What You Need to Know听

• California鈥檚 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released a final study assessing potential health risks from听recycled-tire听鈥渃rumb rubber鈥� used as synthetic turf infill.听听

• OEHHA reported no evidence of a听significant听risk of cancer or other health problems for athletes, coaches, referees, or spectators 鈥� including young athletes and toddlers.听听

• The nine-year effort evaluated听35 fields听across California, analyzed听100+ chemicals, and included air sampling plus exposure research involving听1,000+ soccer players.听听

• OEHHA said the findings may help inform California sustainability and waste-tire management goals as synthetic turf use expands statewide.听听

Learn More听

SACRAMENTO, Calif. 鈥斕鼵alifornia鈥檚 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has concluded that crumb rubber infill made from recycled tires is not likely to pose a significant health risk to people who use or watch games on synthetic turf fields.听听

In a March 5 press release, OEHHA said its final report found 鈥渘o evidence of significant risk for cancer or other health problems鈥� tied to crumb rubber exposure for players, coaches,听referees听and spectators, including young athletes.听听

The assessment focused on crumb rubber, the small granules produced by grinding recycled waste tires and commonly used as听infill听between synthetic grass blades. OEHHA said the material helps keep turf fibers upright, adds cushioning and improves traction.听听

鈥淭his study should ease concerns about the safety of crumb rubber use in synthetic turf fields,鈥� said OEHHA Director Kris Thayer, 鈥淎thletes of all ages can use these fields without parents worrying about this commonly used material,鈥� according to听.听听

OEHHA said synthetic turf is widely used because it requires less maintenance, uses less听water听and can support play without rest periods. The agency cited more than 900 synthetic turf installations in California.听听

The report was also framed as part of California鈥檚 broader waste-tire and sustainability efforts.

鈥淧rotecting public health is our top priority, and California is committed to making sure waste tires are managed safely so they don鈥檛 litter communities or pose risks to residents,鈥澨鼵alRecycle听Director Zoe Heller said, according to听.听听

To evaluate potential health impacts, OEHHA tested 35 synthetic turf fields across the state, selecting both older and newer sites and including locations from each of California鈥檚 climate regions. The agency collected multiple samples from each field to address variation in source materials听and also听took air samples during active field use and when fields were idle.听听

OEHHA said it assessed more than 100 chemicals that could pose a risk, a broader scope than prior studies that reviewed fewer compounds. The agency coordinated with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to simulate sweat and digestion as part of听identifying听chemicals people could potentially contact.听听

OEHHA also worked with researchers from UC Berkeley and the University of Arizona to examine how soccer players may be exposed 鈥� including through skin contact,听inhalation听and incidental ingestion. The team surveyed more than 1,000 soccer players ages 7 to 71 about play habits such as sliding and diving, and recorded games and practices to quantify field contact. Because goalkeepers tend to have the most contact with the surface, OEHHA said goalie data were used to estimate risk for players. The analysis also considered toddlers who might crawl on turf.听听

In its risk characterization, OEHHA reported no acute risk for athletes, referees,听coaches听or spectators, including toddlers. In most cases, the agency said risks of sensory irritation, cancer, reproductive听harm听or effects on a developing fetus were 鈥渘egligible.鈥澨�听

This article is based on reporting originally published by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) on March 5, 2026.听

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Synthetic turf continues to be an increasingly popular choice for educational facilities looking for more durable and playable fields. Currently, there are between 12,000 and 13,000 synthetic turf sports fields in the U.S., and the Synthetic Turf Council estimates there are 1,200 鈥� 1,500 new installations each year.

Synthetic turf first emerged in the 1960s. Then, in the 1980s, we saw an improved second generation product crop up. The 90s brought a new infilled system that mimicked the look, feel and playability of real grass, and is the foundation for all turf systems today.

Modern systems enhance playability, safety and the field鈥檚 overall appearance, making them a popular option for the toughest sports, including football, soccer and lacrosse.

With countless options from which to choose, it is important to point out that not all turf systems are created equal.

Pick the wrong synthetic turf for your facility, and you could be left with a field of nothing but sand and rubber in just a few years.

Choose wisely, and you鈥檒l enjoy a turf that stays in great shape and provides a consistent and safe playing surface for your school鈥檚 athletes.

So, whether you are building a high school multisport field or a university soccer pitch, asking these questions while shopping for a new field will help you make the right decision on your facility鈥檚 turf system:

What type of fibers are used in the turf?

You want a turf that will last a long time, so thicker and wider fibers are preferable. Many turf products are made solely with thin monofilament fibers – popular because the blades look more like grass.

However, monofilament fibers more easily split and pull out, requiring more maintenance time (and additional, tedious time spent sweeping up fibers). Lose a substantial number of fibers, and you鈥檒l soon be playing on nothing but infill, the substance put in between blades to make the field springy, keep blades upright and help with drainage.

So, make sure you choose a high quality product that has undergone rigorous testing. And look for fibers that are interlocked to prevent fiber loss and breakage.

Remember: thicker and wider is always better (the thinner the fiber, the weaker it is).

How are the fibers integrated with the turf?

You鈥檒l want to ask the turf manufacturer if the fibers are glued into a backing 鈥� glued-in fibers pull out more easily 鈥� or if they are actually woven to become interlocked together, creating one solid piece.

Note that a tufted product with a woven backing is still a tufted product (so be sure to ask if the turf is truly woven).

How long is the turf鈥檚 warranty?

The length of the warranty speaks to the product鈥檚 durability. Eight-year warranties are the industry standard (a 10-year warranty is the 鈥済old鈥� standard).

Also, pay attention to the fine print, since many manufacturers offer prorated warranties. A prorated warranty loses value, giving you a fraction of the coverage, as time passes.

How will the turf鈥檚 construction enhance safety?

The full turf system (the turf, shock pad and infill) ensures you have the safest field possible.

The shock pad and infill protect players from impacts, and the turf provides traction while supporting the infill. With tufted turf, the fibers are glued in rows, resulting in 鈥渧alleys鈥� where infill can easily shift around and become displaced, leaving 鈥渂ald鈥� areas with little infill and less protection for players. With woven turf, the interlocked fibers keep infill in place, creating a consistent surface.
For increased safety, the shock pad is your best insurance policy; it guarantees there is always something to protect the player on impact.

What鈥檚 it like to play on the turf?

When it comes to a turf鈥檚 playability, a consistent surface is key; it will play more like natural grass and improves running and athlete agility. If your turf system鈥檚 infill is constantly shifting around, that will negatively affect player performance and discourage natural ball roll and bounce.

When selecting your turf, take the time to ask the right questions. Choose carefully: it can be the difference between a field that performs and looks great over the years and a lumpy, gray, dangerous surface. In the right hands, though, your synthetic turf field can be part of your facility鈥檚 legacy — to be enjoyed for years to come.

Colin Veditz is the installation quality control manager at TenCate, a global leader in the development, production and marketing of synthetic turf components and the design of synthetic turf systems for sports fields.

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Sports has the power to unite diverse groups around a common goal. For schools at all levels, athletics can serve as a foundation for a school鈥檚 identity and is a crucial component of efforts to ensure healthy lifestyles.

The value of an athletics program goes beyond winning championships as schools increasingly rely on sports facilities and fields for myriad of functions. From practice time to game day and from intramural programs to sports tourism, sports fields are asked to do more than ever.

This expanded role of sports fields brings with it a number of challenges for schools, especially those school systems or institutions with natural grass fields. First, the cost to maintain these existing fields can increase year after year. Not only does the grass need consistent maintenance, but weather conditions can severely damage the field, requiring ongoing capital improvements.

Weather doesn鈥檛 just impact a field鈥檚 maintenance, it also can severely restrict the ability of a school to use the field. Grass fields that flood can鈥檛 be used for practices, games, or other events, forcing schools to cancel programming or find alternative and less desirable options. For example, poor field conditions at Hampton University caused flooding and erosion that prevented teams from practicing on the field and forced practices to move to an indoor gym during periods of heavy rain. A new synthetic field solved this issue so outdoor teams can play in various weather conditions, helping prepare them for upcoming games and freeing up the indoor gym for other programs. With demands for sport programming on the rise, all schools need to maximize their facilities, including sports fields.

Finally, a major challenge for existing natural grass fields is safety. Ensuring all participants are in a safe environment is the top priority for any school. Unfortunately, natural grass and older turf fields can result in harder surfaces with higher GMAX scores, a key consideration in potential concussions. Likewise, fields that flood easily can create uneven and unstable surfaces, resulting in more injuries.

Recognizing these serious concerns, more K-12 school systems and colleges and universities are exploring synthetic turf sports fields. Synthetic field technology has advanced exponentially in recent years and offer an array of benefits, especially when compared to natural grass fields.

Notably, synthetic fields can be more durable and multipurpose. The use of organic infill materials made with coconut husk, cork, corn husk, and other materials are a more widely accepted alternative to traditional crumb rubber infills. These materials may provide for softer surfaces as well as reduce the amount of heat trapped on a field. Improved shock pads are also installed underneath synthetic fields to further enhance safety. Vastly improved drainage of artificial fields further reduces maintenance costs and allows a field to be in use more often. For example, new synthetic turf fields installed at Henrico County, Virginia high schools can drain 12 inches of water per hour.

Henrico County offers a timely example of school districts recognizing the value of new synthetic turf fields. The county has initiated a multi-year phased project to replace the natural grass fields at its high schools with new artificial turf. The fields are designed and engineered to reduce maintenance, enhance safety, and ensure proper drainage. The field materials, site design, and underdrain systems all work together to create new synthetic sports fields that meet the county鈥檚 needs. In an innovative move, the county鈥檚 Department of Recreation and Parks to maintains the fields in an effort to streamline maintenance and ensure the new fields are leveraged for sports tourism and revenue-producing events.

College and universities see significant merit in these new fields as well. William and Mary, for example, installed synthetic turf on intramural fields at the college鈥檚 campus in Williamsburg, Virginia. This move now allows the college to program the field for additional hours and use it for a wide array of athletic events, including team practices and intramural programs. More opportunities to use these fields means that the college can offer additional athletic/recreational opportunities for students and maximize their investment in the synthetic fields.

That investment is an important consideration. Synthetic turf fields are more expensive to install than natural grass fields. However, the investment can be partially recouped through the decrease in long-term maintenance cost and the potential to generate revenue by renting the field for more uses. Many schools that face capital expenditures for their existing fields recognize the enduring investment in a new artificial field and long-term value that field brings. The initial capital investment can also be financed in many ways, including bonds, fundraising, and financing options from manufacturers.

Sports field design is about more than a set of plans; it is about creating the thrill inherent in competition and that feel of a game-winning moment. Engineering these experiences, made possible by superior athletic facilities and sports fields, involves a team approach. Increasingly, more K-12 school systems and colleges and universities are looking to synthetic fields to provide that experience and better results.

Justin Cornwell is a Project Manager and Jeff Nelson is a Business Development Manager with Draper Aden Associates, a Mid-Atlantic engineering, surveying, and environmental services firm. Draper Aden has led design and construction administration for dozens of sports fields for K-12 schools and college and universities.

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