We get fewer questions than we used to but there is still the occasional query about the safety of artificial grass. But here’s the fact: today’s synthetic turf or artificial grass is safe. We know of no credible scientific study suggesting otherwise. Here are the usual concerns:
Lead: While lead poisoning is a serious issue, it is not a concern with artificial turf. All major products manufactured today are lead free.
Heavy Metals: Heavy metals like zinc or mercury are not associated with the grass itself but with the crumb rubber infill made from recycled passenger tires. The science does not support concerns associated with heavy metals leaching or off gassing and properly prepared crumb rubber is generally considered to be benign.
Crumb rubber is used as cushioning when specified, say an athletic field, but this is rarely the case in a landscape application. GreenSpace Grass does not use crumb rubber.
Heat: Under extremely hot conditions, the product itself can get very warm to the touch, but not uncomfortably so in our opinion. For small scale applications with no crumb rubber there is no evidence to suggest an adverse heat island effect.
Injuries: The most often cited study from the NCAA demonstrates that the rate of injuries between synthetic fields and ordinary grass are statistically the same.
Staph: A 2008 study from Penn State University Department of Agriculture shows MRSA lives and dies equally on synthetic turf and natural turf.
Chemicals, carcinogens, miscellaneous chemophobias: Synthetic grass is made from the same material used in food packaging, medical supplies, clothing and thousands of other products you use everyday.
If you still have doubts, you might want to think about the tons of fertilizer, pesticides, rat poisons and other chemicals poured on a “natural” lawn to keep it green. None of which, of course, is used on a synthetic lawn.
Links to research studies will be coming soon.
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