Turf is ubiquitous. It is omnipresent in Western society, and in many ways it feels as if this is how it has always been. We no longer think about using our land to provide for our lives, now relying on the comforts of modern society to maintain our well-being. Land has upheld its status as a societal necessity for a host of reasons. However, it’s no longer for means necessary to human survival. The lawn has become a symbol of success, wealth, and standing and thus has remained a core value in Western society.

The lawn has become an outward reflection of who the caretaker is as a person. If the maintenance of your property diverges from the social norms, it often means you will be perceived negatively by your community. The obsession with lawns runs deep to the point where caution is thrown to the wayside. Synthetic chemicals with high probabilities of being carcinogenic are applied in areas frequented by children and pets, who are highly susceptible to the harm induced by these chemicals. Although the consequences are not immediately visible, that doesn’t mean they are not present.

The process of linking cancers to sources is often lengthy and inconclusive. Throughout our lives, we are exposed to various carcinogens day in and day out. Due to the incubation periods of cancerous cells, pinpointing their origins is nearly impossible. Companies have been able to profit off of the lack of linkages taking advantage of consumers by marketing their products as approved by Government agencies. In reality chemicals won’t be banned unless evidence stacked against them is paramount [1].