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Guides · Kids, health and safety

Kids, health and safety: what the standards and the law say

The questions parents ask: allergies, bugs, fire, and what’s in turf and its infill.

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Safety · the guides

Six questions, each answered up front.

Each short answer is right here. Open a guide for the full explanation and its sources.

  1. Guide

    Artificial Turf and Allergies in Northern Colorado

    Will artificial turf help my grass allergies, and can you be allergic to the turf itself?

    It helps if grass pollen is your trigger: turf ends your lawn’s pollen, the mowing and skin contact with grass. It won’t stop tree or weed pollen, or neighbors' lawns, whose pollen the wind carries for miles onto your turf. We found no published case of allergy to turf blades; ask about rubber infill, latex backing and nut-shell infill.

    Inside

    1. What does artificial turf take away for someone with grass allergies?
    2. What pollen still reaches a turf yard in Northern Colorado?
    3. Does pollen build up on artificial turf?
    4. Can you be allergic to artificial turf itself?
    5. What else causes a rash after time on turf?
    6. 1 more section

  2. Guide

    Does Artificial Turf Attract Bugs or Mosquitoes?

    Does artificial turf attract mosquitoes, ants, fleas or other bugs?

    Not by itself. Turf has no roots for bugs to eat and no tall grass to hide in. Mosquitoes breed only in water standing about a week, so a ponding low spot, a clogged backing or a toy full of rain is the risk. Ants nest in the soil beneath; fleas and ticks arrive on animals.

    Inside

    1. Can mosquitoes breed in artificial turf?
    2. How much West Nile virus is in Northern Colorado this year?
    3. Why are ants nesting under my turf?
    4. Can fleas or ticks live in artificial turf?
    5. What should I check each week to keep bugs down?

  3. Guide

    Fire Pits, Grills and Fireworks on Artificial Turf

    Can I put a fire pit or grill on artificial turf, and can turf catch fire?

    Not on the turf itself. The blades are plastic: a lit cigarette can’t ignite SYNLawn’s turf, its manual says, but embers or a hot base melt the fibers. Set the pit or grill on pavers or concrete. In Fort Collins, Poudre Fire Authority wants wood fire pits 15 feet from structures and combustibles, and no burning in 10 mph winds.

    Inside

    1. Will turf catch fire, or does it just melt?
    2. How far from the house does a fire pit have to be?
    3. Can I use the fire pit or grill during fire restrictions?
    4. What should go under a fire pit or grill in a turf yard?
    5. Are fireworks allowed, and can I set them off on turf?

  4. Guide

    Is Artificial Turf Flammable? What Fire Tests Show

    Is artificial turf flammable, and is it safe close to the house on a wildfire-prone lot?

    Yes, it can burn. A spark or cigarette usually melts a spot rather than lighting the lawn, and a D2859 pass means a small lab flame didn’t spread across a flat sample in still air. Wildfire guidance counts turf as combustible groundcover: on a wildfire-prone lot, keep the first 5 feet around the house in rock, gravel or pavers.

    Inside

    1. Can artificial turf catch fire, or does it only melt?
    2. What does “passed D2859” on a spec sheet mean?
    3. Does the infill change how turf burns?
    4. How close to the house can turf go on a wildfire-prone lot?
    5. Do Larimer County, Fort Collins or Firestone have fire rules for turf?
    6. 1 more section

  5. Guide

    Is Artificial Turf Toxic? Lead, PFAS and Kids

    Is artificial turf toxic for kids and dogs?

    Newer polyethylene turf hasn’t been shown to be toxic to children or dogs, but two things deserve paperwork. Lead turned up in older nylon turf; polyethylene-only fields tested very low. PFAS have been found in turf blades and backing, exposure from play hasn’t been pinned down, and Colorado has barred installing turf with intentionally added PFAS since 2026.

    Inside

    1. Is there lead in artificial turf?
    2. What should I ask for about PFAS?
    3. What about crumb rubber?
    4. Is the new-turf smell off-gassing, and does it matter?
    5. What if my toddler gets infill or turf dust in their mouth?
    6. 1 more section

  6. Guide

    Is Crumb Rubber Turf Safe? What the Research Found

    Why does artificial turf have rubber pellets, and are crumb rubber fields safe for kids?

    The pellets are crumb rubber, scrap tires ground small to weigh down sports turf and cushion players. Federal research by EPA and CDC/ATSDR found chemicals in it and some exposure during play, but likely limited; it was not a risk assessment, so it doesn’t call fields safe or unsafe. Home lawns rarely use crumb rubber, and Firestone’s code prohibits it.

    Inside

    1. Why does artificial turf have rubber pellets?
    2. What did the EPA and CDC research find?
    3. Do turf fields cause cancer?
    4. Why do home lawns rarely use crumb rubber?
    5. What should parents ask a school or park about its field?

Other topics

More questions, sorted by topic.

Each topic has its own page of short answers. All 102 guides are listed on the guides page, with a box to search them.

Every guide, by topic

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