Volume 13, Issue 2, October 2015, Pages 472–480
Evelyn N. Verla1, Horsfall M. Jnr2, and A.I. Spiff3
1 Department of Environmental Technology, Federal University of technology, School of environmental technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
2 Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
3 Department of Chemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, P.M.B.2000, Imo State, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2015 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Soil characteristics and metals contents are important components for playground safety, but these are lacking in third world countries. In the present study thirty six soils samples from nine preselected public schools playgrounds were characterized using standards methods. Results revealed poorly equipped and maintained playgrounds with pH < 7 for all playground soils indicating acidic soils while organic matter ranged from Ikenegbu primary school (0.2 %) to World Bank Primary school (2.8%), sodium adsorption ratio ranged from Model Nursery school (0.41 (Cmolkg-1)05) to Shell camp primary (0.77 (Cmolkg-1)05). Other physicochemical characteristics had values comparable to those of typical acid sand derived soils whose textural class is sandy loam. Electrical conductivity varied widely amongst playgrounds ranging from Housing Estate primary school (3.2 S/cm) to Shell Camp Primary school (9.5 S/cm) indicating presence of some soluble inorganic salts. These soils characteristics therefore constitute major favorable conditions for the release of toxic metals in the soil or runoffs.
Author Keywords: Characteristics, visual, soil, playgrounds.
Evelyn N. Verla1, Horsfall M. Jnr2, and A.I. Spiff3
1 Department of Environmental Technology, Federal University of technology, School of environmental technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
2 Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
3 Department of Chemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, P.M.B.2000, Imo State, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2015 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Soil characteristics and metals contents are important components for playground safety, but these are lacking in third world countries. In the present study thirty six soils samples from nine preselected public schools playgrounds were characterized using standards methods. Results revealed poorly equipped and maintained playgrounds with pH < 7 for all playground soils indicating acidic soils while organic matter ranged from Ikenegbu primary school (0.2 %) to World Bank Primary school (2.8%), sodium adsorption ratio ranged from Model Nursery school (0.41 (Cmolkg-1)05) to Shell camp primary (0.77 (Cmolkg-1)05). Other physicochemical characteristics had values comparable to those of typical acid sand derived soils whose textural class is sandy loam. Electrical conductivity varied widely amongst playgrounds ranging from Housing Estate primary school (3.2 S/cm) to Shell Camp Primary school (9.5 S/cm) indicating presence of some soluble inorganic salts. These soils characteristics therefore constitute major favorable conditions for the release of toxic metals in the soil or runoffs.
Author Keywords: Characteristics, visual, soil, playgrounds.
How to Cite this Article
Evelyn N. Verla, Horsfall M. Jnr, and A.I. Spiff, “Physico chemical Characterization of Playgrounds Soils of public Schools in Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria,” International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 472–480, October 2015.
