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'''Artificial turf''' is a surface of [[synthetic fiber]]s made to look like natural [[grass]]. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. It is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications. The main reason is maintenance{{snd}}artificial turf stands up to heavy use, such as in sports, and requires no [[irrigation]] or trimming, unless the turf is of the hybrid type, combining the plastics with natural grass, with the notable exception of irrigating to reduce the high temperatures the turf reaches in summer days.  Domed, covered, and partially covered stadiums may require artificial turf because of the difficulty of getting grass enough sunlight to stay healthy. 

Artificial turf has many downsides:  high cost, limited life, periodic cleaning requirements, petroleum use, toxic and carcinogenic chemicals in the infill material, high temperatures attained, contribution to global warming, inability to recycle, and heightened health and safety concerns.

Artificial turf first gained substantial attention in 1966, when it was installed in the year-old [[Astrodome]]. The specific product used was "ChemGrass", developed by [[Monsanto]] and rebranded as [[AstroTurf]]; this term since then became a [[generic trademark]] for any artificial turf throughout the late 20th century. AstroTurf remains a registered trademark but is no longer owned by Monsanto.

The first generation turf systems (i.e., short-pile fibers without infill) of the 1960s have been largely replaced by the second generation and third generation turf systems. Second-generation synthetic turf systems feature longer fibers and sand infills, and third-generation systems, which are most widely used today, offer infills that are mixtures of sand and granules of [[recycled rubber]], or "rubber crumb".

==History==
David Chaney, who moved to [[Raleigh, North Carolina]], in 1960 and later served as Dean of the [[North Carolina State University]] College of Textiles, headed the team of [[Research Triangle Park]] researchers who created the first notable artificial turf. That accomplishment led ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' to declare Chaney as the man "responsible for indoor major league baseball and millions of welcome mats."

Artificial turf was first installed in 1964 on a recreation area at the [[Moses Brown School]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], [[Rhode Island]].<ref name=Brady>Dave Brady, "It's All So Artificial: The Uncommon Ground", ''Petersen's 12th Pro Football Annual, 1972.'' Los Angeles: Petersen Publishing Co., 1972; pp. 62–65.</ref> The material came to public prominence in 1966, when [[AstroTurf]] was installed in the [[Astrodome]] in [[Houston]], [[Texas]].<ref name=Brady /> The state-of-the-art indoor stadium had attempted to use natural grass during its initial season in [[1965 Houston Astros season|1965]], but this failed miserably and the field conditions were grossly inadequate during the second half of the season, with the dead grass painted green. Due to a limited supply of the new artificial grass, only the infield was installed before the [[Houston Astros]]' home opener in April [[1966 Houston Astros season|1966]]; the outfield was installed in early summer during an extended Astros road trip and first used after the [[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] Break in July.

The use of AstroTurf and similar surfaces became widespread in the U.S. and Canada in the early 1970s, installed in both indoor and outdoor stadiums used for [[baseball]] and [[American football|football]]. More than 11,000 artificial turf playing fields have been installed nationally.<ref name=Weeks/> More than 1,200 were installed in the U.S. in 2013 alone, according to the industry group the Synthetic Turf Council.<ref name=Weeks/>

==Sports applications==

===Baseball===
[[File:Tropicana field.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tropicana Field]] is installed with an artificial turf field.]]
[[File:Sunset HS artificial-turf baseball field - Beaverton, Oregon (2016).jpg|thumb|right|An artificial-turf field at a high school in [[Oregon]]]]
Artificial turf was first used in [[Major League Baseball]] in the Houston [[Astrodome]] in 1966, replacing the grass field used when the stadium opened a year earlier. Even though the grass was specifically bred for indoor use, the dome's semi-transparent [[Lucite]] ceiling panels, which had been painted white to cut down on glare that bothered the players, did not pass enough sunlight to support the grass. For most of the [[1965 Houston Astros season|1965 season]], the [[Houston Astros|Astros]] played on green-painted dirt and dead grass.

The solution was to install a new type of artificial grass on the field, ChemGrass, which became known as AstroTurf. Because the supply of AstroTurf was still low, only a limited amount was available for the first home game. There was not enough for the entire outfield, but there was enough to cover the traditional grass portion of the infield. The outfield remained painted dirt until after the [[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Break]]. The team was sent on an extended road trip before the break, and on July 19, 1966, the installation of the outfield portion of AstroTurf was completed.

The [[Chicago White Sox]] became the first team to install artificial turf in an outdoor stadium, as they used it only in the infield and adjacent foul territory at [[Comiskey Park]] from 1969 through 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/04/16/page/77/article/sox-home-opener-today-horlen-to-start|title=Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers|website=Archives.chicagotribune.com|access-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105133126/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1969/04/16/page/77/article/sox-home-opener-today-horlen-to-start/|archive-date=5 November 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Artificial turf was later installed in other new [[multi-purpose stadium]]s such as [[Pittsburgh]]'s [[Three Rivers Stadium]], [[Philadelphia]]'s [[Veterans Stadium]], and [[Cincinnati]]'s [[Riverfront Stadium]]. Early AstroTurf baseball fields used the traditional all-dirt path, but in the early 1970s, teams began using the "base cutout" layout on the diamond, with the only dirt being on the pitcher's mound, batter's circle, and in a five-sided "sliding box" around each base. With this layout, a painted arc would indicate where the edge of the outfield grass would normally be, to assist fielders in positioning themselves properly. The last stadium in MLB to use this configuration was Rogers Centre in Toronto, when they switched to an all-dirt infield (but keeping the artificial turf) for the 2016 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/164164706/blue-jays-adding-dirt-infield-at-rogers-centre/ |title=Blue Jays adding dirt infield at Rogers Centre |date=10 February 2016 |website=MLB.com |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107023132/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/164164706/blue-jays-adding-dirt-infield-at-rogers-centre/ |archive-date=7 November 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2016/02/11/blue-jays-begin-work-on-all-dirt-infield-at-rogers-centre.html|title = Blue Jays begin work on all-dirt infield at Rogers Centre|website = [[Toronto Star]]|date = February 11, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Joe Austin Park Qns 35 - Resurfacing.jpg|thumb|right|Artificial turf being installed on a baseball field in [[Queens|Queens, New York City]].]]
The biggest difference in play on artificial turf was that the ball bounced higher than on real grass and also traveled faster, causing infielders to play farther back than they would normally so that they would have sufficient time to react. The ball also had a truer bounce than on grass so that on long throws fielders could deliberately bounce the ball in front of the player they were throwing to, with the certainty that it would travel in a straight line and not be deflected to the right or left. However, the biggest impact on the game of "turf", as it came to be called, was on the bodies of the players. The artificial surface, which was generally placed over a concrete base, had much less give to it than a traditional dirt and grass field did, which caused more wear-and-tear on knees, ankles, feet, and the lower back, possibly even shortening the careers of those players who played a significant portion of their games on artificial surfaces. Players also complained that the turf was much hotter than grass, sometimes causing the metal spikes to burn their feet or plastic ones to melt. These factors eventually provoked a number of stadiums, such as the [[Kansas City Royals]]' [[Kauffman Stadium]], to switch from artificial turf back to natural grass.

In 2000, St. Petersburg's [[Tropicana Field]] became the first MLB field to use a third-generation artificial surface, [[FieldTurf]]. All other remaining artificial turf stadiums were either converted to third-generation surfaces or were replaced entirely by new natural grass stadiums. In a span of 13 years, between 1992 and 2005, the [[National League]] went from having half of its teams using artificial turf to all of them playing on natural grass. With the replacement of Minneapolis's [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] by [[Target Field]] in 2010, only two MLB stadiums used artificial turf from 2010 through 2018: Tropicana Field and Toronto's [[Rogers Centre]]. This number grew to three when the Arizona Diamondbacks switched [[Chase Field]] to artificial turf for the 2019 season; the stadium had grass from its opening in 1998 until 2018, but the difficulty of maintaining the grass in the stadium, which has a retractable roof and is located in a desert city, was cited as the reason for the switch.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2018/10/12/arizona-diamondbacks-installing-synthetic-grass-chase-field-2019/1614391002/ |title=Arizona Diamondbacks installing synthetic grass at Chase Field  |date=October 12, 2018 |website=azcentral.com |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref> In 2020, Miami's [[Marlins Park]] also switched to artificial turf for similar reasons, while the Texas Rangers' new [[Globe Life Field]] was opened with an artificial surface, as it too is a retractable roof ballpark in a hot weather city; this puts the number of teams using synthetic turf in MLB at five as of 2021.

===American football===
The first professional American football team to play on artificial turf was the [[History of the Houston Oilers|Houston Oilers]], then part of the [[American Football League]], who moved into the [[Astrodome]] in 1968, which had installed AstroTurf two years prior. In 1969, the [[Penn Quakers football|University of Pennsylvania]]'s [[Franklin Field]] in Philadelphia, at the time also home field of the [[Philadelphia Eagles]], switched from grass to AstroTurf, making it the first [[National Football League]] stadium to use artificial turf.

In 2002, [[CenturyLink Field]], originally planned to have a natural grass field, was instead surfaced with FieldTurf upon positive reaction from the [[Seattle Seahawks]] when they played on the surface at their temporary home of [[Husky Stadium]] during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. This would be the first of a leaguewide trend taking place over the next several seasons that would not only result in teams already using artificial surfaces for their fields switching to the new FieldTurf or other similar surfaces but would also see several teams playing on grass adopt a new surface. (The [[Indianapolis Colts]]' [[RCA Dome]] and the [[Los Angeles Rams|St. Louis Rams]]' [[The Dome at America's Center|Edward Jones Dome]] were the last two stadiums in the NFL to replace their first-generation AstroTurf surfaces for next-generation ones after the [[2004 NFL season|2004 season]]). For example, after a three-year experiment with a natural surface, [[Giants Stadium]] went to FieldTurf for 2003, while [[M&T Bank Stadium]] added its own artificial surface the same year (it has since been removed and replaced with a natural surface, which the stadium had before installing the turf). Later examples include [[Paul Brown Stadium]], which went from grass to turf in 2004; [[Gillette Stadium]], which made the switch in 2006;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/patriots/2006-11-14-testaverde-turf_x.htm|title=Pats sign Testaverde; Gillette Stadium's grass field replaced with Field Turf|date=14 November 2006|access-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419100741/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/patriots/2006-11-14-testaverde-turf_x.htm|archive-date=19 April 2012|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and [[NRG Stadium]], which did so in 2015. As of 2021, 14 NFL fields out of 30 are artificial.
NFL players overwhelmingly prefer natural grass over synthetic surfaces, according to a league survey conducted in 2010. When asked, "Which surface do you think is more likely to shorten your career?", 90% responded artificial turf.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.turfgrasssod.org/files/file/51cac15a-90c9-4c9f-be03-6d398c916a05 |title=Archived copy |access-date=15 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111184506/http://www.turfgrasssod.org/files/file/51cac15a-90c9-4c9f-be03-6d398c916a05 |archive-date=11 January 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

[[Arena football]] is played indoors on the older short-pile artificial turf.

===Canadian football===
The first professional [[Canadian football]] stadium to use artificial turf was [[Empire Stadium (Vancouver)|Empire Stadium]] in [[Vancouver|Vancouver, British Columbia]], then home of the [[Canadian Football League|CFL]]'s [[BC Lions]], which installed 3M TartanTurf in 1970. Today, eight of the nine stadiums in the Canadian Football League currently use artificial turf, largely because of the harsh weather conditions in the latter-half of the season. The only one that does not is [[BMO Field]] in Toronto, which initially had an artificial pitch and has been shared by the CFL's Toronto Argonauts since 2016 (however, part of the endzones at that stadium are covered with artificial turf).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/bmo-field-tfc-argonauts-1.3522032|title=BMO Field: New renovations accommodate TFC, Argos - CBC Sports|website=Cbc.ca|access-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131015552/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/bmo-field-tfc-argonauts-1.3522032|archive-date=31 January 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The first stadium to use the next-generation surface was Ottawa's Frank Clair Stadium (now [[TD Place Stadium]]), which the [[Ottawa Renegades]] used when they began play in [[2002 CFL season|2002]]. The last stadium to replace their first-generation artificial surface for a newer one was the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]]' [[Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field|Taylor Field]], which replaced it in 2007; Taylor Field was the only major professional sports venue in North America to use a second-generation artificial playing surface, OmniTurf, which was used from 1988 to 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riderville.com/2002/06/12/history/ |title=History |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |date=June 12, 2002 |access-date=May 9, 2019 |quote=In 1988, the Roughriders replaced the first artificial turf with a new type of system called OmniTurf. Unlike AstroTurf, OmniTurf was an inlay turf system, which relied on 300 tons of sand to hold it in place (rather than the traditional glued-down system). Over the years, a number of problems occurred with this system and it eventually became necessary to replace it prior to its usable age being reached.}}</ref>

===Cricket===
Some [[cricket pitch]]es are made of synthetic grass<ref>{{Cite web|last=June 2015|first=Friday 12|title=Artificial (pitch) intelligence - all you need to know|url=https://www.cricketworld.com/artificial-pitch-intelligence-all-you-need-to-know/41473.htm|access-date=2020-11-27|website=Cricket World}}</ref> or of a hybrid of mostly natural and some artificial grass, with these "hybrid pitches" having been implemented across several parts of the [[United Kingdom]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nolan|first=Grace|date=2019-04-04|title=SIS Pitches uses hybrid grass technology to transform cricket|url=https://www.britishplastics.co.uk/api/content/6b0fdbea-56af-11e9-9dff-12f1225286c6/|access-date=2020-11-27|website=British Plastics and Rubber|language=en-gb}}</ref> and Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stitched pitch – SACA adds hybrid wickets|url=http://www.saca.com.au/news/hybrid-pitch-install-park-25/2019-08-19|access-date=2020-11-27|website=Cricket SA|language=en}}</ref> The first synthetic turf cricket field in the USA was opened in [[Fremont, California]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-08-11|title=Fremont: First official, fully lighted cricket field opens Aug. 21|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/08/11/fremont-first-official-fully-lighted-cricket-field-opens-aug-21/|access-date=2020-11-27|website=The Mercury News|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Field hockey===
{{Further|Field hockey history#The synthetic revolution}}

The introduction of synthetic surfaces has significantly changed the sport of [[field hockey]]. Since being introduced in the 1970s, competitions in western countries are now mostly played on artificial surfaces. This has increased the speed of the game considerably and changed the shape of hockey sticks to allow for different techniques, such as reverse stick trapping and hitting.

Field hockey artificial turf differs from artificial turf for other sports, in that it does not try to reproduce a grass "feel", being made of shorter fibers. This shorter fiber structure allows the improvement in speed brought by earlier artificial turfs to be retained. This development in the game, however, is problematic for many local communities who often cannot afford to build two artificial fields: one for field hockey and one for other sports. The [[International Hockey Federation]] and manufacturers are driving research in order to produce new fields that will be suitable for a variety of sports.

The use of artificial turf in conjunction with changes in the game's rules (e.g., the removal of offside, introduction of rolling substitutes and the self-pass, and to the interpretation of obstruction) have contributed significantly to change the nature of the game, greatly increasing the speed and intensity of play as well as placing far greater demands on the conditioning of the players.

===Association football===
[[File:Aspmyra stadion.jpg|thumb|right|[[Aspmyra]], Norway: home of the [[association football|football]] club [[FK Bodø/Glimt]]]]
Some [[association football]] clubs in Europe installed synthetic surfaces in the 1980s, which were called "plastic pitches" (often derisively) in countries such as England. There, four professional club venues had adopted them; [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|QPR's]] [[Loftus Road]] (1981-1988), [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town's]] [[Kenilworth Road]] (1985-1991), [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic's]] [[Boundary Park]] (1986-1991) and [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End's]] [[Deepdale]] (1986-1994). QPR had been the first team to install an artificial pitch at their stadium in 1981, but were the first to remove it when they did so in 1988. Artificial pitches were banned from top-flight (then First Division) football in 1991, forcing Oldham Athletic to remove their artificial pitch after their promotion to the First Division in 1991, while relegated Luton Town also removed their artificial pitch at the same time. The last [[Football League]] team to have an artificial pitch in England was Preston North End, who removed their pitch in 1994 after eight years in use.

Artificial turf gained a bad reputation on both sides of the Atlantic with fans and especially with players. The first-generation artificial turf surfaces were carpet-like in their look and feel, and thusly, a far harder surface than grass and soon became known as an unforgiving playing surface that was prone to cause more [[injury|injuries]], and in particular, more serious joint injuries, than would comparatively be suffered on a grass surface. This turf was also regarded as aesthetically unappealing to many fans.

<blockquote>In 1981, London football club [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] dug up its grass pitch and installed an artificial one. Others followed, and by the mid-1980s there were four artificial surfaces in operation in the English league. They soon became a national joke: the ball pinged round like it was made of rubber, the players kept losing their footing, and anyone who fell over risked carpet burns. Unsurprisingly, fans complained that the football was awful to watch and, one by one, the clubs returned to natural grass.<ref name=newscientist>{{cite journal | last=Lawton | first=Graham | title=Field battle over artificial grass | journal=New Scientist | issue=2502 | page=35 | date=4 June 2005 | url=https://www.newscientist.com/channel/mech-tech/mg18625021.300 | access-date=11 January 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060217120227/http://www.newscientist.com/channel/mech-tech/mg18625021.300 | archive-date=17 February 2006 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref></blockquote>

In the 1990s, many North American soccer clubs also removed their artificial surfaces and re-installed grass, while others moved to new stadiums with state-of-the-art grass surfaces that were designed to withstand cold temperatures where the climate demanded it. The use of artificial turf was later banned by [[FIFA]], [[UEFA]] and by many domestic football associations, though, in recent years,{{when|date=December 2020}} both governing bodies have expressed resurrected interest in the use of artificial surfaces in competition, provided that they are FIFA Recommended. UEFA has now been heavily involved in programs to test artificial turf, with tests made in several grounds meeting with FIFA approval. A team of UEFA, FIFA and German company Polytan conducted tests in the Stadion Salzburg Wals-Siezenheim in Salzburg, Austria which had matches played on it in UEFA Euro 2008. It is the second FIFA 2 Star approved artificial turf in a European domestic top flight, after Dutch club [[Heracles Almelo]] received the FIFA certificate in August 2005.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070210221002/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D1048576/newsid%3D384286.html Salzburg turf approval]. UEFA.com (12 January 2006)</ref> The tests were approved.<ref>Mark Chaplin (10 November 2004) [https://web.archive.org/web/20070210221002/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D1048576/newsid%3D256667.html Approval for artificial fields]. UEFA.com</ref>

FIFA originally launched its FIFA Quality Concept in February 2001. UEFA announced that starting from the 2005–06 season, approved artificial surfaces were to be permitted in their competitions.

A full international fixture for the [[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group E|2008 European Championships]] was played on 17 October 2007 between [[England national football team|England]] and [[Russia national football team|Russia]] on an artificial surface, which was installed to counteract adverse weather conditions, at the [[Luzhniki Stadium]] in Moscow.<ref>{{cite news | title=England to play on synthetic turf | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6292200.stm | work=BBC News | date=11 July 2007 | access-date=11 January 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008203351/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6292200.stm | archive-date=8 October 2007 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Field 'No Excuse' For England| url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/international/england/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/10/10/SOCCER_England_Pitch.html| work=Sporting Life UK| access-date=11 January 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001522/http://www.sportinglife.com/football/international/england/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer%2F07%2F10%2F10%2FSOCCER_England_Pitch.html| archive-date=5 June 2011| url-status=live| df=dmy-all}}</ref> It was one of the first full international games to be played on such a surface approved by both FIFA and UEFA. However, UEFA ordered that the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|2008 European Champions League]] final hosted in the same stadium in May 2008 must take place on grass, so a temporary natural grass field was installed just for the final.

UEFA stressed that artificial turf should only be considered an option where climatic conditions necessitate.<ref>{{cite news | author=Martyn Ziegler | title=England could slip up on plastic field, warns Ferguson | url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article3043695.ece | work=The Independent | date=10 October 2007 | access-date=11 January 2008 | location=London | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112050947/http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article3043695.ece | archive-date=12 January 2008 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> One Desso "[[hybrid grass]]" product incorporates both natural grass and artificial elements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dessosports.com/hybrid-grass |title=Desso GrassMaster hybrid grass > reinforced natural grass &#124; Desso Sports Systems |publisher=Dessosports.com |access-date=24 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210154517/http://www.dessosports.com/hybrid-grass |archive-date=10 December 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In June 2009, following a match played at [[Estadio Ricardo Saprissa]] in Costa Rica, [[United States men's national soccer team|American national team]] manager [[Bob Bradley]] called on FIFA to "have some courage" and ban artificial surfaces.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

FIFA designated a star system for artificial turf fields that have undergone a series of tests that examine quality and performance based on a two star system.<ref>{{cite web|title=FIFA Quality Concept – Handbook of Test Methods for Football Turf|publisher=FIFA|access-date=20 July 2017|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/pitch&equipment/68/52/24/fqctestmethodmanual(may2009).pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403132527/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/pitch%26equipment/68/52/24/fqctestmethodmanual%28may2009%29.pdf|archive-date=3 April 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Recommended two-star fields may be used for FIFA Final Round Competitions as well as for [[UEFA Europa League]] and [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] matches.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football Turf |url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/developing/pitchequipment/footballturf/recommendedinstallations.html |work=Fifa.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228035516/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/developing/pitchequipment/footballturf/recommendedinstallations.html |archive-date=28 February 2008 }}</ref> There are currently 130 FIFA Recommended 2-Star installations in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football Fields |url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/developing/pitchequipment/footballturf/recommendedinstallations.html |work=Fifa.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228035516/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/developing/pitchequipment/footballturf/recommendedinstallations.html |archive-date=28 February 2008 }}</ref>

In 2009, FIFA launched the Preferred Producer Initiative to improve the quality of artificial football turf at each stage of the life cycle (manufacturing, installation and maintenance).<ref>[https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/pitchequipment/footballfields/preferredproducers/list.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204043106/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/pitchequipment/footballfields/preferredproducers/list.html|date=4 December 2011}}</ref> Currently, there are five manufacturers that were selected by FIFA: Act Global, Limonta, Desso, GreenFields, and Edel Grass. These firms have made quality guarantees directly to FIFA and have agreed to increased research and development.

In 2010, [[Estadio Omnilife]] with an artificial turf opened in [[Guadalajara, Mexico|Guadalajara]] to be the new home of [[Chivas de Guadalajara|Chivas]], one of the most popular teams in Mexico. The owner of Chivas, [[Jorge Vergara]], defended the reasoning behind using artificial turf because the stadium was designed to be "environment friendly and as such, having grass would result [in] using too much water."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.obrasweb.mx/construccion/2012/05/17/chivas-cambiara-el-pasto-sintetico-que-costo-1-mdd|title=Chivas quitará el pasto sintético que costó 1 mdd - construccion|website=Obrasweb.mx|access-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801221323/http://obrasweb.mx/construccion/2012/05/17/chivas-cambiara-el-pasto-sintetico-que-costo-1-mdd|archive-date=1 August 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, players harshly criticized the field, saying it caused many injuries as a result of the harder surface. When [[Johan Cruyff]] became the adviser of the team, he recommended the switch to natural grass, which the team did in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/mexico/noticias/2012/07/19/el-estadio-omnilife-listo-con-pasto-natural|title=El Estadio Omnilife, listo con pasto natural|website=Mediotiempo.com|access-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708191912/http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/mexico/noticias/2012/07/19/el-estadio-omnilife-listo-con-pasto-natural|archive-date=8 July 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In November 2011, it was reported that a number of English football clubs were interested in using artificial pitches again on economic grounds.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15722636.stm | work=BBC News | title=Clubs want artificial turf return | date=18 November 2011}}</ref> As of January 2020, artificial pitches are not permitted in the [[Premier League]] or [[Football League]] but are permitted in the [[National League (division)|National League]] and lower divisions. [[Bromley F.C.|Bromley]] are an example of an English football club who currently use a third-generation artificial pitch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballgroundguide.com/news/artificial-3g-pitches-rise-up-the-football-league-pyramid.html|title=Artificial 3G Pitches: Coming to a ground near you?|access-date=30 October 2016|publisher=Football Ground Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031085223/http://www.footballgroundguide.com/news/artificial-3g-pitches-rise-up-the-football-league-pyramid.html|archive-date=31 October 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2018, Sutton United were close to achieving promotion to the Football League and the debate in England about artificial pitches resurfaced again. It was reported that, if Sutton won promotion, they would subsequently be demoted two leagues if they refused to replace their pitch with natural grass.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/artificial-pitches-english-football-league-sutton-united-maidstone-united-3g-a8233561.html|title=Plastic liberals vs conservative stick-in-the-muds: The debate around artificial pitches which isn't going away|date=28 February 2018|access-date=25 January 2020|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> With Harrogate Town's promotion to the Football League in 2020, the club will now have to install a natural grass pitch at [[Wetherby Road]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53541549|title=National League promotion final: Harrogate Town beat Notts County 3-1 to secure place in League 2|date=2 August 2020|access-date=2 August 2020|website=BBC Sport}}</ref> Artificial pitches are permitted in all rounds of the [[FA Cup]] competition.

The first stadium to use artificial turf in Brazil was [[Atlético Paranaense]]'s [[Arena da Baixada]] in 2016. In 2020, the administration of [[Allianz Parque]], home of [[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras]], started the implementation of the second artificial pitch in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-01/14/c_138703767.htm|title=Palmeiras begin installing synthetic pitch at Allianz Parque - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|website=www.xinhuanet.com|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref>

====2015 Women's World Cup====
The [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup|Women's World Cup]] took place entirely on artificial surfaces, as the event was played in Canada, where almost all of the country's stadiums use artificial turf due to climate issues.  This plan garnered criticism from players and fans, some believing the artificial surfaces make players more susceptible to injuries. Over fifty of the female athletes protested against the use of artificial turf on the basis of [[Sexism|gender discrimination]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/uswnt-stars-not-backing-down-on-stance-artificial-playing-surface-2015-womens-world-cup-091014|title=USWNT stars not backing down on artificial playing surface stance|author=Fox Sports|work=FOX Sports|access-date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020174608/http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/uswnt-stars-not-backing-down-on-stance-artificial-playing-surface-2015-womens-world-cup-091014|archive-date=20 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/11593274/elite-female-players-sue-fifa-canada-soccer-association-turf-use-women-world-cup|title=elite female players sue|work=espnW|date=26 September 2014|access-date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003141251/http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/11593274/elite-female-players-sue-fifa-canada-soccer-association-turf-use-women-world-cup|archive-date=3 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

However [[Australia women's national soccer team|Australia]] winger [[Caitlin Foord]] said that after playing 90 minutes there was no difference to her post-match recovery – a view shared by the rest of the squad. The squad spent much time preparing on the surface and had no problems with its use in Winnipeg. "We've been training on [artificial] turf pretty much all year so I think we're kind of used to it in that way ... I think grass or turf you can still pull up sore after a game so it's definitely about getting the recovery in and getting it right", Foord said.<ref>{{cite news |author=Dominic Bossi |url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/matildas-stay-out-of-turf-war-at-womens-world-cup-20150610-ghkmbi |title=Matildas stay out of turf war at women's World Cup |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=10 June 2015 |access-date=24 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109114213/http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/matildas-stay-out-of-turf-war-at-womens-world-cup-20150610-ghkmbi |archive-date=9 January 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The 2012 Women's World Player of the Year, [[Abby Wambach]], noted "The men would strike, playing on artificial turf."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coworker.org/petitions/fifa-the-world-cup-should-be-played-on-natural-grass|title=FIFA: The World Cup Should Be Played on Natural Grass|website=Coworker.org|access-date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016125531/https://www.coworker.org/petitions/fifa-the-world-cup-should-be-played-on-natural-grass|archive-date=16 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The controversial issue of gender equality and an equal playing field for all has sparked debate in many countries around the world.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} A lawsuit was filed on 1 October 2014 in an Ontario tribunal court by a group of women's international soccer players against FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association and specifically points out that in 1994 FIFA spent $2 million to plant natural grass over artificial turf in [[Giants Stadium|New Jersey]] and [[Silverdome|Detroit]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://womens.soccerly.com/2014/10/01/players-officially-file-lawsuit-against-fifa-csa-over-artificial-turf-at-2015-womens-world-cup/|title=Equalizer Soccer – Players officially file lawsuit against FIFA, CSA over artificial turf at 2015 Women's World Cup|website=Womens.soccerly.com|access-date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005054909/http://womens.soccerly.com/2014/10/01/players-officially-file-lawsuit-against-fifa-csa-over-artificial-turf-at-2015-womens-world-cup|archive-date=5 October 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Various celebrities showed their support for the women soccer players in defense of their lawsuit, including actor [[Tom Hanks]], NBA player [[Kobe Bryant]] and [[United States men's national soccer team|U.S. men's soccer team]] keeper [[Tim Howard]]. Even with the possibility of boycotts, [[FIFA]]'s head of women's competitions, Tatjana Haenni, made it clear that "we play on artificial turf and there's no Plan B."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1593031/players-file-lawsuit-in-canada-over-artificial-womens-world-cup-turf/|title=Players file lawsuit in Canada over artificial Women's World Cup turf|date=1 October 2014|work=Global News|access-date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008140210/http://globalnews.ca/news/1593031/players-file-lawsuit-in-canada-over-artificial-womens-world-cup-turf/|archive-date=8 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1603131/fifa-officials-to-inspect-bc-place-turf-in-light-of-controversy/|title=FIFA officials to inspect BC Place turf in light of controversy|date=7 October 2014|work=Global News|access-date=9 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008020435/http://globalnews.ca/news/1603131/fifa-officials-to-inspect-bc-place-turf-in-light-of-controversy/|archive-date=8 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Rugby Union===
Rugby union also uses artificial surfaces at a professional level. Infill fields are used by English [[Premiership Rugby]] teams [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]], [[Newcastle Falcons]], [[Saracens F.C.]] and [[Worcester Warriors]], as well as [[United Rugby Championship]] teams [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff]] and [[Glasgow Warriors]]. Some fields, including [[Twickenham Stadium]], have incorporated a hybrid field, with grass and synthetic fibers used on the surface. This allows for the field to be much more hard wearing, making it less susceptible to weather conditions and frequent use.

===Tennis===
{{Main article|Tennis court}}

Carpet has been used as a surface for indoor tennis courts for decades, though the first carpets used were more similar to home carpets than a synthetic grass. After the introduction of [[AstroTurf]], it came to be used for tennis courts, both indoor and outdoor, though only a small minority of courts use the surface.<ref name=ITF>{{cite web|url=http://www.itftennis.com/technical/facilities/facilities-guide/surface-descriptions.aspx|title=ITF surface descriptions|website=Itftennis.com|access-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613062539/https://www.itftennis.com/technical/facilities/facilities-guide/surface-descriptions.aspx|archive-date=13 June 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dow.com/artificialturfsolutions/other/tennis.htm |title=Tennis |website=Dow.com |date=3 August 2001 |access-date=24 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215170849/http://www.dow.com/artificialturfsolutions/other/tennis.htm |archive-date=15 December 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Both infill and non-infill versions are used, and are typically considered medium-fast to fast surfaces under the International Tennis Federation's classification scheme.<ref name=ITF/> A distinct form found in tennis is an "artificial clay" surface,<ref name=ITF/> which seeks to simulate a [[clay court]] by using a very short pile carpet with an infill of the same loose aggregate used for clay courts that rises above the carpet fibers.<ref name=ITF/>

[[Tennis court]]s such as [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] are considering using an artificial hybrid grass to replace their natural lawn courts. Such systems incorporate synthetic fibers into natural grass to create a more durable surface on which to play.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tennis365.com/grand-slam/wimbledon-artificial-grass-henman/|title=Wimbledon considering controversial plans to introduce artificial grass courts|work=Tennis365|access-date=2018-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731124038/https://www.tennis365.com/grand-slam/wimbledon-artificial-grass-henman/|archive-date=31 July 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Such hybrid surfaces are currently used for some association football stadiums, including [[Wembley Stadium]].

===Golf===
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2021}}
Synthetic turf can also be used in the golf industry, such as on driving ranges, putting greens and even in some circumstances tee boxes. For low budget courses, particularly those catering to casual golfers, synthetic putting greens offer the advantage of being a relatively cheap alternative to installing and maintaining grass greens, but are much more similar to real grass in appearance and feel compared to sand greens which are the traditional alternative surface. Because of the vast areas of golf courses and the damage from clubs during shots, it is not feasible to surface fairways with artificial turf.

===Motor racing===
Artificial grass is used to line the perimeter of some sections of some motor circuits, and offers less grip than some other surfaces.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/48593772 |title= Sebastian Vettel: F1's rules-for-everything culture led to Canada penalty, says GPDA boss |work= [[BBC Sport]] |last= Benson |first= Andrew |date=11 June 2019 |access-date= 11 April 2021}}</ref> It can pose an obstacle to drivers if it gets caught on their car.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/formula1/19941017 |title= Korean GP: Hamilton hampered by loose astroturf |work= [[BBC Sport]] |date= 12 October 2012 |access-date= 11 April 2021}}</ref>

==Other applications==

===Landscaping===
[[File:Artificial grass in the front yard.jpg|thumb|A home's yard with artificial grass.]]
Since the early 1990s, the use of synthetic grass in the more arid western states of the United States has moved beyond athletic fields to residential and commercial landscaping.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pros and Cons: Artificial Grass Versus a Live Lawn|last=Hall|first=Janet|url=https://www.gardenista.com/posts/pros-and-cons-artificial-grass-versus-a-live-lawn-hardscaping-101/amp/|date=March 11, 2018|access-date=April 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501092759/https://www.gardenista.com/posts/pros-and-cons-artificial-grass-versus-a-live-lawn-hardscaping-101/amp/|archive-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> New water saving programs, as of 2019, which grant rebates for turf removal, do not accept artificial turf as replacement and require a minimum of plants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://laist.com/2019/09/16/los_angeles_california_rip_out_your_lawn_rebates_cash_for_grass_mwd.php|title=You Can Rip Out Your SoCal Lawn For Money Again - Now Without Landscaping Abominations|publisher=LAist|first=Sharon|last=McNary|date=16 September 2019|access-date=29 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413080348/https://laist.com/2019/09/16/los_angeles_california_rip_out_your_lawn_rebates_cash_for_grass_mwd.php|archive-date=13 April 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://socalwatersmart.com/en/residential/rebates/available-rebates/turf-replacement-program/turf-replacement-terms-conditions/|publisher=SoCal Water$mart|title=Turf Replacement Program, Terms & Conditions|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref>

The use of artificial grass for convenience sometimes faces opposition: Legislation frequently seeks to preserve natural gardens and fully water permeable surfaces, therefore restricting the use of hardscape and plantless areas, including artificial turf. In several locations in different countries, homeowners have been fined or forced to remove artificial turf or had to defend themselves in courts. Many of these restrictions can be found in local bylaws and ordinances, and are not always applied in a consistent manner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2019/09/12/council-bans-fake-grass-from-city-verges/|title=Council bans fake grass from city verges|work=INDaily Adelaide Independent News|first=Stefanie|last=Richards|date=12 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='It breaks my heart to do it': Toronto homeowner ordered to remove fake grass|last=Yuen|first=Kelda|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/artificial-turf-homeowner-toronto-bylaw-fine-1.5228289|date=29 July 2019|access-date=29 April 2020|work=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2019/07/10/gehrke-salt-lake-city/|title=Gehrke: Salt Lake City should revisit its ban on artificial grass and give some leniency to property owners|first=Robert|last=Gehrke|work=The Salt Lake City Tribune|date=10 July 2019}}</ref>

===Airports===
Artificial turf has been used at airports.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/ar06-23.pdf |title=Airside Applications for Artificial Turf |year=2006 |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration |access-date=9 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414211618/http://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/ar06-23.pdf |archive-date=14 April 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Here it provides several advantages over natural turf – it does not support wildlife, it has high visual contrast with runways in all seasons, it reduces [[foreign object damage]] (FOD) since the surface has no rocks or clumps, and it drains well.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aviationpros.com/aoa/article/12239032/airport-artificial-turf |title=Going Green – Artificial Turf for Tortoise Troubles and More}}</ref>

Some artificial turf systems allow for the integration of [[fiber-optic]] fibers into the turf. This would allow for runway lighting to be embedded in artificial landing surfaces for aircraft (or lighting or advertisements to be directly embedded in a playing surface).<ref>{{cite news | author=Monte Burke | title=Field of Screens | url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1127/058_print.html | work=Forbes | date=27 November 2006 | access-date=11 January 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215074437/http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1127/058_print.html | archive-date=15 December 2007 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Environmental concerns==

Both the rubber granules (often made from [[tyre recycling|recycled]] [[waste tires]]) and the [[synthetic fiber]]s of artificial turf are subject to wear and can be [[surface runoff|washed]] into the environment. Second only to ''[[tire wear|tire]] and [[road wear]] particles'' (TRWP) that make up a large portion of the fine [[road debris]], the rubber granulate from artificial turf infill constitutes a significant source of [[rubber pollution]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kole|first1=Pieter Jan|last2=Löhr|first2=Ansje J.|last3=Van Belleghem|first3=Frank|last4=Ragas|first4=Ad|last5=Kole|first5=Pieter Jan|last6=Löhr|first6=Ansje J.|last7=Van Belleghem|first7=Frank G. A. J.|last8=Ragas|first8=Ad M. J.|date=2017-10-20|title=Wear and Tear of Tyres: A Stealthy Source of Microplastics in the Environment|journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health|language=en|volume=14|issue=10|pages=1265|doi=10.3390/ijerph14101265|df=dmy-all|pmc=5664766|pmid=29053641|doi-access=free}}</ref> Fragments from the artificial reeds make their way into the environment as [[Microplastics#Potential effects on the environment|microplastics]] [[plastic pollution|pollution]] in both [[marine pollution|marine]] as well as [[soil pollution|soil]] environments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ivl.se/english/startpage/top-menu/pressroom/press-releases/press-releases---arkiv/2016-03-29-tire-wear-foremost-source-of-microplastics.html|title=Tire wear foremost source of microplastics|date=29 March 2016|publisher=IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute|quote=researchers have ranked the sources of microplastic particles by size. The amount of microplastic particles emitted by traffic is estimated to 13 500 tonnes per year. Artificial turf ranks as the second largest source of emissions and is responsible for approximately 2300-3900 tonnes per year.|access-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419195015/http://www.ivl.se/english/startpage/top-menu/pressroom/press-releases/press-releases---arkiv/2016-03-29-tire-wear-foremost-source-of-microplastics.html|archive-date=19 April 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kimointernational.org/news/microplastic-pollution-from-artificial-grass-a-field-guide/|date=27 February 2017|title=Microplastic Pollution from Artificial Grass – A Field Guide|publisher=KIMO|access-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419193327/http://www.kimointernational.org/news/microplastic-pollution-from-artificial-grass-a-field-guide/|archive-date=19 April 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=SELVA|title=Artificial Turf. Why it is not the answer|url=http://www.selvainternational.org/artificialturf.htm|access-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803035027/http://selvainternational.org/artificialturf.htm|archive-date=3 August 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Microplastics in agricultural soils: A reason to worry?|quote=Microplastics are increasingly seen as an environmental problem of global proportions. While the focus to date has been on microplastics in the ocean and their effects on marine life, microplastics in soils have largely been overlooked. Researchers are concerned about the lack of knowledge regarding potential consequences of microplastics in agricultural landscapes from application of sewage sludge.|url=http://www.niva.no/en/microplastics-in-agricultural-soils-a-reason-to-worry|publisher=Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)|date=3 February 2017|access-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419205543/http://www.niva.no/en/microplastics-in-agricultural-soils-a-reason-to-worry|archive-date=19 April 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Environ Sci Technol|year=2014 |volume=48|issue=4|pages=2114–29|title=Environmental and health impacts of artificial turf: a review.|vauthors=Cheng H, Hu Y, Reinhard M |quote=The major concerns stem from the infill material that is typically derived from scrap tires. Tire rubber crumb contains a range of organic contaminants and heavy metals that can volatilize into the air and/or leach into the percolating rainwater, thereby posing a potential risk to the environment and human health. |pmid= 24467230|doi=10.1021/es4044193}}</ref>

Artificial turf has been shown to contribute to global warming<ref>Golden, Leslie M. (2021) "The Contribution of Artificial Turf to Global Warming," <i>Sustainability and Climate Change</i>, December,<b>14</b> (6) 436-449; http://doi.org/10.1089/scc.2021.0038</ref>  [The Contribution of Artificial Turf to Global Warming]

==Health and safety==
===Chemical safety===
{{Further|Artificial turf–cancer hypothesis}}
The rubber crumb that makes up the infill of most artificial turf is derived from old tires.  These crumbs are known to contain heavy metals, some cancer causing compounds, and many chemicals whose effects are unknown.<ref name="Perkins">{{cite journal 
  |title=Evaluation of potential carcinogenicity of organic chemicals in synthetic turf crumb rubber
  |author=Perkins, Alaina N and Inayat-Hussain, Salmaan H and Deziel, Nicole C and Johnson, Caroline H and Ferguson, Stephen S and Garcia-Milian, Rolando and Thompson, David C and Vasiliou, Vasilis
  |journal=Environmental Research
  |volume=169
  |pages=163–172
  |year=2019
  |publisher=Elsevier
|doi=10.1016/j.envres.2018.10.018
 |pmid=30458352
 |pmc=6396308
 |bibcode=2019ER....169..163P
 }}</ref>
What is not clear is how much gets ingested, by what route – abrasions, swallowing crumbs, or inhalation – and the health effect of this exposure.  An epidemiological study was started in 2016 and is ongoing.<ref name="Perkins"/>  While this data is being gathered, different groups have tried to estimate exposure and its effects. Although most of the debate has centered on whether these exposures cause cancer, there is growing evidence that exposure to these endocrine disrupting chemicals can affect early puberty, obesity, and children's attention spans<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Grun|first=F.|date=2009|title=Endocrine disruptors as obesogens|journal=Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology|volume=304|issue=1–2|pages=19–29|doi=10.1016/j.mce.2009.02.018|pmid=19433244|pmc=2713042}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Newbold|first=RR|title=Environmental estrogens and obesity|journal=Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology|year=2009|volume=304|issue=1–2|pages=84–89|doi=10.1016/j.mce.2009.02.024|pmid=19433252|pmc=2682588}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Colon|first=I|title=Identification of phthalate esters in the serum of young Puerto Rican girls with premature breast development|journal=Environmental Health Perspectives|year=2000|volume=108|issue=9|pages=895–900|doi=10.1289/ehp.108-2556932|pmid=11017896|pmc=2556932}}</ref>

Different experts have come to different conclusions. Some say we should take no chances and crumb infill should not be used: "Caution would argue against use of these materials where human exposure is likely, and this is especially true for playgrounds and athletic playing fields where young people may be affected.”<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Benoit G & Demars S|s2cid=103861679|date=2018|title=Evaluation of organic and inorganic compounds extractable by multiple methods from commercially available crumb rubber mulch.|journal=Water, Air, & Soil Pollution|volume=229|issue=3|pages=64|doi=10.1007/s11270-018-3711-7|bibcode=2018WASP..229...64B}}</ref> Others believe that since the overall cancer risk for adolescents is low, but the health problems from inactivity are high, that the health benefits of the additional sports that can be played on artificial fields outweighs the possible cancer risk. "Regular physical activity during adolescence and early adulthood helps prevent cancer later in life. Restricting the use or availability of all-weather year-round synthetic fields and thereby potentially reducing exercise could, in the long run, actually increase cancer incidence, as well as cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses."<ref>{{cite journal |title=Synthetic turf fields, crumb rubber, and alleged cancer risk
  |author=Bleyer, Archie
  |s2cid=46183771
 |journal=Sports Medicine
  |volume=47
  |issue=12
  |pages=2437–2441
  |year=2017
  |publisher=Springer|doi=10.1007/s40279-017-0735-x
  |pmid=28493060}}</ref>

However, the latter argument ignores the scientific studies of the impact of these chemicals on obesity and children's healthy emotional and cognitive development.

For example, a study for the [[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] analyzed lead and other metals in dust kicked into the air by physical activity on 5 artificial turf fields. The results suggest that even low levels of activity on the field can cause particulate matter containing these chemicals to get into the air where it can be inhaled and be harmful. The authors state that since no level of lead exposure is considered safe for children, “only a comprehensive mandated testing of fields can provide assurance that no health hazard on these fields exists from lead or other metals used in their construction and maintenance.”<ref>Shalat SL. An evaluation of potential exposures to lead and other metals as the result of aerosolized particulate matter from artificial turf playing fields. 2011. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. http://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/publications/artificial-turf-report.pdf</ref>

A 2018 report by [[Yale University|Yale]] scientists analyzed the chemicals found in 6 samples of tire crumbs from different companies that install school athletic fields, and 9 different samples taken from 9 unopened bags of rubber mulch. The researchers detected 92 chemicals in the samples.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Benoit|first1=Gaboury|last2=Demars|first2=Sara|year=2018|title=Evaluation of Organic and Inorganic Compounds Extractable by Multiple Methods from Commercially Available Crumb Rubber Mulch|journal=Water, Air, & Soil Pollution|volume=229|issue=3|page=64|bibcode=2018WASP..229...64B|doi=10.1007/s11270-018-3711-7|s2cid=103861679}}</ref> Only about half have ever been studied for their health effects, so the risks of the other chemicals are unknown. Some of the chemicals that have been tested for health effects were not examined thoroughly. Of this chemicals that had been tested previously, 20% are considered to likely cause cancer, and 40% are irritants that can cause breathing problems such as asthma or can irritate skin and eyes. The researchers concluded that “people routinely ingest, inhale, handle, and have abrasions which contact ground tire material…Caution would argue against use of these materials where human exposure is likely, and this is especially true for playgrounds and athletic playing fields where young people may be affected.”

===Injuries===
A number of health and safety concerns have been raised about artificial turf.<ref name=Weeks>{{cite journal |last1=Weeks |first1=Jennifer |title=Turf Wars |journal=Distillations Magazine |date=2015 |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=34–37 |url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/turf-wars |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192635/https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/turf-wars |archive-date=21 March 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Friction between skin and older generations of artificial turf can cause abrasions and/or burns to a much greater extent than natural grass.<ref name=pennstate/>  Artificial turf tends to retain heat from the sun and can be much hotter than natural grass with prolonged exposure to the sun.<ref>{{Cite journal | author=C. Frank Williams, Gilbert E. Pulley | title=Synthetic Surface Heat Studies | publisher=Brigham Young University | url=http://cahe.nmsu.edu/programs/turf/documents/brigham-young-study.pdf | year=2002 | access-date=19 February 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410113457/http://cahe.nmsu.edu/programs/turf/documents/brigham-young-study.pdf | archive-date=10 April 2008 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

There is some evidence that periodic disinfection of artificial turf is required as pathogens are not broken down by natural processes in the same manner as natural grass. Despite this, a 2006 study suggests certain microbial life is less active in artificial turf.<ref name=pennstate>{{cite press release | title=New Penn State Study Debunks Staph Bacteria Scare In Synthetic Turf | url=http://aginfo.psu.edu/News/06August/Staph.htm | publisher=Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences | date=30 August 2006 | access-date=11 January 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830223317/http://aginfo.psu.edu/News/06August/Staph.htm | archive-date=30 August 2006 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

There is evidence showing higher rates of player injury on artificial turf. By November 1971, the injury toll on first-generation artificial turf had reached a threshold that resulted in [[92nd United States Congress|congressional]] hearings by the [[United States House of Representatives|House]] subcommittee on commerce and finance.<ref name=mdsdh>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eu9LAAAAIBAJ&pg=7308%2C284121 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Senate (House) studies 'Mod Sod' |date=November 2, 1971 |page=16}}</ref><ref name=ftmdf>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=29lVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5501%2C605975 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Fake turf makers deny fault |date=November 3, 1971 |page=5D}}</ref><ref name=sltmsd>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1971/11/15/613905/new-slant-on-the-mod-sod |magazine=Sports Illustrated |title=New Slant on the Mod Sod |last=Underwood |first=John |date=November 15, 1971 |page=32}}</ref> In a study performed by the National Football League Injury and Safety Panel, published in the October 2012 issue of the ''[[American Journal of Sports Medicine]]'', Elliott B. Hershman et al. reviewed injury data from NFL games played between 2000 and 2009. "...the injury rate of knee [[sprain]]s as a whole was 22% higher on FieldTurf than on natural grass. While MCL sprains did not occur at a rate significantly higher than on grass, rates of ACL sprains were 67% higher on FieldTurf."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drdavidgeier.com/ask-dr-geier-acl-tears-on-natural-grass-or-fieldturf/ |title=Ask Dr. Geier – Are ACL tears more common on grass or FieldTurf? &#124; Dr. David Geier – Sports Medicine Simplified |publisher=Dr. David Geier |date=18 January 2013 |access-date=24 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109114213/http://www.drdavidgeier.com/ask-dr-geier-acl-tears-on-natural-grass-or-fieldturf/ |archive-date=9 January 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[Metatarsophalangeal joint]] sprain, known as "[[Metatarsophalangeal joint sprain|turf toe]]" when the big toe is involved, is named from the injury being associated with playing sports on rigid surfaces such as artificial turf and is a fairly common injury among professional American football players. Artificial turf is a harder surface than grass and does not have much "give" when forces are placed on it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00645 |title=Turf Toe-OrthoInfo – AAOS |publisher=Orthoinfo.aaos.org |date=1 August 2012 |access-date=24 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209003402/http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00645 |archive-date=9 December 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Materials used===
Some artificial turf uses infill such as silicon sand and/or granulated [[rubber]], referred to as "[[crumb rubber]]". Some granulated rubber is made from [[Tire recycling|recycled car tires]] and may carry [[heavy metals]] which can leach into the water table. As early as 2007, a moratorium on the use of ground-up rubber tires in fields and playgrounds was recommended based on health concerns.<ref name=Brown>{{Cite journal | author=David R. Brown, Sc.D. | title=Artificial Turf | publisher=Environment & Human Health, Inc | year=2007 | url=http://www.ehhi.org/reports/turf/turf_report07.pdf | access-date=21 December 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410113457/http://www.ehhi.org/reports/turf/turf_report07.pdf | archive-date=10 April 2008 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
As of 2013, the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] called for further studies to monitor the impact of particulate matter from fields and playgrounds that use artificial turf.<ref name=Weeks/>

[[Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances|PFAS chemicals]] have also been found in turf samples, possibly a residual from the extrusion process.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lerner |first1=Sharon |title=Toxic PFAS Chemicals Found in Artificial Turf |url=https://theintercept.com/2019/10/08/pfas-chemicals-artificial-turf-soccer/ |access-date=4 January 2020 |work=The Intercept |date=8 October 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[International Association for Sports Surface Sciences]]
* [[Poly-Turf]]
* [[List of college football stadiums with non-traditional field colors]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{CC-notice|bysa3|National Center for Health Research|otrs=1}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Artificial Turf}}
[[Category:Artificial turf| ]]
[[Category:Gardening aids]]
[[Category:Plastics applications]]
[[Category:Water conservation]]