Parents of student-athletes are always concerned about their child's safety while engaging in the sport they love. Whether those athletes are 8-year-old soccer players, 18-year-old college athletes, or established players in the NFL or NHL, parents worry about everything from sprained ankles to traumatic brain injury from repeated concussions. 

Now, there's a new danger afoot—literally. Artificial turf is increasingly coming under scrutiny for its potential to cause cancer and other devastating diseases. 

Has your student athlete child been injured as a result of participation in a college sport? Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888.535.3686 or send a message by clicking here.  

Is Artificial Turf Worth It? 

Artificial turf offers many benefits to schools, sports arenas, and other facilities where physical competitions take place. It's far more durable than natural grass, it's much easier to maintain, and it can be used indoors as well as year-round.  
 
However, more and more communities, teams, and families are learning that these advantages may not be worth the high cost that artificial turf poses to young people and their health. 

One risk is that of increased non-contact injuries such as twisted ankles, sprains and strains, and ACL injuries. Research into football players' frequency of injuries shows that artificial turf is 32% more likely to cause knee injuries, and 69% more likely to lead to ankle or foot injuries. That's not even taking into consideration contact injuries. 

Even more concerning, however, is the fact that artificial turf playing surfaces are made with chemicals that are very dangerous, possibly even fatally so, to human health. 

Forever Chemicals 

Artificial turf comprises three separate layers: a base layer, a top layer meant to resemble blades of grass but actually made of plastic, and a fill (or infill) layer between them. This fill is generally made with old rubber tires that have been broken down into small particulates. 

Unfortunately, that rubber and some of the plastic used elsewhere in turf are very toxic—and we've only just begun to see the extent to which these substances can harm humans. 

Among the chemicals that make up artificial turf are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Used in a variety of consumer products for their ability to repel oil, resist heat, and safeguard against water damage, they are also known as “forever chemicals.” That's because once ingested or inhaled, they remain in the human body for years. 

PFAS don't just hang out benignly in our bloodstream, however. They have been linked to liver disease along with a range of cancer types. Of course, children and even teenagers whose bodies are still developing are at even greater risk than adult athletes to have adverse reactions—perhaps years down the line—to these forever chemicals. 

Keeping Young Athletes Safe 

Young athletes, and their families, have enough to worry about—keeping their grades up so they can continue to play their sport of choice, eating right and cross-training to maintain their physical conditioning, learning how to communicate and generally get along with teammates, and of course the plays and strategies that they will use in their next competition. If you think your child is at risk for a health issue due to artificial turf—or any other cause related to their school or their sport—contact the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm. Call 888.535.3686 or click here now.