Frequently Asked Questions > Synthetic or "Artificial" Turf > Some project opponents argue synthetic turf fields are toxic. True or false?

  • The main weapon used by opponents of synthetic turf is the argument that their rubber infill contains PAHs, compounds that have been known to cause cancer
  • However, PAHs are all around us – humans are exposed to much higher concentrations of PAHs by eating toast or barbequed meats than by playing for months on synthetic fields
  • There are many, many studies that have tested the potential toxicity of rubber crumb in playing environments – concluding that there are no issues
  • FIFA (the World Soccer Federation) produced an extensive study of all previous work on the subject, and issued an unconditional statement approving use of rubber crumb on synthetic playing surfaces
  • Some concern was also raised recently when the Boston Globe published an article about lead found in artificial turf surfaces on some fields in New Jersey, but as this letter points out, the CCHS fields uses a different surface altogether.

Last updated on April 23, 2008 by Webmaster