Synthetic Turf

Health and Environmental Impacts

For the latest information related to disinfectants and Coronavirus, see the links below. As always, be sure to check with your synthetic turf manufacturer before applying any chemicals.

CDC Cleaning & Disinfection of Community Facilities

EPA List of Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2

Penn State Studies

Year Authors Title Link
2020 McNitt et al. Survival of Staphylococcus aureus applied to Poa pratensis, L. and synthetic turf Read It Online
2012 McNitt and Petrunak Evaluation of the efficacy of Ultraviolet-C light to eliminate Staphylococcus aureus from infilled synthetic turf surfaces Read It Online
2011 Serensits et al. Human health issues on synthetic turf in the USA Read It Online
2009 A.S. McNitt, D.M. Petrunak, and T.J. Serensits A Survey of Microbial Populations in Infilled Synthetic Turf Fields Read It Online
2008 McNitt et al. A Survey for the Presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the Infill Media of Synthetic Turf Read It Online

Scientific Journal Articles

Year Authors Title Link
2023 Zhang et al. Occurrence and risk assessment of PAHs from athletic fields under typical rainfall events Read It Online
2023 Mohammed et al. Hazard assessment study on organic compounds and heavy metals from using artificial turf Read It Online
2023 Moreno et al. A new look at rubber recycling and recreational surfaces: The inorganic and OPE chemistry of vulcanised elastomers used in playgrounds and sports facilities Read It Online
2022 Zuccaro et al. Artificial turf and crumb rubber infill: An international policy review concerning the current state of regulations Read It Online
2022 Xie et al. Toxic effects and primary source of the aged micro-sized artificial turf fragments and rubber particles: Comparative studies on laboratory photoaging and actual field sampling Read It Online
2022 Lauria et al. Widespread Occurrence of Non-Extractable Fluorine in Artificial Turfs from Stockholm, Sweden Read It Online
2022 Murphy and Warner Health impacts of artificial turf: Toxicity studies, challenges, and future directions Read It Online
2022 Kubota et al. Characterization of synthetic turf rubber granule infill in Japan: Total content and migration of metals Read It Online
2022 Kawakami et al. Characterization of synthetic turf rubber granule infill in Japan: Rubber additives and related compounds Read It Online
2022 Kawakami et al. Characterization of synthetic turf rubber granule infill in Japan: Polyaromatic hydrocarbons and related compounds Read It Online
2022 Grynkiewicz-Bylina et al. Tests of rubber granules used as artificial turf for football fields in terms of toxicity to human health and the environment Read It Online
2022 Sakai et al. Characterization of synthetic turf rubber granule infill in Japan: Volatile organic compounds Read It Online
2022 Graca et al. Presence of metals and metalloids in crumb rubber used as infill of worldwide synthetic turf pitches: Exposure and risk assessment Read It Online
2021 Armada et al. Global evaluation of the chemical hazard of recycled tire crumb rubber employed on worldwide synthetic turf football pitches Read It Online
2021 Negev et al. Hazardous chemicals in outdoor and indoor surfaces: artificial turf and laminate flooring Read It Online
2021 Gomes et al. A review of potentially harmful chemicals in crumb rubber used in synthetic football pitches Read It Online
2020 Valeriani et al. Artificial-turf surfaces for sport and recreational activities: microbiota analysis and 16S sequencing signature of synthetic vs natural soccer fields Read It Online
2020 Keller et al. The Fate of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Synthetic Turf System Read It Online
2020 Celeiro et al. Evaluation of chemicals of environmental concern in crumb rubber and water leachates from several types of synthetic turf football pitches Read It Online
2020 Celeiro et al. Hazardous compounds in recreational and urban recycled surfaces made from crumb rubber. Compliance with current regulation and future perspectives Read It Online
2020 Massey et al. Artificial turf infill: A comparative assessment of chemical contents Read It Online
2020 Schneider et al. ERASSTRI - European risk assessment study on synthetic turf rubber infill - Part 1: analysis of infill samples Read It Online
2020 Schneider et al. ERASSTRI - European risk assessment study on synthetic turf rubber infill - Part 2: migration and monitoring studies Read It Online
2020 Schneider ERASSTRI - European risk assessment study on synthetic turf rubber infill - Part 3: Exposure and risk characterisation Read It Online
2019 Almansour et al. Playground lead levels in rubber, soil, sand, and mulch surfaces in Boston Read It Online
2018 Pronk et al. Synthetic turf pitches with rubber granulate infill: are there health risks for people playing sports on such pitches? Read It Online
2018 Perkins et al. Evaluation of potential carcinogenicity of organic chemicals in synthetic turf crumb rubber Read It Online
2018 Benoit and Demars Evaluation of organic and inorganic compounds extractable by multiple methods from commercially available crumb rubber mulch Read It Online
2018 Bleyer and Keegan Incidence of malignant lymphoma in adolescents and young adults in the 58 counties of California with varying synthetic turf field density Read It Online
2018 Celeiro et al. Determination of priority and other hazardous substances in football fields of synthetic turf by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: A health and environmental concern Read It Online
2017 Canepari et al. Release of particles, organic compounds, and metals from crumb rubber used in synthetic turf under chemical and physical stress Read It Online
2017 Peterson et al. Comprehensive multipathway risk assessment of chemicals associated with recycled ("crumb") rubber in synthetic turf fields Read It Online
2015 Selbes et al. Leaching of DOC, DN, and inorganic constituents from scrap tires Read It Online
2014 Cheng et al. Environmental and health impacts of artificial turf: a review Read It Online
2013 Kruger et al. New approach to the ecotoxicological risk assessment of artificial outdoor sporting grounds Read It Online
2013 Pavilonis et al. Bioaccessibility and risk exposure to metals and SVOCs in artificial turf field fill materials and fibers Read It Online
2013 Schiliro et al. Artificial turf football fields: environmental and mutagenicity assessment Read It Online
2013 Ruffino et al. Environmental-sanitary risk analysis procedure applied to artificial turf sports fields Read It Online
2012 Rhodes et al. Zinc leaching from tire crumb rubber Read It Online
2012 Kim et al. Health risk assessment of lead ingestion exposure by particle sizes in crumb rubber on artificial turf considering bioavailability Read It Online
2011 Ginsberg et al. Benzothiazole toxicity assessment in support of synthetic turf field human health risk assessment Read It Online
2011 Menichini et al. Artificial-turf playing fields: contents of metals, PAHs, PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs, inhalation exposure to PAHs and related preliminary risk assessment Read It Online
2011 Ginsberg et al. Human health risk assessment of synthetic turf fields based upon investigation of five fields in Connecticut Read It Online
2011 Simcox et al. Synthetic turf field investigation in Connecticut Read It Online
2010 Li et al. Characterization of substances released from crumb rubber material used on artificial turf fields Read It Online
2010 Van Rooij and Jongeneelen Hydroxypyrene in urine of football players after playing on artificial sports fields with tire crumb infill Read It Online
2009 Bocca et al. Metals contained and leached from rubber granulates used in synthetic turf areas Read It Online
2008 Zhang et al. Hazardous chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in digestive fluids Read It Online
2003 Birkholz et al. Toxicological evaluation for the hazard assessment of tire crumb for use in public playgrounds Read It Online

U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission

Year Authors Title Link
2008 CPSC CPSC staff analysis and assessment of synthetic turf "grass blades" Read It Online

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Year Authors Title Link
2019 EPA July 2019 Report: Tire Crumb Rubber Characterization Read It Online
2009 EPA A scoping-level field monitoring study of synthetic turf fields and playgrounds Read It Online

National Toxicology Program - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Year Authors Title Link
2019 National Toxicology Program NTP Research Report on the Chemical and Physical Characterization of Recycled Tire Crumb Rubber: Research Report 11 Read It Online
2019 National Toxicology Program NTP Research Report on Synthetic Turf/Recycled Tire Crumb Rubber: Characterization of the Biological Activity of Crumb Rubber In Vitro: Research Report 12 Read It Online
2019 National Toxicology Program NTP Research Report on Synthetic Turf/Recycled Tire Crumb Rubber: Feasibility Study in Support of Non-inhalation In Vivo Exposures of Synthetic Turf/Recycled Tire Crumb Rubber: Research Report 13 Read It Online
2019 National Toxicology Program NTP Research Report on Synthetic Turf/Recycled Tire Crumb Rubber:14-Day Exposure Characterization Studies of Crumb Rubber in Female Mice Housed on Mixed Bedding or Dosed via Feed or Oral Gavage Research Report: 14 Read It Online

Washington State Study

Year Authors Title Link
2017 Washington State Department of Health Investigation of reported cancer among soccer players in Washington State Read It Online

Connecticut Studies

Year Authors Title Link
2010 Connecticut Department of Public Health FACT SHEET - The CT DPH risk assessment of artificial turf fields Read It Online
2010 Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Result of state artificial turf field study: no elevated health risk Read It Online
2010 The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering Committee report: peer review of an evaluation of the health and environmental impacts associated with synthetic turf playing fields Read It Online
2010 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station 2009 study of crumb rubber derived from recycled tires - final report Read It Online
2010 The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Artificial turf study - leachate and stormwater characteristics - final report Read It Online
2010 University of Connecticut Health Center Artificial turf field investigation in Connecticut - final report Read It Online

New York Studies

Year Authors Title Link
2009 New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Air quality survey of synthetic turf fields containing crumb rubber infill Read It Online
2008 New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene A review of the potential health and safety risks from synthetic turf fields containing crumb rubber infill Read It Online
2008 New York State Department of Health FACT SHEET: Crumb-Rubber Infilled Synthetic Turf Athletic Fields Read It Online

California Studies

Year Authors Title Link
2010 California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery Safety study of artificial turf containing crumb rubber infill made from recycled tires: measurements of chemicals and particulates in the air, bacteria in the turf, and skin abrasions caused by contact with the surface Read It Online
2009 California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Chemicals and particulates in the air above the new generation of artificial turf playing fields, and artificial turf as a risk factor for infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Literature review and data gap analysis Read It Online
2007 California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Evaluation of health effects of recycles waste tires in playground and track products Read It Online

New Jersey Studies

Year Authors Title Link
2011 UMDNJ-EOHSI Crumb infill characterization for trace elements and organic materials Read It Online
2008 State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Update: New Jersey investigation of artificial turf and human health concerns Read It Online
2007 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Preliminary assessment of the toxicity from exposure to crumb rubber: its uses in playgrounds and artificial turf playing fields Read It Online

International Studies

Year Authors Title Link
2017 European Chemicals Agency An evaluation of the possible health risks of recycled rubber granules used as infill in synthetic turf sports fields Read It Online
2017 Dutch National Institute of Public Health and the Environment Evaluation of health risks of playing sports on synthetic turf pitches with rubber granulate Read It Online
2007 Intron Environmental and health risks of rubber infill. Rubber crumb from car tyres as infill on synthetic turf Read It Online
2006 Norwegian Pollution Control Authority Measurement of air pollution in indoor artificial turf halls Read It Online
2006 IBV Study of incidence of recycled rubber from tyres in environment and human health Read It Online
2006 Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Radium Hospital Artificial turf pitches - an assessment of the human health risks for football players Read It Online
2006 Norwegian Building Research Institute Potential health and environmental effects linked to artificial turf systems - Final Report Read It Online