Soil Lead at Elementary Public Schools: Comparison Between School Properties and Residential Neighbourhoods of New Orleans

Soil studies, conducted in Maryland, Minnesota and Louisiana, have described the urban pattern of lead contamination. They have shown that the highest amounts of lead cluster within the interior of the largest cities. The results of the New Orleans urban patterns of distribution of soil lead provided the basis for further study. The hypothesis was tested that elementary school properties have the same pattern of soil lead contamination as their neighbouring residential communities. Thirty New Orleans Public Elementary Schools were selected for this study. Surface samples (2.5cm or 1 inch depth) were collected from playgrounds and next to entrances of each school. Results showed that soil lead on school properties follows the same relative contamination patterns (pvalue10^–5) as soil lead on residential properties of neighbouring communities. Schools however, have significantly lower lead contamination than the neighbouring residential properties. Innercity school properties present a higher risk of soil lead exposure than mid and outercity schools. Soils next to innercity school entrances showed the highest lead, with 18.5% having concentrations over 400gg^–1. Systematic landscaping around the school entrances would significantly reduce the hazard from lead dust contaminated soils.     

Heavy Metal Contents and Magnetic Properties of Playground Dust in Hong Kong

This study examined the levels of seven heavy metals (namelyzinc, copper, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese and iron) andtheir associations with magnetic properties in playground dustof Hong Kong. Results showed that the playground dust containedhigh concentrations of Zn (mean = 1883 g g^-1), Cu(mean = 143 g g^-1) and Cr (mean = 263 g g^-1).Qualitative examination of dust samples under microscope indicated local traffic as one of the important pollutant sources. Magnetic measurements indicated that these anthropogenicpollutants mainly consisted of coarse-grained multidomain (MD) ferrimagnetic minerals. Superparamagnetic (SP), stable single domain (SSD) ferrimagnetic grains and non-ferrimagnetic mineralswere present in relatively small amounts. Significant correlations between heavy metals and various magnetic parametersindicated a strong affinity of heavy metals to magnetic minerals hence pointed out the potential of magnetic properties for simpleand rapid proxy indications of heavy metal pollution in playground dust.     

工业区户外儿童游乐场地表灰尘重金属污染的磁学响应

以南京一个工业区为例,采集户外儿童游乐场地表灰尘样品,并对其进行环境磁学测量以及重金属总量和酸可提取态测定,以探究磁学参数对工业区该类环境介质重金属污染的指示作用.结果表明,地表灰尘样品中磁性矿物以亚铁磁性矿物为主,主要以假单畴-多畴颗粒存在;样品低频磁化率和饱和等温剩磁的平均值分别为939.31×10~(-8)m~3·kg~(-1)和16 618.74×10~(-5)A·m~2·kg~(-1),与城市非工业区相比磁性矿物含量较高.地表灰尘样品平均受到中度到高度的重金属污染,部分磁学参数与重金属总量和酸可提取态占比均显著相关,且与总量的相关性较强,其中,Mn、Ni、Cr总量以及污染负荷指数与非磁滞磁化率和饱和等温剩磁的相关性较高(0.69≤r≤0.86,P0.01),并具有一致的空间变化特征,且主成分分析结果表明重金属和磁性矿物均主要来自工业活动.因此,部分磁学参数可作为指示工业区户外儿童游乐场地表灰尘重金属污染状况的有效指标.     

Children's perspectives on playground use as basis for children's participation in local play space management

Implementing children's perspectives into playground management could be a way of improving play possibilities for children in the local public space and supporting sustainable development, but it requires adults' understanding. Children's perspectives on playground use were studied through group interviews in two Swedish towns and were also compared with the understanding among the local park workers. Children described their playground use through challenges, manipulation and place-making, something which was partly recognised by the park workers. The results indicate that children's perspectives on playground use, particularly manipulation, should be implemented more fully into management work. Children's participation in on-site management activities is discussed as a way of making playgrounds more adapted to children's use and perspectives.