If you have been researching artificial turf, you have probably seen something about PFAS. Maybe a news story, a social media post, or a concerned comment from a neighbor. The topic has gotten louder over the past two years, and the questions are legitimate.
We are going to give you a straight answer — not a sales pitch, not a dismissal, and not the kind of corporate non-answer that makes people more suspicious than they were before they asked.
Here is what PFAS is, where it actually shows up in artificial turf products, what California’s new law does and does not do, and what LBK Turf Guys uses and sources. You can decide what to do with the information.
| This post is for general informational purposes only. PFAS regulation is a fast-moving area and specific rules vary by state, product type, and application. LBK Turf Guys is a turf installation company, not a testing laboratory or regulatory body. For questions about specific product certifications or compliance in your application, contact the manufacturer directly or consult a qualified environmental professional. |
What PFAS Is — and What It Is Not
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. It is a broad category of several thousand synthetic chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s — Teflon coatings, firefighting foam, water-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and more.
The concern with PFAS comes from two things: some compounds in the PFAS family are associated with health effects at certain exposure levels, and many PFAS compounds are extremely persistent in the environment — they do not break down naturally, which is why they have been called forever chemicals. They accumulate in water, soil, and living tissue over time.
Not all PFAS compounds are equally concerning. The most studied and most regulated — PFOA and PFOS — have already been largely phased out of U.S. production. The broader PFAS category contains many compounds with varying levels of toxicity and persistence that researchers are still characterizing.
Important context: When people say artificial turf contains PFAS, they are usually referring to concerns about PFAS used as coatings on turf fibers — not the polyethylene or nylon fiber material itself. Most mainstream residential turf products are made from PE or nylon and do not use PFAS coatings. The concern is more specific than the headline usually makes it sound.
Where PFAS Actually Shows Up in Artificial Turf
There are three places PFAS has been identified or raised as a concern in artificial turf systems:
- Fiber coatings
Some turf manufacturers have historically used PFAS-based coatings on fibers to improve stain resistance, UV stability, or durability. This is where the primary regulatory focus sits. California AB 1423 specifically targets total organic fluorine content in the turf fiber and backing — organic fluorine is a proxy marker for PFAS compounds.
- Backing materials
Some turf backing systems have used PFAS-containing treatments for water resistance or durability. This is a secondary concern compared to fiber coatings but is included in the scope of the newer testing protocols.
- Crumb rubber infill — a separate issue
Crumb rubber infill — made from recycled tires — has its own set of concerns involving polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and zinc, which are separate from PFAS. The crumb rubber conversation is often conflated with the PFAS conversation in media coverage, but they are different chemicals, different exposure pathways, and different regulatory questions. LBK Turf Guys does not use crumb rubber infill. Our infill products are silica-based or mineral-based.
California AB 1423: What the Law Actually Does
California Assembly Bill 1423 was signed into law and took effect January 1, 2026. It is the most specific U.S. legislation on PFAS in artificial turf to date.
What it does:
- Prohibits the sale or installation of artificial turf containing total organic fluorine at or above 1 part per million in public-sector applications — parks, schools, government facilities
- Requires manufacturers selling turf for public applications in California to certify PFAS content below that threshold
- Establishes a testing protocol using total organic fluorine as the measurement standard
What it does not do:
- It does not apply to private residential installations — a homeowner in California can still install non-certified turf in their backyard
- It does not ban artificial turf outright
- It does not apply in Texas — it is California state law
- It does not establish a federal standard
Maine enacted a similar ban effective the same date. Vermont’s law phases in by 2029. Connecticut and Massachusetts have pending legislation.
Why it matters for Texas: AB 1423 does not apply to your Lubbock backyard. But it is reshaping what manufacturers produce and what the industry sources. Products designed to meet AB 1423 certification are becoming the market standard — which means what is available to Texas installers is changing regardless of whether Texas has a law. The product landscape in 2026 looks different than it did in 2023.
| State | Status | Effective Date | Scope |
| California | PFAS ban signed (AB 1423) | January 1, 2026 | Public-sector turf installs; limits total organic fluorine to <1 ppm |
| Maine | Ban enacted | January 1, 2026 | Covers artificial turf containing PFAS |
| Vermont | Ban enacted | July 1, 2029 | Phased implementation |
| Connecticut | Legislation pending | TBD | Proposed ban on PFAS in synthetic turf |
| Massachusetts | Legislation pending | TBD | Bill introduced; committee review ongoing |
| Texas | No current legislation | N/A | No state ban; federal EPA guidance applies |
| Federal (EPA) | Guidance only — no federal ban | Ongoing | PFAS broadly regulated in water; turf-specific rules vary |
What the Research Actually Says — and Where It Is Still Unsettled
The science on PFAS in artificial turf is genuinely still developing. Here is an honest summary of where things stand:
What is fairly well established
- Certain PFAS compounds — particularly PFOA and PFOS — are associated with health effects at sustained elevated exposures. Both have been largely phased out of U.S. production.
- PFAS compounds are persistent in the environment. They accumulate in groundwater and soil over time.
- Some turf products have historically contained PFAS coatings, and testing has detected PFAS compounds in leachate from some older turf installations.
What is still being studied
- Whether PFAS in typical residential turf installations translates to meaningful human exposure — the exposure pathway from fiber to body is not straightforward
- Which specific PFAS compounds are present in modern turf products and at what levels
- Long-term health effects of the newer, shorter-chain PFAS compounds that replaced PFOA and PFOS
- Whether the 1 ppm total organic fluorine threshold in AB 1423 is the right regulatory level — some researchers argue it is too permissive, others that it is overreaching given current evidence
The March 2026 California Health Agency update
A California health agency review published in early 2026 reaffirmed that current evidence does not support restricting residential artificial turf use based on PFAS exposure risk — while noting the precautionary rationale for public-sector applications where children spend extended time. This is a meaningful nuance: the precautionary standard applied to school fields is not the same risk calculus that applies to a private backyard.
Our position: We think homeowners deserve the full picture, not a dismissal and not a panic. The PFAS concern is real enough that the industry is responding — and that is a good thing. The specific risk profile for a residential backyard installation using modern PE turf without PFAS coatings is a different conversation than the concern about older crumb-rubber school fields that generated most of the headlines.
What LBK Turf Guys Sources and Why
Here is our honest position on the products we install:
- The turf products in our current inventory are standard polyethylene or nylon fiber products. Mainstream PE turf does not use PFAS fiber coatings as a standard manufacturing practice.
- We do not use crumb rubber infill. Our infill products are silica sand, ZeoFill, Envirofill, and T°Cool — none of which are associated with PFAS concerns.
- We are actively watching the product certification landscape as AB 1423-compliant products become more widely available for residential use. TenCate’s Pivot product — PFAS-free certified, infill-less, and recyclable — is a notable development in the market.
- If you have specific concerns about a product you are considering, ask us. We will give you the manufacturer spec sheet and whatever certification documentation is available. We would rather have that conversation than have you wonder.
We are not going to tell you our products are certified PFAS-free when third-party certification is not something all products in our current inventory carry. What we can tell you is what the products are made of, what they do not contain, and where the regulatory and testing landscape is headed.
Landin Terry says: The customers who ask us about PFAS are doing their homework. We respect that. Our job is to give them accurate information, not to tell them what they want to hear to close a sale.
The Emerging PFAS-Free Product Landscape
The market is responding to the regulatory environment. Here is a snapshot of where product development stands as of mid-2026:
| Product / Brand | PFAS Status | Recyclable | Notes |
| TenCate Pivot | PFAS-free (certified) | Yes | Infill-less design; 12-year warranty; launched Feb 2025 |
| Heritage H.A.T. | PFAS-free | Partial | High-activity turf line; growing residential availability |
| SYNLawn (select lines) | PFAS-free testing ongoing | Partial | Bio-based backing on select products; verify by SKU |
| Standard PE turf (most brands) | No PFAS intentionally added | Limited | Most residential PE turf does not use PFAS — but third-party certification varies |
| Crumb rubber infill (older) | Legacy concern — not PFAS | Limited | Different issue — recycled tire rubber; not the same as PFAS in fiber |
TenCate Pivot is the most significant development — a fully PFAS-free, infill-less, recyclable product with a 12-year warranty launched in February 2025. It is currently more commonly specified for commercial and institutional applications but is moving into the residential market. As availability and pricing normalize, it will become a mainstream option.
Recyclability is the companion story to PFAS — what happens to turf at end of life is becoming as important a question as what it is made of.
What This Means If You Are Buying Turf in Lubbock Right Now
Practically speaking, here is what the PFAS conversation means for a Lubbock homeowner making a purchase decision today:
- Standard modern PE residential turf — which is what most installers, including LBK, work with — does not use PFAS fiber coatings as a standard manufacturing practice
- The crumb rubber concerns that generated most of the media coverage do not apply to silica-based and mineral-based infill products
- If PFAS certification matters to you, ask specifically for AB 1423-compliant products or products with third-party PFAS testing documentation — they exist and availability is growing
- The product landscape in 2027 will have more certified options than today — if you want to wait for broader availability, that is a reasonable choice and we will tell you so honestly
- For most residential applications, the safety profile of current mainstream PE turf with silica or mineral infill is not what the alarming headlines describe
Frequently Asked Questions
Does artificial turf contain PFAS?
Some older and some specialty turf products have used PFAS-based fiber coatings. Most mainstream residential polyethylene turf products are not manufactured with PFAS coatings as a standard practice. The concern has historically been more significant for certain older school field products and crumb rubber infill than for standard residential PE turf. Third-party certification against specific PFAS thresholds is available for an increasing number of products.
Does California AB 1423 apply to Texas homeowners?
No. AB 1423 is California state law and applies to public-sector turf installations in California. It does not create a legal obligation for Texas residential buyers. Its practical effect on Texas buyers is indirect — it is reshaping what manufacturers produce and certify, which affects product availability and specifications across the country.
Is artificial turf safe for kids?
For standard modern PE residential turf with silica or mineral-based infill, the current scientific consensus does not support restricting residential use based on PFAS exposure risk. The most significant health concerns in the literature relate to older crumb rubber school field installations, which are a different product and exposure scenario. A 2026 California health agency review reaffirmed this distinction. If you have specific concerns, ask us for the product spec sheets and available certifications — we will provide them.
What infill does LBK use — is it PFAS-free?
LBK Turf Guys uses silica sand, ZeoFill, Envirofill, and T°Cool as our primary infill products. None of these are associated with PFAS concerns. We do not use crumb rubber infill.
What is TenCate Pivot and can I get it installed by LBK?
TenCate Pivot is a PFAS-free certified, infill-less, recyclable turf product with a 12-year warranty launched in February 2025. It is currently more widely available in commercial and institutional specifications. As residential availability expands, we will offer it. Ask us about current availability when you call — the product landscape is changing fast.
Will artificial turf be banned in Texas?
There is no current Texas legislation banning or restricting artificial turf. Texas has generally moved in the opposite direction — HB 517 and Texas Property Code Section 202.007 both protect homeowners’ ability to install water-conserving landscaping including artificial turf. Federal EPA guidance addresses PFAS broadly in water and soil but does not include a turf-specific ban.
Have Questions About What We Source? Just Ask.
We would rather answer your PFAS questions directly than have you wonder. If you want spec sheets, manufacturer certifications, or a straight conversation about what is in the products we install and what is not — that is an easy call.
Reach out at lbkturfguys.com or give us a call. The honest conversation is always the right one.