Is Fake Grass a Hazard? Industry Faces Backlash Over Defamation Lawsuit

As health concerns grow around artificial turf's safety, four researchers found themselves facing a defamation lawsuit from an industry manufacturer that halted their seminar on the issue.

The plans for a seminar discussing the safety of artificial grass were derailed by a defamation lawsuit against four experts from Polyloom, a key manufacturer in the artificial turf industry. The lawsuit was filed based on the promotional material for the seminar and has sparked a significant conversation regarding health risks associated with synthetic turf, particularly its use in playgrounds and sports fields across the nation.

Kyla Bennett, one of the defendants and a former ecologist at the Environmental Protection Agency, mentioned, "This was before we even said a word," highlighting the preemptive nature of the lawsuit. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over synthetic grass and its connection to harmful chemicals revealed by scientific studies, which pose potential environmental and health risks.

Artificial turf, widely adopted for its low maintenance needs, is now a common sight not only in professional sports environments, such as football and baseball stadiums but also in community parks, school athletic fields, and even suburban gardens. In 2023 alone, it is estimated that between 1,200 to 1,500 artificial turf fields were installed, raising the total to about 19,000 across the United States, according to data from AMI Plastics, a leading industry analytics source.

As critics demand thorough investigations into the safety of synthetic turf, the artificial turf industry is grappling with the implications of these laws regarding freedom of speech and the sharing of information on public health matters.