There are two possible issues with using artificial turf. The really big one I think is the shredded tire rubber that is used as infill for the turf. Sometimes shredded tire is also used by itself on playgrounds. The other big problem is the materials used in the artificial blades of grass.
From what I have been studying about this, I think we should be very careful and probably avoid using artificial turf as well as shredded tire rubber on playgrounds and sports fields. I think there’s enough evidence to say it is either harmful or that we don’t know enough and shouldn’t take the risk.
Evaluation of potential carcinogenicity of organic chemicals in synthetic turf crumb rubber
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935118305528
- 306 crumb rubber infill chemical constituents identified in a literature review.
- 197 (64%) chemicals were predicted to be carcinogenic by ADMET Predictor™.
- 58 (19%) chemicals were classified as carcinogens by government agencies.
Hazardous chemicals in synthetic turf materials and their bioaccessibility in digestive fluids
https://www.nature.com/articles/jes200855
“However, 24.7–44.2% of the lead in the rubber granules was bioaccessible in the synthetic gastric fluid. (5) The artificial grass fiber sample showed a chromium content of 3.93 p.p.m., and 34.6% and 54.0% bioaccessibility of lead in the synthetic gastric and intestinal fluids, respectively.”
University of Washington soccer coach interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztQ7hB5QlwM
She coached soccer for 23 years. For years she never bumped into anyone with cancer. After the introduction of the artificial turf, she then noticed that she knew 15 players with cancer. 12 of the 15 were goalkeepers. (The players most likely to accidentally touch and/or ingest the shredded tire filler used in artificial turf because of the nature of their position.) After the story became widely known, the list of players grew into the hundreds with the majority of players with cancer still being goalkeepers.
Tire Particulate Synthetic Turf and Children - Dr Stuart Shalat / SHPFC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEVeAmqHTSM
It isn’t just the chemicals that were introduced into the tires at the time they were manufactured, but anything the tires picked up such as oils and various things from roadways before they are shredded and put into the infill for artificial turf fields.
The shredded up tire rubber will degrade into micro particles over time which become almost like a dust cloud as the children play on the surface. Then they inhale the chemical dust.
Artificial turf–cancer hypothesis - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_turf%E2%80%93cancer_hypothesis
Artificial Turf Injury Rates in the NFL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLTx-_R0mcc
“Players had a 32% higher rate of non-contact knee injuries on artificial fields compared to natural grass. They also had 69% higher rate of non-contact foot or ankle injuries.”
“tears of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) were about three times more likely on artificial turf than on grass at all three college football levels. At the division II and III levels, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears were 1.6 times more likely on the synthetic stuff.”
“Artificial turf was associated with more serious concussions as well.”
Injury incidence is higher on artificial turf compared with natural grass in high school athletes: a retrospective cohort study
“Athletes were 58% more likely to sustain an injury on artificial turf. Football, soccer, and rugby athletes were at a significantly greater injury risk on artificial turf. Upper and lower extremity and torso injuries also occurred with higher incidence on artificial turf.”
Artificial Turf Temperatures
https://www.actahort.org/books/783/783_59.htm
Synthetic Surface Heat Studies C. Frank Williams and Gilbert E. Pulley Brigham Young University https://strikesol.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/brigham-young-study.pdf
On the temperature aspect of it. It seems like some of the studies on this are pretty old. I’m guessing that newer artificial turfs don’t have as bad of a temperature problem as old ones did.