Seminar Report

ARTIFICIAL TURF

Submitted to:
by:

Submitted

Department of Civil Engineering

Sharma

Aman

G. B. Pant Engineering College

Year, VI Semester

B. Tech III

Ghurdauri, Pauri Garhwal

130513

ID NO.

Uttarakhand
2013-17

Batch

Acknowledgement
I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all those who provide
me the possibility to complete this report. This report becomes a reality
with the kind support and help of many individuals. I would like to extend
my sincere thanks to all of them.
I would like to express my special gratitude and thanks to my advisers, my
roommates, friends and all of my faculties, who helped me in completion
of this report.
I would also like to thank my Head of Department Dr.M.P.S. Chauhan Sir
for guiding and correcting various mistakes of mine with attention and
care.
My thanks and appreciations also go to my colleagues and peoples who
have willingly helped me out with their abilities.

Abstract
Artificial turf is a surface of synthetic fibers made to look like natural
grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are
normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential
lawns and commercial applications as well. The main reason is
maintenanceartificial turf stands up to heavy use, such as in sports, and
requires no irrigation or trimming. Domed, covered, and partially covered
stadiums may require artificial turf because of the difficulty of getting
grass enough sunlight to stay healthy. But artificial turf does have its
downside: limited life, periodic cleaning requirements, petroleum use,
toxic chemicals from infill, and heightened health and safety concerns.

CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. History
3. Profile
4. Raw Materials
5. Infill Materials
6. Manufacturing process
7. Installation
8. Applications
9. Environmental Effects
10.

Comparison

11.

Benefits

12.

Demerits

13.

Conclusion

14.

Reference

15.

INTRODUCTION
Artificial turf is a surfacing material used to imitate grass. It is generally
used in areas where grass cannot grow, or in areas where grass
maintenance is impossible or undesired. Artificial turf is used mainly in
sports stadiums and arenas, but can also be found on playgrounds and in
other spaces.
Artificial turf has been manufactured since the early 1960s, and was
originally produced by Chemstrand Company (later renamed Monsanto
Textiles Company). It is produced using manufacturing processes similar
to those used in the carpet industry. Since the 1960s, the product has
been improved through new designs and better materials. The newest
synthetic turf products have been chemically treated to be resistant to
ultraviolet rays, and the materials have been improved to be more wearresistant, less abrasive, and, for some applications, more similar to natural
grass.

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 prep school recreation area in
Rhode Island. The material came to public prominence in 1966, when
AstroTurf was installed in the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The state-ofthe-art indoor stadium had attempted to use natural grass during its initial
season in 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, the outfield was installed in early summer during an extended
Astros road trip and first used after the 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 football. More than 11,000 artificial turf
playing fields have been installed nationally. More than 1,200 were
installed in the U.S. in 2013 alone, according to the industry group the
Synthetic Turf Council.
Maintaining a grass playing surface indoors, while technically possible, is
prohibitively expensive. Teams who chose to play on artificial surfaces
outdoors did so because of the reduced maintenance cost, especially in
colder climates with urban multi-purpose "cookie cutter" stadiums such as
Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium and
Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium.

PROFILE
Most synthetic turf systems installed today include a drainage layer, a
multi-layered backing system, and resilient "grass" blades that are infilled
with a granular filler to resemble natural turf. "Infilled" means that the
man-made grass blades are interspersed with a top soil created with sand
and/or granulated recycled tire rubber or other infill materials that provide
the necessary stability, uniformity, and resiliency. Each blade customarily
stands above the infill material. The typical blade length and system
characteristics are determined by the specific activity requirements. In
some applications, the synthetic turf system includes a pad or elastic
layer underneath the turf, often in combination with lower pile height and
less infill.

RAW MATERIALS
The quality of the raw materials is crucial to the performance of turf
systems. Almost anything used as a carpet backing has been used for the
backing material, from jute to plastic to polyester. High quality artificial
turf uses polyester tire cord for the backing.
The fibers that make up the blades of "grass" are made of nylon or
polypropylene and can be manufactured in different ways. The nylon
blades can be produced in thin sheets that are cut into strips or extruded
through moulds to produce fibers with a round or oval cross-section. The
extruded product results in blades that feel and act more like biological
grass.
Cushioning systems are made from rubber compounds or from polyester
foam. Rubber tires are sometimes used in the composition of the rubber
base, and some of the materials used in backing can come from plastic or
rubber recycling programs. The thread used to sew the pads together and
also the top fabric panels has to meet the same criteria of strength, colour
retention, and durability as the rest of the system. Care and experience
must also be applied to the selection of the adhesives used to bond all the
components together.

INFILL MATERIALS
Crumb Rubber: Crumb Rubber is derived from scrap car and truck tires
that are ground up and recycled. Two types of crumb rubber infill exist:
Ambient and Cryogenic. Together these make up the most widely used
infill in the synthetic sports field and landscape market. Crumb rubber
infill is substantially metal free, and, according to the STC (Synthetic Turf
Council) Guidelines for Crumb Rubber Infill, should not contain liberated
fiber in an amount that exceeds .01% of the total weight of crumb rubber.
Coated Rubber Infill: Both ambient and cryogenic rubber can be coated
with colorants, sealers, or anti-microbial substances if desired. Coated
rubber provides additional aesthetic appeal, reduction of dust by products
during the manufacturing process and complete encapsulation of the
rubber particle.
EPDM Infill: EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a polymer
elastomer with high resistance to abrasion and wear and will not change
its solid form under high temperatures. Typical EPDM colours are green
and tan. EPDM has proven its durability as an infill product in all types of
climates. Its excellent elasticity properties and resistance to atmospheric
and chemical agents provide a stable, high performance infill product.
Organic Infill: There are several organic infills available in the North
American market, all utilizing different organic components, such as
natural cork and/or ground fibers from the outside shell of the coconut.
These products can be utilized in professional sports applications as well
as for landscaping. At the end of its life cycle it can be recycled directly
into the environment.
Sand (Silica) Infill: Pure silica sand is one of the original infilling
materials utilized in synthetic turf. This product is a natural infill that is
non-toxic, chemically stable and fracture resistant. Silica sand infills are
typically tan, off-tan or white in colour and - depending upon plant
location may be round or sub-round in particle shape. As a natural
product there is no possibility of heavy metals, and the dust/turbidity
rating is less than 100. It can be used in conjunction with many other
infills on the market to provide a safe and more realistic playing surface.
The round shape plays an integral part in the synthetic turf system. It is
important that silica sand have a high purity (greater than 90%) to resist
crushing and absorption of bacteria and other field contaminants. Silica
sand can either be coated with different materials as a standalone product

or can be used to firm up in combination with traditional crumb rubber

infill systems.
Coated Silica Sand Infill: This class of infill consists of coated, highpurity silica sand with either a soft or rigid coating specifically engineered
for synthetic turf. These coatings are either elastomeric or acrylic in
nature (non-toxic) and form a bond with the sand grain sealing it from
bacteria to provide superior performance and durability over the life of a
field. Coated sand is available in various sizes to meet the applications
needs.
Depending on the amount and type of infill, coated sands can either be
used with or without a pad and are available in various colours. All of the
coatings are non-toxic and are bonded to the quartz grain for superior
performance and durability over the life of your field. These materials are
typically used as a homogenous infill which provides both ballast and
shock absorbing qualities to a synthetic turf application.
TPE Infill: Thermo plastic elastomer (TPE) infill is non-toxic, heavy metal
free, available in a variety of colours that resist fading, very long lasting,
and 100% recyclable and reusable as infill when the field is replaced. TPE
infill, when utilizing virgin-based resins, will offer consistent performance
and excellent g-max over a wide temperature range.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The "grass" part of a turf system is made with the same tufting techniques
used in the manufacture of carpets.
1. The first step is to blend the proprietary ingredients together in a
hopper. Dyes and chemicals are added to give the turf its traditional
green color and to protect it from the ultraviolet rays from the sun.
2. After the batch has been thoroughly blended, it is fed into a large
steel mixer. The batch is automatically mixed until it has a thick,
taffy-like consistency.
3. The thickened liquid is then fed into an extruder, and exits in a long,
thin strand of material.
4. The strands are placed on a carding machine and spun into a loose
rope. The loose ropes are pulled, straightened, and woven into yarn.
The nylon yarn is then wound onto large spools.

5. The yarn is then heated to set the twisted shaped.

6. Next, the yarn is taken to a tufting machine. The yarn is put on a bar
with skewers (a reel) behind the tufting machine. It is then fed
through a tube leading to the tufting needle. The needle pierces the
primary backing of the turf and pushes the yarn into the loop. A
looper, or flat hook, seizes and release the loop of nylon while the
needle pulls back up; the backing is shifted forward and the needle
once more pierces the backing further on. This process is carried out
by several hundred needles, and several hundred rows of stitches
are carried out per minute. The nylon yarn is now a carpet of
artificial turf.
7. The artificial turf carpet is now rolled under a dispenser that spreads
a coating of latex onto the underside of the turf. At the same time, a
strong secondary backing is also coated with latex. Both of these
are then rolled onto a marriage roller, which forms them into a
sandwich and seals them together.
8. The artificial turf is then placed under heat lamps to cure the latex.
9. The turf is fed through a machine that clips off any tufts that rise
above its uniform surface.
10.
Then the turf is rolled into large v/lengths and packaged. The
rolls are then shipped to the wholesaler.

INSTALLATION
Artificial turf installation and maintenance is as important as its
construction.
1. The base of the installation, which is either concrete or compacted
soil, must be levelled by a bulldozer and then smoothed by a steam
roller. Uneven surfaces will still be evident once the turf is applied.

2. For outdoor applications, intricate drainage systems must be

installed, since the underlying surface can absorb little, if any,
rainwater.

3. Turf systems can be either filled or unfilled. A filled system is

designed so that once it is installed, a material such as crumbled
cork, rubber pellets, or sand (or a mixture) is spread over the turf
and raked down in between the fibers. The material helps support
the blades of fiber, and also provides a surface with some give, that
feels more like the soil under a natural grass surface. Filled systems
have some limitations, however. Filling material like cork may break
down or the filling material can become contaminated with dirt and
become compacted. In either case the blades are no longer
supported. Maintenance may require removing and replacing all of
the fill.

APPLICATIONS
BASEBALL
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 which bothered the players, did
not pass enough sunlight to support the grass. For most of the 1965
season, the 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 All-Star Break. The team was sent on
an extended road trip before the break, and on 19 July 1966, the
installation of the outfield portion of AstroTurf was completed.
Artificial turf was later installed in other new "cookie-cutter" stadiums
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 cut-out" layout on the diamond, with the only dirt
being on the pitcher's mound, batter's circle, and in a "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 biggest difference in play on artificial turf was that the ball bounced
higher than on real grass, and also travelled 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.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL
The first professional American football team to play on artificial turf was
the then-Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans), at the time part of
the American Football League, who moved into the Astrodome in 1968
which had installed AstroTurf two years prior. In 1969, Franklin Field, the
stadium of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
switched from grass to artificial turf. Also home of the Philadelphia Eagles,
it was 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,
Husky Stadium during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.
In 2006, Gillette Stadium, the football stadium of the New England Patriots
and the New England Revolution, switched from grass to FieldTurf due to
the conflict of poor weather and hosting many sporting and musical
events at the stadium. It is one of 13 National Football League stadiums
that have artificial turf instead of grass fields; the Giants and Jets (who
share a stadium) and Bengals actually switched from AstroTurf to natural
grass before reverting to a next-generation artificial surface.
All nine stadiums in the Canadian Football League currently use artificial
turf.

FIELD HOCKEY
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 is
however 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.

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Some football clubs in Europe installed synthetic surfaces in the 1980s,

which were called "plastic pitches" (often derisively) in countries such as
England. There, several professional club venues had adopted them;
QPR's Loftus Road, Luton Town's Kenilworth Road, Oldham Athletic's
Boundary Park and Preston's Deepdale. 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. The last team to have an artificial
pitch in England was Preston North End, who removed their pitch in 1994
after eight years in use.
FIFA designated a star system for artificial turf fields that have undergone
a series of tests that examine quality and performance based on a twostar system. Recommended 2-Star fields may be used for FIFA Final Round
Competitions as well as for UEFA Europa League and Champions League
matches. There are currently 130 FIFA Recommended 2-Star installations
in the world.

In February 2015 Arsenal F.C. ordered 1,400 m2 of artificial grass from the
Swiss company called Tisca Tiara for their training pitch at the Arsenal
Training Centre.

TENNIS
Carpet has been used as a surface for indoor tennis courts for decades,
though these originally was more similar to home carpets than a synthetic
grass. After the introduction of artificial turf, it came to be used for tennis
courts, both indoor and outdoor, though only a small minority of courts
use the surface. 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. A distinct form found in tennis is
an "artificial clay" surface, 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.

GOLF
Synthetic turf can also be used in the golf industry, such as on golf
ranges, putting greens and even in some circumstances tee boxes.
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.

LANDSCAPING
Thousands of homes, businesses, golf courses, municipalities, parks and
tourist attractions like Disneyland and Steve Wynns Las Vegas resorts
have turned to synthetic grass to provide a lush, attractive landscape
solution that requires minimal resources and maintenance while saving
millions of gallons of water each year. It is also a smart way to beautify
public spaces such as highway medians and airport landing strips that
would otherwise be difficult and expensive to maintain. Synthetic grass
reduces city maintenance costs, freeing tax dollars for other purposes.
Synthetic turf also promotes greater utilization of land, as you can do
more with the same space surface than with natural grass. Rooftops once
deemed unusable for high rises and residential buildings can now feature
inviting green area. Hotels that had to restrict the use of lawns for parties
and events can now schedule as many functions as they can book.

AIRPORTS
One can count on our artificial turf systems to:

Improve airfield access for rescue and firefighting

Reduce foreign object debris

Provide non-lethal wildlife control

Stabilize runway and taxiway shoulders

Reduced needs for security clearances for field maintenance staffing

Inhibit erosion from aircraft maneuvering

Enhance visual contrast of runways

Aviation grade artificial turf systems contributes to:

Improved visibility
o Creates a visual contrast marking the edges of the runway,
improving visualization for pilots in all weather, daylight or
night conditions.

Reduced opportunity for foreign object debris

o Increases safety of flights and service vehicles around
runways by significantly reducing dust and debris which can
often be caused by turbulence generated during take-off and
landing.

Mitigate risk from wildlife

o Eliminates sources of food, water and shelter for wildlife in
airside areas.

Improve drainage, reduce maintenance and security clearance

needs of maintenance staff
o Ends mowing, re-seeding and pesticide treatments, reducing
costs and need for security clearance of select field
maintenance personnel. Improves drainage to ensure a stable
and safe surface for heavy airport service vehicles to navigate
in emergency response situations.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

Synthetic turf has a measurable, positive impact on the environment.

Depending on the region of the country, a typical grass sports field
requires between 500,000 to a million gallons of water or more each year.
During 2010, between four to eight billion gallons of water were
conserved through its use. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), the average American family of four uses 400 gallons of
water a day. Therefore, a savings of four to eight billion gallons of water
equates to the annual water usage of over 27,000 to 55,000 average
American families of four.
Tax credits and rebates are being offered to residential and corporate
users in America by an increasing number of local governments in light of
the tremendous impact on water conservation. The Southern Nevada
Water Authority estimates that every square foot of natural grass replaced
saves 55 gallons of water per year. If an average lawn is 1,800 square
feet, then Las Vegas homeowners with synthetic turf could save 99,000
gallons of water each year or about $400 annually. In Atlanta,
homeowners could save $715 a year, not including much higher sewer
charges.
The estimated amount of synthetic turf currently installed has eliminated
the need for millions of pounds of harmful pesticides and fertilizers, which
has significant health and environmental implications. For example,
according to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, polluted storm water runoff is the number one cause of water
pollution in their state, with common examples including over fertilizing
lawns and excessive pesticide use.
In addition, synthetic turf helps reduce noxious emissions (the EPA reports
that a push mower emits as much pollution in one hour as 11 cars and a
riding mower emits as much as 34 cars) and reduces grass clippings,
which the EPA states are the third largest component of municipal solid
waste in landfills.

COMPARISON
A synthetic turf field usually has a higher upfront cost, but the field often
pays for itself over 3-4 years, proving to be a highly cost-effective
investment. Synthetic turf fields are typically utilized for about 3,000
hours of play per year, with no "rest required, the equivalent of three to
four well-maintained natural turf fields. In addition, synthetic turf
maintenance costs are two to three times less than natural turf, since no
mowing, irrigation or chemicals are needed. Because of its consistent

availability, a synthetic turf field is also a reliable source of rental revenue

for schools and communities.
According to Cory Jenner, a landscape architecture professional in
Syracuse, N.Y., the cost of installing and maintaining a synthetic turf
sports field over a 20-year period (including one replacement field) is over
three times less expensive per event than the cost of a grass field over
the same period of time. This is because many more events can be held
on a synthetic turf sports field. "Financially speaking, artificial turf is more
cost-effective over time, Jenner said. This cost per event advantage is
validated by other authorities and field owners.
Synthetic turf has ability to hold up under very heavy use. While natural
turf shouldnt be played on during or immediately after a rain storm, after
the application of pesticides and fertilizers, or during the months when
grass doesnt grow, synthetic turf is always ready for play. Regular
maintenance is important to enable synthetic turf to withstand the heavy
use that it is often subjected to.

While much less time and money is required to maintain a synthetic turf
sports field than a natural grass field, synthetic turf needs to be
maintained to maximize playability and the life of the product. The STC's
Guidelines for Maintenance of Infilled Synthetic Turf Sports Fields
(available in English and Spanish) provides essential guidance on proper
maintenance techniques and frequency.
A 2004 NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) study among
schools nationwide comparing injury rates between natural and synthetic
turf found that the injury rate during practice was 4.4% on natural turf,
and 3.5% on synthetic turf.

BENEFITS

Lower maintenance costs: While the initial cost (around $600K) is

high, it is a claim that upkeep is much less expensive, dropping by
some estimates from $35K to $5K per year.

Pesticide-free: Unlike natural grass, artificial turf doesn't require

treatment with pesticides and fertilizers (note, however, the success
some towns are having with organic grass fields).

Increased playability: Artificial turf fields are much more durable

than grass; because playability is much higher, they allow broader
access; can be played on all the time; in time of scarce fields, they
give youth sports organizations practice space they might otherwise
not have; the problem of spring and fall rains which result in
cancellation of numerous games and practices slated for grass fields
is eliminated; one match on a muddy field can ruin the field for the
rest of the season.

Fewer injuries: Durability and an even playing surface mean fewer

injuries and unlike grass that gets torn up by rough play and
eventually turns into vast patches of slippery mud (twisted ankles
from potholes, uneven playing surface, slips in the mud).

Saves water: An average grass playing field uses about 50,000

gallons of water per week during the growing season whereas
Artificial Turf doesnt require water.

DEMERITS

Heat hazard. The heat-absorbing properties of an artificial field

make it too hot to play on in extremely warm weather. On a 98-

degree day, the temperature on the turf could rise to more than 120
degrees. A Brigham Young University study found that the surface
temperature of synthetic turf at its football practice field was 37
degrees higher than the air temperature. Proponents point out that
use of the fields can be managed to ensure that athletes aren't
playing at the hottest times of the day and are adequately hydrated;
as a result, they argue, the higher temperature is more of a comfort
issue than safety issue.

Lead. Excessive exposure to lead has been linked to severe mental

retardation, stunted growth and death.
o Older turf fields made from nylon or nylon/polyethylene blend
fibers may contain levels of lead that pose a potential public
health concern. Tests of artificial turf fields made with only
polyethylene fibers showed that these fields contained very
low levels of lead.
o Field Turf, the largest artificial turf manufacturer in North
America, sells a lead-free artificial turf, but only if the
community asks for the custom-made field. The fields that
most communities purchase use lead to brighten the field's
colors and for a sport team logo.
o The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has
consistently recommended "the elimination of all nonessential uses of lead" because of the potential health hazards
they pose and has long considered lead dust one of the
biggest known health hazards to children; it notes that the
combination of age, weathering, exposure to sunlight and
wear and tear can cause dust containing lead to be released
from older or well-used fields.

Zinc hazard: A Connecticut-based environmental advocacy group,

Environment and Human Health Inc. (EHHI), has been sounding
warnings about artificial turf fields for a number of years and found
support for its contentions in a preliminary study in 2007 by
researchers at the Connecticut agricultural experiment station which
examined the contents of "crumb rubber" and concluded that
several potentially dangerous chemical compounds could escape
into the air or leach into water under certain conditions. Levels of
zinc found leaching into water were inordinately high. A study by
University of North Carolina found a possible link between continued
exposure to zinc and cardiovascular damage.

Other harmful chemicals: according to EHHI, shredded rubber

could contain other toxic metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium,
and selenium.

Toxic run-off. When an artificial field drains after a heavy rain, the
run-off (which may contain lead and infill material) could leach into
and contaminate a community's ground and drinking water.

Increased MRSA risk. Open skin lesions (so-called "turf burns")

put athletes at increased risk of MRSA. Studies have shown that
athletes who use synthetic turf are seven times more likely to
receive turf burns than those who play on natural grass. These open
lesions are often the source of contracting and vehicle for spreading
dangerous infections. In fact, a 2003 study of MRSA infections
among St. Louis Rams football players found that all eight MRSA
infections began at turf burn sites.

Bacterial breeding ground. Medical experts have found that

staphylococci and other bacteria can survive on polyethylene
plastic, the compound used to make synthetic turf blades, for more
than 90 days. Blood, sweat, skin cells and other materials can
remain on the synthetic turf because the fields are not washed or
cleaned.

Adverse effect on asthmatics. Breathing in dust of ground-up

tires could exacerbate breathing problems for asthmatics.

CONCLUSION
An Introduction to Artificial Turf (Synthetic Grass) Artificial turf is the
material used in making artificial grass. Artificial grass is often seen
in playgrounds and parks. It is a recent trend to have artificial grass
in lawns and outdoor spaces. It is a replacement to natural grass.
The reason why turf is used is that it is easy to maintain. Natural
grass grows fast and needs regular chopping and maintenance.
Apart from this, artificial turf always looks fresh and has no effect of
the changing seasons. They do not need to be watered like natural
grass in order to remain new and fresh.
Artificial turf is an excellent option in places where it is not possible
to have natural grass growth. This is why more people are choosing
an artificial turf over natural grass. Artificial turf consists of synthetic
fibers. Artificial turf first gained importance in the 1960s. Since then

its popularity and liking has increased among people. Today,

artificial turfs offer sand and recycled rubber. In many sports like
football, baseball and field hockey we see the use of artificial turf in
the stadium. These grass substitutes also have some downsides.
These include: use of petroleum, limited life and toxic as
components. Artificial turf continues to grow in its use with many
people trying it as a substitute to natural grass.
The demerits of older turfs can be prevented by taking correct
measures as:
1.Test turf that has fibers that are abraded, faded or broken,
contains visible dust, and that is made from nylon or nylon-blend
fibers.
2.If the dust contains more than 400 ppm lead, do not allow turf
access to children under the age of 6 years.
3.After playing on the field, individuals are encouraged to perform
aggressive hand and body washing for at least 20 seconds using
soap and warm water.
4. Eating while on the field or turf product is discouraged.

REFRENCES
1. www.wikipedia.org/
2. http://www.syntheticturfcouncil.org/
3. http://www.fieldturf.com/
4. http://www.madehow.com/
5. http://www.momsteam.com/