Are Artificial Turf Fields Safe For Athletes?
UPDATED MARCH 2026 — This post has been updated to include the California OEHHA Synthetic Turf Final Report (2026), one of the most comprehensive government-sponsored studies on turf safety to date.
If you’re an athletic director, parks director, or facility manager responsible for decisions about synthetic turf, you’ve fielded questions about safety. Is crumb rubber dangerous? What about PFAS? Should we be worried about injuries?
These are legitimate questions that deserve honest, evidence-based answers. Here’s where things stand.
The Crumb Rubber Question
A multi-year EPA study concluded that chemicals in crumb rubber fields were present at levels below thresholds of concern for typical athletic use. The American Cancer Society reviewed the available literature and reached the same conclusion: the evidence does not support elevated cancer risk from playing on synthetic turf.
The California OEHHA Study: The Most Rigorous Government Research Yet
In 2026, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released the most thorough government-sponsored crumb rubber study ever conducted. California sets some of the country’s most protective environmental health standards — that context matters when you read the findings.
OEHHA and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory collected samples from 35 randomly selected synthetic turf fields across California, spanning a range of field ages and climate conditions. They measured chemicals in the air during actual athletic play, analyzed crumb rubber samples, and assessed exposure across multiple routes: inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion. The study modeled exposure for soccer players — the group with the highest contact with the field surface — as well as coaches, referees, and spectators.
What the OEHHA Study Found
Overall conclusion: No significant health risks to players, coaches, referees, or spectators were identified from exposure to crumb rubber infill.
Athletes and coaches: Chemical exposures measured during play were below levels of concern across all exposure routes.
Spectators: No meaningful health risk identified.
Source: OEHHA Synthetic Turf Study, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (2026).
Why This Study Carries Extra Weight
Most safety studies get dismissed as industry-funded or criticized for limited scope. The OEHHA study is neither. It was conducted by a state regulatory agency, independently funded, designed specifically to answer community health questions, and peer reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Panel. The fact that it came from California — which sets some of the nation’s most protective chemical exposure standards — gives it credibility that studies from less rigorous jurisdictions don’t have.
The study doesn’t end the conversation. OEHHA noted that research on synthetic turf continues and that the precautionary principle remains reasonable for families with very young children on sidelines. The industry’s ongoing shift toward alternative infills — TPE, organic infills, sand — reflects responsible progress. But for the core question — is it safe for athletes to play on a properly constructed synthetic turf field — the weight of evidence, including this 2026 study, says yes.
The PFAS Issue
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals used in a range of products, including some turf backing materials and infill components. The regulatory environment around PFAS is evolving, and the health concerns are real.
The industry is responding. Many turf manufacturers have committed to PFAS-free product lines or are actively eliminating PFAS from their products. When evaluating turf systems, ask manufacturers specifically about their PFAS status and request documentation of any certifications. It is a question worth asking, and any reputable manufacturer should be able to answer it clearly.
This is an area where working with a turf-neutral contractor matters. Byrne & Jones works with a large number of nationally recognized turf manufacturers and will get you just the right surface for your program. Our job is to understand your facility’s needs, your community’s concerns, and your budget — and then help you identify the system that best meets all three. That includes asking the hard questions about PFAS on your behalf.
How to Have This Conversation With Your Community
Parents and community members who feel informed are far more likely to support a project than those who feel their concerns are being dismissed. The evidence supports synthetic turf as a safe choice for athletic use when the right system is selected and properly installed.
Talk to Someone Who Builds These Fields
The questions parents, school boards, and community members are asking about synthetic turf are ones we answer every day. If you want to talk through what the research means for your specific facility — or just need help making the case to your community — we’re glad to help.
