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States and municipalities from coast to coast have stopped using crumb rubber as an infill for artificial lawns, even though the debate continues over the health risk posed by the used-tire granules.

The debate over the safety of crumb rubber is being waged among environmental groups, concerned-parent organizations, the rubber industry and some members of the synthetic grass industry. Although an increasing number of more environmentally conscious alternatives are now on the market, crumb-rubber granules continue to be the leading synthetic infill for fake grass installations.

Early studies of crumb rubber detected potentially toxic substances including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi- volatile organic compounds, phthalates, latex allergens, carbon disulfide, aluminum, arsenic, nickel, cobalt, zinc, selenium, cadmium, iron, manganese, and lead, according to an in-depth article in the Journal of the Society of Environmental Journalists.

In some cases, the calculated risk has been greater than the threshold often used by one agency or another, the journal reported. But in other cases, the conclusion has been that crumb rubber was no more hazardous than the ambient air in the areas where the synthetic grass had been installed.

New York City early last year ordered as a precautionary measure that crumb rubber infill no longer be used on artificial lawns in its parks and school yards. It has not ordered the removal of any fake grass installations because of the concern, however.

The Connecticut-based based advocacy group Environment and Human Health, Inc. has argued that the tire crumbs, which are two to three inches thick and can account for up to 90 percent of the weight of an installed fake grass surface, expose users to the same chemicals to which rubber workers are expose. But the EHHI also acknowledged that the actual risks to artificial turf field users remain largely unknown. Nonetheless, EHHI recommended a moratorium on use of crumb rubber infill until additional studies were done. The group argued that existing evidence shows a “technical possibility” exists that the tire crumbs could cause health effects such as irritation of the respiratory system, eyes, skin and mucous membranes, systemic effects on the liver and kidneys, neurotoxic responses, allergic reactions, cancers, and developmental damage.

On the other hand, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released results late last year of a very limited field study of artificial turf playing fields and playgrounds installed with recycled-tire crumb rubber. The “scoping study” from three sites in Raleigh, N.C., Athens, Ga., Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Washington, D.C. area found that the concentrations of materials that made up tire crumb were “below levels considered harmful,” the EPA said. But the agency also said the study was only a first step, was limited in scope and that it will use the results to determine possible next steps to address safety questions of crumb infill.

Industry groups generally say that the crumb-tire surface is safe to use, and that there is no evidence indicating that users face significant risk.The Synthetic Turf Council, the industry’s leading trade association, said in a June, 2009, statement that a follow-up report by the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation supported the trade group’s claims of crumb rubber’s safety.

The better-safe-than-sorry position taken by New York City and other jurisdictions is meanwhile the stance that some artificial grass companies have taken.

“We’d rather err on the side of being responsible when it comes to public health,” said Greg Goehner, president of NewGrass, a leading manufacturer of synthetic grass.

NewGrass is among the synthetic lawn companies that encourage their distributors to opt for an environmentally friendly infill alternative that’s basically a form of silica and sand. There are in fact several alternatives to rubber infill for synthetic grass. Most are completely void of any kind of rubber granules. A few examples include infill materials made from:

• A combination of natural plant fibers and cork

• Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), also known as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), a stabilizing and shock-absorbent material that has been developed specifically for synthetic turf.

• EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), a cross-linked rubber compound, also referred to as “virgin material.” These infills are made of pure EPDM rubber and fillers whose composition varies (not used-tire rubber).

• Granules made from polyolefin, a thermoplastic polymer produced from a single monomer and which is environmentally friendly in its composition and completely recyclable. Some makers use a combination of post-consumer recycled resilient granules and sub-angular sand.

“In addition to the jury still being out on crumb rubber infill,” NewGrass's Goehner said, “we believe artificial grass is an eco-friendly and environmentally sound alternative to turf grass for many reasons, from saving water to not needing fertilizers. Getting rid of used-tire granules in our installations is part of acting on that belief.”

As the trend toward Building Green gains momentum, California – with its eye on harmful carbon dioxide emissions as well as recurring drought conditions and other environmental woes – remains ahead of the curve in encouraging businesses and individuals to reduce overall energy usage, which is a common measurement of green building.

The state’s Green Building Regulations that go into effect on July 1 require a gradual 15% reduction in overall energy use, the equivalent of achieving the LEED® silver rating for new construction for the entire state. Construction and landscaping alternatives that are as varied as Energy Star-certified home appliances, elevators that move only when passengers are present, and artificial grass for water-saving landscaping are all part of the building green movement in California.

Before California adopted its Green Building Regulations, the standard for green and sustainable buildings in California and nationwide was and still is set by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit organization.

The California Sustainability Alliance says the state’s Green Building Regulations are the most aggressive energy and environmental goals in the nation. “The good news,” the Alliance says, “is that many different types of resources and support are now available to help us achieve these ambitious goals.”

Developers have gradually taken advantage of those “resources and support” to erect more green projects

The first systematic study of the green building market in California – by the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the University of San Diego as reported by the online edition of the San Diego Tribune – found that a growing number of developers are putting up buildings meeting stringent environmental standards, and that tenants have been willing to pay top dollar to rent space in them.

A study for the American Solar Energy Society determined that under an “aggressive deployment forecast scenario” more than 40 million Americans could be working in renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE and EE) industries nationwide, and that those industries could be generating $4.53 trillion in annual revenues.

Back in California, the trend is well under way and can be seen in very specific, grass-roots initiatives. Water restrictions enacted in much of Southern California within the past several months, as well as programs such as the rebates for artificial turf and other water-saving measures offered through agencies including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), have spurred interest in green building solutions by homeowners and developers.

For example, demand for rebates from the Metropolitan Water District has been so high since the program began, that on April 1, the program initiated a rebate reservation system. The district is a cooperative of water agencies serving 19 million people in six counties throughout Southern California. Rebates offered through the district start at $0.30 per square foot. Different water agencies offer different rebates.

“It’s really gotten people to consider alternatives to traditional landscaping,” said Larry Reno, district manager of NewGrass Landscape & Design. “That’s great that it’s raised awareness of artificial turf.”

When news stories broke earlier this year about potentially unhealthy levels of lead in some artificial grass playing fields, some synthetic lawns took the matter seriously. Among them, NewGrass® (www.newgrass.com) looked at its own products – had them tested – and was pleased with what it learned.

NewGrass® is one of the very few fake turf grass companies who take seriously their stated missions being not only water-wise but also eco-friendly. Environmental responsibility was one reason that even before the lead scare became newsworthy, NewGrass® was one company that had already stopped selling grass made with nylon blades. Its blades are 100% polyethylene.

One reason for choosing polyethylene fake grass fibers was that contrary to nylon, polyethylene is a 100% recyclable product. Aesthetically, NewGrass® believes polyethylene also makes a more durable and more attractive faux grass than nylon fibers.

Turns out that going with polyethylene in its fake turf grass was the right thing to do for other reasons as well. Early this past summer, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) reported potentially unhealthy levels of lead dust were reported in some artificial grass playing fields in the state. The federal Centers for Disease Control issued a health advisory.

But the next day, the CDC issued a follow-up statement saying the New Jersey studies indicated that only nylon or nylon/polyethylene blend fake grass contained “levels of lead that pose a potential public health concern.” On the other hand, the CDC reported that the same tests found that fields made with fake grass of 100% polyethylene fibers – like NewGrass® – “contained very low levels of lead.”

Within weeks, the debate over lead and artificial grass swept the nation and came to a head in California, where several synthetic grass companies were named in a class action suit by a national nonprofit consumer protection group. Being proactive, NewGrass® asked the California attorney general’s office to test its grass. The state did and determined that NewGrass® 100% polyethylene lawn is “lead safe.”

Nylon requires a lead-based bonding agent so it can hold the pigment of a dye to color it. It's apparently this pigment-binding chemcial that breaks down as the grass ages, gets dusty and poses a health risk. Polyethylene does not require that kind of extra treatment.

“We’ve always taken the responsible approach,” said NewGrass President Greg Goehner. “It’s our mission. The fact that poly lawn is lead-safe is not why we chose it in the first place. But it’s indicative of how we do business.”

California school construction is going green, and it recently got a look at how today’s best artificial turfs can help school districts meet eco-goals and also have safe, green and environmentally friendly landscaping year-round.

That’s no small chore; the Los Angeles Unified School District alone expects to build a school a month on average over the next two years.

NewGrass® synthetic grass (www.newgrass.com) was among exhibitors at the recent Green California Schools Summit and Exposition in Anaheim, Calif.

The event brought together school officials and contractors responsible for implementing green building initiatives with businesses that have the products and services they need to get the job done.

Participating exhibitors ranged from traditional and recognized companies, such as Trane, the air-conditioning and heating company, to companies with newer paths to a green building, such as NewGrass, represented by NewGrass Landscape & Design (www.newgrasslandscape.com).

“We got a great response from the visitors and from the other exhibitors,” said Larry Reno, California District Manager for NewGrass Landscape & Design.

“People liked it. They liked that we are lead-safe and don’t use crumb rubber infill. They’d heard about these issues and were wondering about them.”

“In addition to the green initiative and the environmental issues of new construction, they are looking at anything that’s going to save them money in the long run,” Reno said. “NewGrass® is a natural for meeting that challenge wherever they need grass.”

And the money is there for that work. When California voters passed Proposition 1D, they allocated $100 million dollars to help fund the design and construction of energy efficient, healthy school facilities for the California public school system.

“We expect to be a part of the solution of helping California build healthy, sustainable schools,” Reno said.

If you think you can’t have natural-looking grass where real grass isn’t meant to grow, think again.

Ditto if you think you can’t have an eco-friendly lawn for temporary, no-mess and reusable installations.

Synthetic lawns such as NewGrass® work wonderfully when you need to simulate beautiful turf grass for:
* Trade show exhibits
* Portrait studio settings
* Rooftop terraces and balconies
* Theatrical sets
* Commercial exhibits

Using today's fake grasses like NewGrass® is a smart choice for several reasons:

1. They feel and look almost as real as lawns created by Mother Nature.

2. They can be installed directly over any standard flooring without glue or nails, and without the soil or borders needed when you use sod.

3. They’re cleanly installed and maintained. You don’t have the dirt that comes with natural sod grass, and you don’t need to water them.

4. Reusable for years. Artificial lawns have no-fade warranties that are good for eight to 10 years, and they stay upright and alive-looking that long, too.

5. Grass and only grass: no infill required. Varieties like NewGrass Rye and Premium Rye that have hefty primary blades and a spiral secondary tufting don’t need infill to keep them upright and lifelike.

6. They give you safe, friendly lawn any time of year, in any climate and under any lighting or climate-control conditions.

7. Their weight has no impact on standard weight-bearing structures such as terraces and rooftops.

8. Drainage rates for lawns like NewGrass are fast enough that even after heavy rains and snow melt, they will not have an impact on the weight-bearing ability of balconies and terraces with standard drainage.

With major improvements in the world of artificial grass over the last several years, it’s easy to find a product that looks and feels fairly natural – or at least more natural than the original stuff, the stuff that felt like stiff, nubby, industrial carpeting.

But one of today’s synthetic grass products goes beyond simply looking and feeling natural. NewGrass® artificial lawns (www.newgrass.com) are green in every sense of the word. NewGrass® is proud to be a member of the Green Building Council, an ally in the EPA’s GreensScape Program and the only artificial lawn that is Certified 100% Eco-Friendly, from the way the grass is manufactured to the company’s pledge to properly recycle any lawn installed by an authorized representative at the end of its useful life.

In nutshell, here are six reasons NewGrass® is as green as it gets when it comes to synthetic lawns:

1. Conserves Water. As much as 70% of the average U.S. homeowner’s water bill goes toward outdoor watering – and that usually means keeping a natural turf grass green.

2. Protects Groundwater. With no need for potentially harmful pesticides and fertilizers, NewGrass® helps protect groundwater and storm drainage runoff. In addition, the bio-engineered EnviroCel™ backing of NewGrass® enhances direct drainage through the backing, further reducing runoff of rain and snowmelt that could affect surrounding foundations or natural gardening.

3. Reduces Petroleum Consumption. The EnviroCel™ backing of NewGrass® is primarily derived from domestically grown soybeans (in themselves a renewable resource). This backing reduces by nearly 90% the amount of oil-based compounds in the backing compared with earlier generations.

4. Totally Recyclable, No Nylon. The blades of NewGrass® GreenAware varieties are 100% polyethylene – no nylon! - and are 100% recyclable. 5. Aids Fight Against Global Warming. For every square foot of NewGrass® installed, the company makes a donation to the Carbon Fund, a non-profit organization that is leading the fight against global-warming climate change.

5. Aids Fight Against Global Warming. For every square foot of NewGrass® installed, the company makes a donation to the Carbon Fund, a non-profit organization that is leading the fight against global-warming climate change.

6. LEED Credits. With its EnviroCel™ and BioCel™ backings, NewGrass® may contribute to total ratings under LEED credit for New Construction in several categories.

NewGrass has been featured on Bob Vila, The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television, Fine Living TV’s American Shopper, Makeover and a Movie and a special Think Green episode of Designing Spaces  on We tv and TLC - The Learning Channel.