Soil pollution in children's playgrounds

NGU has studied soil pollution in children's playgrounds in Bergen, Orkdal, Tromsø, Oslo and Stavanger.

Some children may have a substantial intake of soil because of frequent hand-to-mouth action during outdoor activity at daycares and playgrounds. They are therefore especially exposed to any pollution in the soil.

Children's playground

NGU has studied soil pollution in children's playgrounds in Bergen, Orkdal, Tromsø, Oslo and Stavanger. These studies have provided a substantial amount of data on surface soils in children's playgrounds.

Pollution detected in soils at daycare centers:

• The soil in daycares located near city centres is often polluted with lead and PAH. The source of this pollution is mainly local. Pollution may, in some cases,  alsobe due to transported polluted-soil from other places.
• Soil and sand surrounding playground apparatus made of wood impregnated with CCA (copper, chromium and arsenic) is in most cases polluted by arsenic that has leaked from the wood.
• Sand from certain quarry sites may have a naturally high content of heavy metals, for example arsenic, and is therefore not suitable for use in sand boxes in daycares or playgrounds.
• PCB has been detected in soil around some daycares. The source in these cases has been the plaster or paint from nearby buildings.

Remediation in daycares with polluted soil:

Children are especially exposed to any pollution in the soil.The Norwegian institute of public health has developed a set of action limits for pollution in children's playgrounds. When the soil exceeds these limit-values, action has to be taken. The type of remediation often includes covering the polluted soil with clean soil, or remove the polluted soil and replace it with clean soil.

CCA impregnated wood should be removed, alternatively stained with varnish stain to prevent further arsenic leaching. Plastering containing PCB should be removed.

Rules to prevent soil
contamination in children's
daycares and playgrounds:

• Norway implemented a ban from 01.01.2003 to import, export, sell or establish use and reuse of wood and wood products treated with chromium or arsenic compounds.
• When new sand and soil is brought into nursery daycare, the materials must be clean. Excavating sand from areas with naturally high levels of heavy metals should be avoided.
• When new playgrounds are established, an assessment should be made to assure that the ground is not polluted by former activities.
   

National plan of action

In a national plan of action to clean up the soil in children¿s playgrounds, the 10 largest cities and the 5 largest industrial towns in Norway have to map the soil pollution status in their daycares.

Within this action plan, NGU has developed guidelines for the assessments, and will also carry out quality controll of the work done by the different cities.