[INFORMATIVE] Artificial Grass: A Green Illusion with a Hidden Environmental Cost

Artificial Grass: A Green Illusion with a Hidden Environmental Cost

By: Keyan Shah

The Dark Side of Urban Vertical Farming: Hidden Environmental and Social Costs
In this article, I will discuss the hidden environmental and social costs of urban vertical farming, a modern agricultural trend often seen as a sustainable solution for growing food in cities.

Today, we are all aware of pollution around the world with fossil fuels, plastic, etc but not many people know about the negative effects of artificial grass. Artificial grass is made out of three materials mainly- polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon. In 2020, the global market for artificial grass stood at approximately £2.4 billion, a notable rise from £2 billion in 2016, with projections suggesting it could surpass £4 billion by 2027. Trends clearly suggest that artificial grass is gaining a large amount of popularity among our population. The reason for this popularity is mainly because of the low maintenance. Artificial grass does not require mowing as it does not grow, mowing grass is a rigorous chore that requires a lot of work and effort, it also does not require watering, which makes it really famous in areas with water scarcity. Several trends show artificial grass is used commonly in dry areas. Artificial grass remains green all throughout the year and does not change colors, The aesthetic appeal of artificial grass stands out to several people. All these positives come with several negatives.

Materials Used
Artificial grass is made of three main materials: polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon. Polyethylene is a type of plastic derived from petrochemicals, which contributes to fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during production. It is not biodegradable, leading to plastic pollution when the grass is disposed of. Certain artificial turfs also have several harmful substances in them such as benzene, arsenic, zinc, chromium, and cadmium. Artificial grass has a layer called infill, this layer for synthetic turf playing fields, has historically consisted primarily of crumbed used tires. This material is used to reduce the risk of injury of athletes playing on the field. Due to friction during use, UV radiation from the sun, and general environmental exposure, the plastic blades in synthetic turf break down into tiny pieces of plastic called microplastics.

Global Warming
The main concern about artificial turfs is their heat retention capacity. In simple words, when you use natural grass the CO2 around will easily get absorbed but -that's not the case with artificial grass, as a result, artificial grass indirectly increases CO2 emissions around the globe. Artificial turf absorbs and retains more heat than natural grass. On hot days, it can reach temperatures much higher than the surrounding air. This heat is then released into the atmosphere, contributing to the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect is a phenomenon in which a city experiences much warmer temperatures than nearby rural areas. The difference in temperature between urban and less-developed rural areas has to do with how well the surfaces in each environment absorb and hold heat. Due to artificial grass not being able to absorb CO2, the CO2 emissions remain in the atmosphere which leads to global warming. The long-term effects of global warming which most of our population know is increasing temperatures, melting ice caps, and more.

Biodiversity
Artificial grass does not provide any food for living creatures. It restricts access to the soil beneath for burrowing insects and to the ground above for soil dwellers such as worms. Replacing natural grass with artificial turfs eliminates a habitat rich in biodiversity. 97% of British wildflower meadows have been lost due to artificial turf use. Natural grass has more than 11,500 accepted species, according to reports. These species' habitats are heavily affected when natural grass is replaced by artificial grass. Installing artificial turf typically involves removing existing vegetation, which destroys natural habitats. Artificial turfs compact the soil beneath it and disrupt natural water infiltration affecting earthworms.

Artificial grass can impede the natural processes that maintain soil health. Natural grasses provide food resources for species such as bees and butterflies, by replacing natural grass these species do not get their desired food therefore they may go extinct and damage the ecosystem. Natural lawns and gardens provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for various species by replacing these areas with artificial turf it can disrupt local ecosystems and reduce biodiversity.

Cancer
There have been several reports about artificial grass leading to cancer. As per the Guardian A report was published on a possible link between a rare brain cancer that killed six professional US baseball players from the toxic chemicals in artificial turf, the six athletes, who all died from glioblastoma, played most of their careers with the Philadelphia Phillies, a team that for decades competed on artificial turf in Veterans Stadium. As mentioned before, the infill used crumbled tires as their material. The infill is made out of a material called crumb rubber which EPA testing has found contains high levels of dangerous chemicals. The inquirer bought pieces of the Phillies artificial turf and had it tested at two labs, and found it contained 16 types of PFAS, including PFOS. PFAS, or (polyfluoroalkyl substances), are a class of about 12,000 chemicals often used to make products resist water, stains, and heat. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t naturally break down, and are linked to cancer, liver problems, thyroid issues, birth defects, kidney disease, decreased immunity, and other serious health problems. PFAS can be ingested, inhaled, and absorbed through the skin – or even enter the body through open wounds.

Conclusion
The global market for Artificial grass is expected to reach £4.4 billion. The US Federal Government estimates about 12,000 synthetic turf fields exist in the US, and at least 1,200 more are installed annually. Trends clearly suggest that the number is going to increase. People need to take matters into their own hands and advocate for change. Companies have made several eco-friendly options that require less maintenance and water and at the same time preserve biodiversity and our environment. The infill which is made of crumbled tires is now being replaced by artificial grass and is used for several things, from homes to sports grounds but we must change and shift to eco-friendly options immediately based on one's preferences like low maintenance, aesthetically pleasing, etc. Many companies have started to use coconut husk as their infill layer as it's a sustainable material that decomposes over time. Cork infill is a great alternative as well, rather than using artificial grass, people can shift to native grasses like Buffalo grass or Blue Grama, which are well-adapted to local climates, require minimal water, and support local biodiversity. They don’t require harmful pesticides or fertilizers, making them cancer-free and safer for the environment. In conclusion, the selection of turf/grass solely depends on your needs, whether you want less maintenance, want to use less water, etc. However, we must preserve our biodiversity and our environment because if we do not make the right choices, our future will have to suffer the consequences.

Citations
Murphy M, Warner GR Health Impacts of Artificial Turf: Toxicity Studies, Challenges, and Future Directions - PMC.” PubMed Central (PMC), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10262297/. Accessed 7 Sept. 2024.

“Why Are Artificial Lawns Bad for the Environment? - University of Plymouth.” University of Plymouth, 7th September 2024 https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/discover/why-are-artificial-lawns-bad-for-the-environment.

Ukpanah, Inemesit. “The Environmental Impact of Artificial Grass: Insights and Trends.” GreenMatch.Co.Uk, https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/artificial-grass-environmental-impact. Accessed 7 Sep. 2024.