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Abstract
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Article Information:
Heavy Metals Content in Playground Topsoil of Some Public Primary Schools in Metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria
O.E. Popoola, O. Bamgbose, O.J. Okonkwo, T.A. Arowolo, Odukoya and A.O. Popoola
Corresponding Author: O.E. Popoola
Submitted: February 02, 2012
Accepted: March 10, 2012
Published: April 15, 2012 |
Abstract:
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Assessing the concentration of potentially harmful heavy metals in playground topsoil from public
primary schools in metropolitan Lagos, is imperative in order to evaluate the potential risks to the children in
the schools. The study was conducted in order to determine if the concentrations of heavy metals in the soil is
high enough to constitute a risk to children. Samples were collected from 20 schools in the Lagos metropolis
and were subjected to microwave aqua regia digestion. Subsequently, the concentrations of the metals in the
samples were measured using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS). The investigation
revealed that Pb has the highest concentrations of all the metals. Mean metal concentration in playground soils
were PbHD 23.08±11.11, PbLD 23.54±14.55; CrHD 5.99±5.79, CrLD 3.80±3.83; CdHD 0.33±0.33, CdLD 0.39±0.31;
MnHD 1.60±0.14, MnLD 1.61±0.05 μg/g. Univariate analysis of variance showed that the metal concentrations
in the high or low population density areas were not significantly different (p>0.05). The results generally
indicated that pollution by metals in the dusts and soils is minimal for Pb and Cr and negligible for Mn and Cd
while geographical location of the schools in high and low population density areas of Lagos state, Nigeria was
not a determinant in the evaluation of children’s exposure to heavy metals.
Key words: Children, heavy metals, playgrounds, topsoil, Cancer, urban,
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Cite this Reference:
O.E. Popoola, O. Bamgbose, O.J. Okonkwo, T.A. Arowolo, Odukoya and A.O. Popoola, . Heavy Metals Content in Playground Topsoil of Some Public Primary Schools in Metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria. Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, (04): 434-439.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-0492
ISSN (Print): 2041-0484 |
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