Assessment of Children’s Exposure Risk to Potentially Hazardous Elements in Playground Soil in South Korea

Lee Hyunkyung; Kim Gyunhee; Kim Chanhyuk; Kim Jisoo; Jeong Yunha; Lim Juhee

doi:10.7857/JSGE.2025.30.1.037

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2025 Vol.30, Issue 1 Preview Page

Assessment of Children’s Exposure Risk to Potentially Hazardous Elements in Playground Soil in South Korea 어린이 놀이터 토양의 잠재적 유해요소에 대한 오염도 및 노출 위험 평가

28 February 2025. pp. 37-48

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Abstract

This study evaluated the environmental safety of playground soil in children’s activity spaces located in five cities of Gyeonggi Province, where child population density is high. All 50 study sites met the environmental safety standards for heavy metals and parasitic eggs (ova) set by the Environmental Health Act. Fecal coliform contamination was detected in the playground soil, with 23 sites (46%) testing positive by membrane filtration and 36 sites (72%) testing positive by enzyme substrate method. The levels of heavy metals in the playground soil were below the soil contamination concern standards (Category 1) at all sites, but the concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) were higher than those found in background areas of Gyeonggi Province. The average in vitro bioaccessibility for oral exposure was 23%, with copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) showing bioaccessibility greater than 46%, indicating a potential risk of children’s exposure to heavy metals through the soil. The bioaccessibility from skin contact was significantly lower, at 0.3%. Although the playground soil met legal standards, the potential risks from heavy metals and biological contamination remain. Therefore, continuous monitoring of heavy metals and fecal coliform contamination, along with further research, is necessary to ensure the safety of playground soil. This will provide essential data to secure the safety of playground surfaces and support the creation of environments where children can play in a healthy and safe setting.

Keywords

children’s playground

parasite

fecal coliform

heavy metal

in vitro bioaccessibility

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment
Publisher(Ko) :한국지하수토양환경학회
Journal Title :Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
Journal Title(Ko) :지하수토양환경
Volume : 30
No :1
Pages :37-48
Received Date : 2025-01-10
Revised Date : 2025-02-03
Accepted Date : 2025-02-26
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7857/JSGE.2025.30.1.037

Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment ISSN:1598-6438(Print) 2287-8831(Online) 지하수토양환경

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