Study on Playing Equipment and Environmental Factors Influencing Heavy Metal Concentration in the Sand Flooring of Children’s Playgrounds in Gwangju Area
The concerns about potential risks and hazards in children’s playgrounds are increasing and the restrictions for environmental harmful substances in playgrounds have been reinforced in many countries. In this study, the concentrations of heavy metals were analyzed in 142 samples including 105 of sand flooring and 37 playing equipment such as swing, slide, sporting equipment, bench and fence in 18 children’s playgrounds. Heavy metals in sand flooring were investigated and categorized by natural environmental factors such as season, rainfall, post-rainy day, and artificial factors as road, type, and material of nearby play equipment. The concentration of heavy metals such as Pb, Hg, Cu, and Zn were significantly higher in sand flooring near the play equipment than at places away from the playing equipment (p < 0.05). Spearman’s rank correlation analysis showed that play equipment had a positive correlation with the sand flooring with regard to the concentration of Pb (r = 0.42, p < 0.01) and Cu (r = 0.39, p < 0.01). The concentration of heavy metals in the sand flooring showed a statistically significant difference depending on the season, post-rainy day, the distance from a roadway, type of equipment, and the material. The play equipment’s heavy metal concentration and other environmental factors contributed to the heavy metal concentration in the sand flooring’s surface in playgrounds.