduction Institute | April 2019
Athletic Playing Fields: Choosing Safer Options for Health and the Environment

"Children are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals because their organ systems are developing rapidly and their detoxification mechanisms are immature. Children also breathe more air per unit of body weight than adults, and are likely to have more hand-to-mouth exposure to environmental contaminants than adults. For these reasons, it is particularly important to make careful choices about children's exposures."

Safe Healthy Playing Fields
The Problem with Alternative Infills
Choosing PBI (plant based infills) means using an expensive and controversial product that requires the use of carcinogens and many chemicals, in addition to being a respiratory risk. It means a headlong rush into other dangers with multiple and unknown angles.

PBI comes with its own risks, and has known issues similar to tire-infill (high temperatures, inhalation risks, lack of regulation, undisclosed chemical additives, etc.)

San Francisco Estuary Institute | May 20, 2025
"Forever Chemicals" Found in Fish through Most of Bay

A team of SFEI scientists tested fish samples collected throughout the Bay since 2009 for a notorious group of chemicals called PFAS, or "forever chemicals", which cause rampant harm in humans from reproductive issues to cancer. The research detected 20 types of these "forever chemicals" in total, including one never documented before in marine fish.

Los Angeles Times | September 17, 2025
As California installs more artificial turf, health and environmental concerns multiply
A growing body of research shows these carpets have the potential to cause harm in three main ways: burns, chemical exposure and injuries.

"I wish they'd stop calling it grass," Terry Saucier said. "It's carpet. They're taking green space, grass and dirt away from kids and laying down synthetic carpets."

Forbes | March 13, 2025
The Invisible Threat: How Microplastics Are Poisoning Our Health And What We Can Do About It
These tiny particles have become impossible to avoid. They are in our air, our water, our food, and, increasingly, inside our bodies.

The fight against microplastics is not just an environmental issue—it is a public health emergency. If we fail to act, we are not just polluting our planet; we are poisoning our bodies, our children, and our future. This is not a theoretical concern. Researchers have now linked microplastics to inflammation, oxidative stress, immune dysfunction, metabolic disorders, and even cognitive decline. All of these hurt us and our children.

The New York Times | April 8, 2025
What Are Microplastics Doing to Our Bodies? This Lab Is Racing to Find Out.
Inside a New Mexico lab, researchers estimate there is five bottle caps worth of plastic in human brains. Now they are trying to find out its effects.

"'This stuff is increasing in our world exponentially,' Dr. Campen said. As it piles up in the environment, it is piling up in us, too."

San Francisco Estuary Institute | October 29, 2021
A Synthesis of Microplastic Sources and Pathways to Urban Runoff
Playing sports on artificial turf is a source of microplastic in urban stormwater runoff.

San Francisco Estuary Institute | 2017 - 2021
San Francisco Bay Microplastics Project
Microplastics are a pervasive and preventable threat to aquatic ecosystems. The San Francisco Estuary Institute and 5 Gyres conducted a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive regional study of microplastic pollution of a major urban estuary and adjacent ocean environment.

Microparticle and microplastic concentrations in Bay sediment were higher than those reported in the majority of other regions around the globe.

Washington Post | April 27, 2025
Microplastics may confuse bees and other insects, hurting pollination
Recent studies have shown that tiny pieces of plastics can make bees more susceptible to bacteria and viruses.

"One thing is clear, though, Wanger-Guerrero said: 'The urgency to mitigate exposure of nature to plastic.'"