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A preliminary survey of Heavy metals concentrations in Children playground within Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, P. M. B. 1526, NIGERIA
  • 2 Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Port Harcourt, NIGERIA

Res.J.chem.sci., Volume 5, Issue (11), Pages 1-8, November,18 (2015)

Abstract

Pollution of children’s playgrounds by heavy metals from various anthropogenic sources has received little attention despite the fact that Nigeria recently recorded the worst heavy metals disaster involving children. In this study eight heavy metal concentrations in a total of thirty six soil samples collected from nine playgrounds in south eastern Nigeria were investigated using the A Analyst 400 Perkin Elmer. Results of maximum metal concentrations revealed the trend; Zn (168.74 mg/Kg) > Ni (94.48 mg/Kg) > Cu (76.89 mg/Kg) > Cr (27.23 mg/Kg) > Co (13.21mg/Kg) > Pb (6.52 mg/Kg) > Mn (8.86 mg/Kg) > Cd (0.93mg/Kg). Though highest, Zn concentrations were only 1.01% to 2.4% of Queensland threshold and WHO standards values and so metal concentrations were considered low. Therefore based on the present results public school playgrounds within Owerri municipal do not pose a serious pollution threat. However the accumulation of these metals in school playgrounds could result to contamination and pollution problems in the long run.

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