Essay On Artificial Turf

As artificial turf grows in popularity, questions about health risks arise. It seems as though every school with an athletic field wants to install artificial turf. Some parents worry about their children spending time on fields that may produce cancer causing agents. Professional sports experts suggest artificial turf may cause more knee injuries to athletes because of cleats on shoes sticking in the synthetic field (Patton 2). Health risks from artificial turf appear in several different forms. Growing on synthetic turf, fungus and bacteria pose a health concern because of infection (Durcholz 1). The fungus and bacteria seep into cuts and cause infection. Skin damage may occur more often in athletes playing on artificial turf compared to natural turf. Infections such as Methicillin-resistant
Senator Hill expressed concern that an increasing number of young athletes have developed leukemia, non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, testicular, prostate, and other forms of cancer. NBC Nightly News reported a claim that 38 young soccer players developed cancers after playing on artificial turf. No scientific study has found a connection between artificial turf exposure and cancer. None of the studies test each brand of turf or test every potentially toxic ingredient. (Mole 1-3) Toxic materials are sometimes added to turf to treat problems such as mold, fungus, and weeds. Herbicides do not absorb into artificial turf as it does in natural turf. Weeds sprayed with herbicides absorb the herbicide, but any herbicide that lands on the synthetic surface stays there until washed off by rain. Fungicides by design stay on the surface to stop spores from starting to grow. Exposure to herbicides and fungicides happens when a person come in contact with treated artificial turf. (Durcholz 1-2) Paint applied to fields can also cause chemical exposure (John