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A turf war is brewing in Montgomery County (web|news) after Richard Montgomery High School got the green light to use artificial turf on its football field, but some parents say it puts their kids' health at risk.

At the height of football season, Marci Calantonio's son was infected with the potentially deadly staph infection MRSA.

"Which had progressed very rapidly around muscles and it went into the bone of his pelvis," said Calantonio.

She believes he got it on the field, where students share sweat, spit and occasionally open sores. When she heard that another high school in the county planned to install artificial turf on their new football field, her mind started to race.

"If he happens to be a carrier and he has sweat in his skin that gets on your field, it's leaving it on your field," said Calantonio.

Doctors at Mount Sinai also point to a greater risk of turf burns from artificial turf, which can lead to an increased risk of skin infections.

At Richard Montgomery High School, Principal Moreno Corrasco defends their decision. He points to a study out of Penn State that showed no increase in bacteria on artificial turf compared to grass. He compared the old scratchy "AstroTurf" to the softer turf his school will use, saying it will decrease turf burn and the risk of MRSA.

"Schools around us, districts around us, they all have put them in with great success. I think it's time Montgomery County steps up and builds some of these fields," said Carrasco.

One student likes the idea. "This new surface is going to be great and it's gonna elevate our level of play," said student Ariam Ford.

Right now, the football fields are not leased to the community, but Carrasco said that may change. "What it does is open up new opportunities for the community to come in and play. Right now the fields are not leased to the community."

As for the turf controversy, a group in New York is pushing for a moratorium, over health concerns, on the use of artificial turf in new sports fields.

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