Putting Green Turf is the synthetic surface of synthetic fibers designed to appear like authentic natural grass. It’s most commonly utilized in sporting arenas for outdoor sports, usually either played on natural grass or otherwise originally played on synthetic turf. But now, it’s being used on commercial and even residential applications as well. Aside from the many benefits and advantages that synthetic turf can bring, there are some disadvantages that synthetic turf may also bring. Thus, when deciding to use this for your sports, you must be aware of these.
One of the many disadvantages of synthetic turf is its tendency to cause heat stress. Heat stress is defined as the body’s inability to withstand physical stress, especially during vigorous activities such as athletics and other sports that require exertion of physical force. In this case, heat stress is caused by the turf’s fibers taking the shape of the body’s bones, muscles, and ligaments. When this happens, the human body experiences discomfort and pain. This discomfort could manifest itself in several ways, such as swelling, rash, an open wound, and more.
Another potential health hazard that synthetic turf may bring is the usage of crumb rubber. Crumb rubber is commonly used in sports fields to reduce wear and tear on surfaces. Aside from this, it also prevents the surface from getting too wet due to melted snow and ice accumulation. However, this can only be applied if the field is already designed with crumb rubber and if the surface has not yet been built before using synthetic turf.
There are also several environmental hazards present in synthetic turf athletic fields. One is the release of toxic chemicals into the environment. These chemicals are released because the synthetic fibers are not made of cotton but instead of polypropylene or olefin. The resulting product then seeps into the soil and the air, eventually being absorbed into people and the surrounding areas.
Another study showed that synthetic turf’s high temperatures could worsen the soil conditions in droughts and floods. As a result, more land will be damaged due to drought, and the costs associated will be greater. Additionally, researchers found that when the surface temperatures are too high, mosquitoes and ticks will breed in places where they normally do not.
Synthetic turf surfaces also pose a hazard to play due to players’ accidental injuries. During contact sports, the force of the body and the impact can cause sprains and tears. Not only can this happen on the artificial playing surfaces, but natural grass and fields as well.
Injuries caused by contact sports are not the only accidents that can happen to people using artificial surfaces. Besides, research has shown that players who play on natural grass have more upper-body injuries than those who play on synthetic turf. This is due to differences in body mechanics. The unnatural motion of a player transferring weight from one foot to the other while running or attempting to catch a ball can lead to injury.
Researchers have even found that the number of times players wear protective gear actually increases the chance of injury. This is due to the chemicals and dyes that are added to many artificial items. However, researchers have yet to find any significant correlation between the materials and actual bodily injury. More likely, the increase in injury risk is more due to stress from constant jumping and throwing. It has been deduced from studies that most injuries to active athletes are caused by repetitive motion over time, not the type of activity they are engaged in.