In recent years there has been a big push to move away from natural grass and utilize more artificial turf on playing fields. The reasoning is that grass is expensive to maintain, and needs to be replaced fairly often. Artificial turf, on the other hand, has a one-time cost of installation, doesn’t require massive amounts of water, and lasts longer with minimal maintenance. There are pros and cons to each type of playing field. Pros and Cons of Natural Grass Most players prefer the feel of natural grass beneath their feet. They like the inconsistencies in the playing field. The look and feel of natural grass, to many, is synonymous with sporting activities. While natural grass may be a little rougher, and can hurt when you fall on it, players see going home with grass stains as a sign of a game well played. The downside is that when it rains, natural grass fields get sloppy. Mud holes can open up, and in addition to getting dirty, they can be dangerous. Pros and Cons of Artificial Turf Artificial turf is replacing grass fields because it eliminates the inconsistencies. Artificial turf is always green, always flat, and is not prone to having mud holes when it rains. The turf is soft with plenty of padding beneath the surface. The downside to artificial turf is that it can actually be more dangerous to play on. The turf is made up of a lot of different components, one of which is called crumb rubber. This crumb rubber is made from grinding up old car and truck tires, and it is loosely spread around the field. When a player strikes the ground the rubber bounces up and out and can be swallowed, inhaled, or become lodged in open cuts. There is evidence that exposure to crumb rubber can lead to cancers of the blood. What Should You Choose? At this point there is very little research done regarding the safety of artificial turf. There are some who swear that it is safe, but there are also a number of instances of those who used artificial turf regularly being diagnosed with like Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Leukemia . If you have been diagnosed with one of these diseases, and you have used artificial turf playing fields regularly, you should contact a personal injury attorney to determine if you are eligible to receive compensation for medical expenses.
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