Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Are children playgrounds safe play areas? Inorganic analysis and lead isotope ratios for contamination assessment in recreational (Brazilian) parks

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In city playgrounds, there is a potential risk of harming children’s health by contamination coming from anthropogenic activities. With the aim to determinate the sources and the risk of hazardous elements, soil samples were collected in 19 selected playgrounds of different urban and rural areas from the Rio Grande do Sul state (Brazil). The concentration of 23 metals and metalloids and lead isotopic ratios were determined by ICP-MS. The methodology proposed here, firstly, classified the parks according to the average metal content by means of the NWACs (Normalized-and-Weighted Average Concentrations) and assess the contamination risk determining the Contamination Factors (CFs). Finally, statistical tools (correlation analysis and principal component analysis) were used to identify the most important contamination sources. The statistical tools used, together with lead isotopic composition analysis of the samples, revealed that coal combustion is the main source of contamination in the area. Vegetation was identified as a barrier for the contamination coming from the city. Nonetheless, some of the soils present a possible toxicological risk for humans. In fact, Cr, Sb, and Pb concentrations were higher than the Residential Intervention Values (VIRs) defined by the Environmental Protection Agency of the State of São Paulo, also in Brazil.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amato F, Pandolfi M, Viana M, Querol X, Alastuey A, Moreno T (2009) Spatial and chemical patterns of PM10 in road dust deposited in urban environment. Atmos Environ 43:1650–1659

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barałkiewicz D, Siepak J (1999) Chromium, nickel and cobalt in environmental samples and existing legal norms. Pol J Environ Stud 8:201–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Baranowska-Dutkiewitcz B (1981) Absorption of hexavalent chromium by skin in man. Arch Toxicol 47:47–50

  • Bollhöfer A, Rosman KJR (2000) Isotopic source signatures for atmospheric lead: the Southern Hemisphere. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 64:3251–3262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boschetti W, Borges AR, Duarte AT, Dessuy MB, Vale MGR, De Andrade JB, Welz B (2014) Simultaneous determination of Mo and Ni in wine and soil amendments by HR-CS GF AAS. Anal Method 6:4247–4256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bove MA, Ayuso RA, De Vivo B, Lima A, Albanese S (2011) Geochemical and isotopic study of soils and waters from an Italian contaminated site: agro Aversano (Campania). J Geochem Explor 109:38–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calabrese EJ, Stanek EJ, Barnes R (1996) Methodology to estimate the amount and particle size of soil ingested by children: implications for exposure assessments at waste sites. Reg Tox Pharmacol 24:264–268

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CEPA (1995) Chinese Environmental Protection Administration, Environmental Quality Standard for Soils (GB15618-1995), Beijing. http://kjs.mep.gov.cn/hjbhbz/bzwb/trhj/trhjzlbz/199603/W020070313485587994018.pdf

  • De Miguel E, Iribarren I, Chacón E, Ordoñez A, Charlesworth S (2007) Risk-based evaluation of the exposure of children to trace elements in playgrounds in Madrid (Spain). Chemosphere 66:505–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Oliveira CR, Dos Santos DM, Dos Santos Madureira LA, Rodrigues De Marchi MR (2010) Speciation of butyltin derivatives in surface sediments of three southern Brazilian harbors. J Hazard Mater 181:851–856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elert M, Jones C, Norman F (1997) Development of generic guideline values: model and data used for generic values for contaminated soils in Sweden 071-SNV report 4639. Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm, p 62

    Google Scholar 

  • EPA (2002) Environmental Protection Agency. Child-specific exposure factors handbook, national center for environmental assessment. Washington. DC; EPA/600/P-00/002B. National Information Service, Springfield, VA; PB2003-101678. http://www.epa.gov/ncea (accessed 08.01.2016)

  • Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo S, Gredilla A, da Boit K, Teixeira E, Sampaio C, Madariaga JM, Silva LFO (2017) Nanominerals and potentially hazardous elements from coal cleaning rejects of abandoned mines: Environmental impact and risk assessment. Chemosphere 169:725–733

  • Figueiredo AMG, Enzweiler J, Camargo SP, Sãgolo JB, Gumiero FC, Pavese AC, Milian FM (2009) Metal contamination in urban park soils of São Paulo. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 280:419–425

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo AMG, Tocchini M, Dos Santos TFS (2011) Metals in playground soils of São Paulo city. Brazil Procedia Environ Sci 4:303–309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia KO, Teixeira EC, Agudelo-Castañeda D, Braga M, Alabarse PG, Wiegand F, Kautzmann RM, Silva LF (2014) Assessment of nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM1 near an area of heavy-duty traffic. Sci Total Environ 479-480:57–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glorennec P, Lucasc JP, Mandinc C, Le Bota B (2012) French children’s exposure to metals via ingestion of indoor dust, outdoor playground dust and soil: contamination data. Environ Int 45:129–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gredilla A, Fdez-Ortiz De Vallejuelo S, De Diego A, Arana G, Madariaga JM (2011) A new index to sort estuarine sediments according to their contaminant content. Ecol Indic 45:364–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gress JK, Lessl JT, Dong X, Ma LQ (2014) Assessment of children’s exposure to arsenic from CCA-wood staircases at apartment complexes in Florida. Sci Total Environ 476-477:440–446

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hill SJ (2007) Inductively coupled plasma spectrometry and its applications, second edition, Ed. Wiley-Blackwell, Plymouth

  • Hyunsun A, Juhee K, Seunghun H (2013) Environment parameters affecting heavy metal concentration in sand collected from children playground in Seoul metropolitan area. Korean J Soil Sci Fertil 46:193–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juda-Rezler K, Kowalczyk D (2013) Size distribution and trace elements contents of coal fly ash from pulverized boilers. Pol J Environ Stud 22:25–40

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kicińska A, Klimek A (2015) Risk assessment of heavy metals in children’s playgrounds in the Rabka Zdrój health resort. Environ Protect Natur Resour 26:15–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Komárek M, Ettler V, Chrastný V, Mihaljevič M (2008) Lead isotopes in environmental sciences: a review. Environ Int 34(4):562–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lagreca IH, Binotto RB, Teixeira EC, Sanchez JCD, Jablonski A (1995) Evaluation of water contamination degree in areas affected by coal related activities—Rio Grande do Sul State. Brazil Coal Sci Technol 24:1617–1620

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lanphear BP, Weitzman M, Winter NL, Eberly S, Yakir B, Tanner M, Emond M, Matte TD (1998) Lead contaminated house dust and urban children’s blood lead levels. Am J Pub Health 86:1416–1421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Chen L-P, Ai Y-W, Yang X, Yu Y-H, Zuo Y-B, Fu G-Y (2009) Heavy metal contamination in soil alongside mountain railway in Sichuan. China Environ Monit Assess 152:25–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ljung K, Selinus O, Otabbong E (2006a) Metals in soils of children’s urban environments in the small northern European city of Uppsala. Sci Total Environ 366:749–759

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ljung K, Selinus O, Otabbong E, Berglund M (2006b) Metal and arsenic distribution in soil particle sizes relevant to soil ingestion by children. Appl Geochem 21:1613–1624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ljung K, Oomen A, Duits M, Selinus O, Berglund M (2007) Bioaccessibility of metals in urban playground soils. J Environ Sci Health A 42:1241–1250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzo R, Kaegi R, Gehrig R, Grobé Ty B (2006) Particle emissions of a railway line determined by detailed single particle analysis. Atmos Environ 40:7831–7841

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Massas I, Ehaliotis C, Kalivas D, Panagopoulou G (2010) Concentrations and availability indicators of soil heavy metals; the case of children’s playgrounds in the City of Athens. Water Air Soil Poll 212:51–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mertz, W., 1987. Other elements: Sb, Ba, B, Br, Cs, Ge, Rb, Ag, Sr, Sn, Ti, Zr, Be, Bi, Ga, Au, In, Nb, Sc, Te, Tl, W, In: Walter, M. (Eds), Trace elements in human and animal nutrition. New York, pp. 225–244

  • Mielke HW, Gonzales CR, Smith MK, Mielke PW (1999) The urban environment and children’s health: soils as an integrator of lead, zinc, and cadmium in New Orleans, Louisiana. USA Environ Res 81:117–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monna F, Lancelot J, Croudace IW, Cundy AB, Lewis JT (1997) Environ. Pb isotopic composition of airborne particulate material from France and the Southern United Kingdom: implications for Pb pollution sources in urban areas. Sci Technol 31:2277–2286

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monna F, Poujol M, Losno R, Dominik J, Annegarn H, Coetzee H (2006) Origin of atmospheric lead in Johannesburg, South Africa. Atmos Environ 40:6554–6566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moura CAV, Gaudette HE, Carvalho MC, Morales GP (2004) The use of lead isotope composition as a tool to investigate the anthropogenic impacts on the environment in the metropolitan region of Belém (PA). Terræ 1(1):16–25

  • Nagaraja P, Krishna H, Shivakumar A, Paulas AR, Rangappa D (2011) Quantification of ultra-trace molybdenum using 4-amino-5-hydroxynaphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid monosodium salt as a chromogenic probe. Anal Biochem 411:300–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Needleman H (2004) Lead poisoning. Annu Rev Med 55:209–222

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ng SL, Chan LS, Lam KC, Chan WK (2003) Heavy metal contents and magnetic properties of playground dust in Hong Kong. Environ Monit Assess 89:221–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ololade IA (2014) An assessment of heavy metal contamination in soils within auto-mechanic workshops using enrichment and contamination factors with geoaccumulation indexes. J Environ Protect 2:970–982

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen PE, Subramanian KS, Jessiman BJ (2001) A multi-element profile of house dust in relation to exterior dust and soils in the city of Ottawa. Canada Sci Total Environ 267:125–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salah EA, Turki AM, Mahal SN (2015) Chemometric evaluation of the heavy metals in urban soil of Fallujah City. Iraq J Environ Protect 6:1279–1292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider IL, Calesso Teixeira E, Silva Oliveira LF, Wiegand F (2015) Atmospheric particle number concentration and size distribution in a traffic-impacted area. Atmos Pollut Res 6:877–885

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takaoka M, Yoshinaga J, Tanaka A (2006) Influence of paint chips on lead concentration in the soil of public playgrounds in Tokyo. J Environ Monit 8:393–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor MP (2015) Atmospherically deposited trace metals from bulk mineral concentrate port operations. Sci Total Environ 515-516:143–152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turekian KK, Wedepohl KH (1961) Distribution of the elements in some major units of the Earth’s crust. Geol Soc Am Bull 72:175–192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh LM, Sumner ME, Keeney DR (1977) Occurrence and distribution of arsenic in soils and plants. Environ Health Perspect 19:67–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C, Chen Y, Liu J, Wang J, Li X, Zhang Y, Liu Y (2013) Health risks of thallium in contaminated arable soils and food crops irrigated with wastewater from a sulfuric acid plant in western Guangdong province. China Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 90:76–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolff EW, Suttie ED (1994) Antarctic snow record of southern hemisphere lead pollution. Geophys Res Lett 21:781–784

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto N, Takahashi Y, Yoshinaga J, Tanaka A, Shibata Y (2006) Size distributions of soil particles adhered to children’s hands. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 51:157–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yip Y-C, Lam JC-W, Tong W-F (2008) Applications of lead isotope ratio measurements. TrAC-Trend Anal Chem 27:460–480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhitkovich A, Voitkun V, Costa M (1995) Glutathione and free amino acids form stable complexes with DNA following exposure of intact mammalian cells to chromate. Carcinogenesis 16:907–913

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work has been funded by the Basque Government through the Consolidated Research Group Project 2013–2018 (ref. IT-742-13).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, 2018, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain

    Ainara Gredilla

  2. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain

    Silvia Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo, Leticia Gomez-Nubla, Jose Antonio Carrero & Juan Manuel Madariaga

  3. Research Group in Environmental Management and Sustainability, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Universidad De la Costa, Calle 58, No. 55-56, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia

    Felipe B. de Leão & Luis F. O. Silva

Authors
  1. Ainara Gredilla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Silvia Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Leticia Gomez-Nubla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jose Antonio Carrero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Felipe B. de Leão
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Juan Manuel Madariaga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Luis F. O. Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ainara Gredilla or Silvia Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gredilla, A., Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo, S., Gomez-Nubla, L. et al. Are children playgrounds safe play areas? Inorganic analysis and lead isotope ratios for contamination assessment in recreational (Brazilian) parks. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 24333–24345 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9831-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9831-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation