Do artificial turf sports fields expose children to harmful microplastics?

What's actually in it

Artificial turf is made from polyethylene or polypropylene fibers, often mixed with crumb rubber infill from recycled tires. During play, physical contact, foot traffic, and friction cause these materials to shed microplastic and rubber particles. Warmer temperatures accelerate the breakdown.

Children breathe at a lower height than adults, right in the zone where microplastic particles concentrate near the surface. They also spend more time prone on the turf, have faster breathing rates during play, and have smaller airways where particles can deposit more easily.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Geochem Health measured airborne microplastic concentrations above synthetic sports surfaces during simulated play conditions. Particle counts were measurably elevated above the turf surface compared to natural grass fields. The researchers calculated children's inhalation exposure based on breathing rates and time on field.

Children playing on synthetic turf during a typical practice or game session inhaled a significant number of microplastic particles, with polypropylene and polyethylene fragments dominating. The rubber crumb infill also contributed particles with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination.

Long-term health effects of inhaled sports-field microplastics specifically aren't yet established. But general research on inhaled microplastics points to lung inflammation and immune effects as the main concerns.

Parents choosing between synthetic and natural grass fields for youth sports should know this tradeoff exists. Where options allow, natural grass fields mean lower microplastic inhalation during play.