Soil pollution in day-care centers and playgrounds in Norway: national action plan for mapping and remediation

Abstract

Systematic geochemical mapping based on sampling and analysis of surface soils (0-2 cm) has been carried out in several Norwegian cities. The soils in the oldest parts of the cities are contaminated with metals (especially Pb) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Due to the fact that children are often in contact with surface soil, it was realized that special focus had to be directed towards soils in day-care centers and playgrounds. The first mapping and remedy program was initiated in Trondheim in 1996. Here, the importance of copper-chromium-arsenic (CCA)-pressure-impregnated wood in playing equipment as a pollution source for soils was documented, and a process was started with the aim to ban this product. Soils from day-care centers in the inner city of Bergen were polluted to a degree that required remediation in 45% out of 87 centers, mainly due to high concentrations of Pb and benzo(a)pyrene. In Oslo, 38% of 700 day-care centers needed remediation due to soil pollution by Pb, BaP, Cd, Hg, Ni and PCB. Removal of CCA-impregnated wood was necessary in more than half of the day-care centers The Norwegian parliament has decided to investigate all outdoor playing areas in day-care centers, playgrounds and schoolyards in Norway, starting in 2007 with day-care centers in the ten largest cities and five most important industrial areas. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has developed quality criteria for soils in day-care centers and playgrounds for As, Cd, Cr(6+), Hg, Ni, Pb, zinc, PAH(sum16), benzo(a)pyrene, and PCB(sum7). The Geological Survey of Norway has developed guidance for mapping of soil pollution (sampling, chemical analysis and reporting) in day-care centers. Especially the sampling strategy has been developed in the period 1996-2007, and the preferred sampling strategy is to collect at least 10 samples of surface soil (0-2 cm) from (1) "original soil" on the site, (2) artificial man-made "hills", and (3) soils used for growing vegetables. A total number of 2,000 day-care-centres are to be investigated, and necessary remediation should be completed before the end of 2010.

Geochemistry, mineralogy, solid-phase fractionation and oral bioaccessibility of lead in urban soils of Lisbon

“…In areas where playgrounds, public gardens and parks are exposed to significant pollution levels, soil and dust from the ground may have toxic effects as a consequence of inhalation or ingestion by humans, particularly children, which poses major health hazards (Ljung et al 2007;Ottesen 2008;Reis et al 2013a). Soil ingestion is referred to in a number of case studies as a probable source of Pb exposure in children with elevated blood Pb levels in some areas.…”

Chromium and Nickel in Soil in the Wider Maglaj Area – Concentration and Genesis

“…Field methods included collection of soil samples according to the Geo-Experimental Expertise Group (URGE -Euro Geo Survays) [5]. It is sampled by a network which is dictated by geomorphological structure of the terrain.…”

Children, Soils, and Health: How Do Polluted Soils Influence Children's Health?

“…) In Europe and the USA, CCA-treated wood has been specifically used in outdoor play equipment at child-care centres, school yards and public playgrounds, each (in Norway) having on average 1.5-2 m 3 CCA-treated wood. Studies in Norway and New Orleans have shown that low-to medium-grade As pollution (8-250 mg/kg) is common in the soils of children's playgrounds (Jartun et al, 2003;Mielke et al, 2010;Ottesen et al, 2008), and a maximum concentration in child-care centre soil of 1800 mg/kg has been recorded (Jartun et al, 2003). (Mielke, 1993;Ottesen et al, 1995;Haugland et al, 2008) Results of the content of Cr, Cu and As in 70 samples of CCA-treated wood from child-care centres in Trondheim, Norway, clearly demonstrate the importance of CCA-treated wood as a possible source for these elements (Table 10.4).…”