Parasitic and Elemental Contaminants in Top Soil from Selected Elementary School Playgrounds (ESPs): Children Exposure Risk (CER)

• Authors: O. D. Umoren , E. P. Mmaduekwe , N. L. Yakub , C. C. Oni , A. G. Akpowu , T. A. Ayanleke , A. A. Ekwomadu , T. F. Ojo
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Soil can harbor various biological and chemical contaminants, and the soil in elementary school playgrounds raises concerns due to children's geophagic behavior and tendencies toward pica. This investigation aims to examine the presence of parasitic organisms and elemental contaminants in soil samples from selected elementary school playgrounds. Ten composted topsoil samples were collected from playgrounds and analyzed for parasites and elemental content using standard methods. The results identified nine parasitic contaminants, including: Entamoeba coli (25.7%), Chilomastix mesnili (2.86%), Ascaris lumbricoides (48.6%), Taenia spp. (8.57%), Trichinella spiralis (2.86%), Toxocara spp. (2.86%), Balantidium coli (2.86%), Strongyloides stercoralis (2.86%), Trichuris trichiura (2.86%). The study also found the following elements present in the soil: arsenic (As = 0.32 – 0.84 mg/kg), cadmium (Cd = 7.78 – 20.5 mg/kg), chromium (Cr = 32.5 – 44.7 mg/kg), nickel (Ni = 18.6 – 76.6 mg/kg), and lead (Pb = 26.6 – 190 mg/kg). Notably, lead concentrations (190 mg/kg) in 10% of the samples exceeded the Canadian Soil Guideline Value (CSGV) of 140 mg/kg. Contamination factors indicate that the soil is particularly contaminated with cadmium. In conclusion, the soil from the investigated elementary playgrounds is contaminated with parasites and cadmium, with lead levels in sample SP10 posing a significant risk to children with prolonged exposure.

Keywords

EN

children; contaminates; element; parasite; playground; topsoil

Discipline

• BIOLOGY: BIOLOGY

• Publisher: Scientific Publishing House „DARWIN”
• Journal: World News of Natural Sciences
• Year: 2025
• Volume: 60
• Pages: 304-315

Contributors

author

O. D. Umoren

• Department of Biological Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria

author

E. P. Mmaduekwe

• Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

author

N. L. Yakub

• Department of Agronomy, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

author

C. C. Oni

• Department of Biological Sciences, Baze University, Abuja, Nigeria

author

A. G. Akpowu

• Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

author

T. A. Ayanleke

• Department of Chemistry, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Nigeria

author

A. A. Ekwomadu

• Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

author

T. F. Ojo

• Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

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• Document Type: article