Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Soil pollution fingerprints of children playgrounds in Sarajevo city, Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Recent Advances in Chemistry and the Environment
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This is the first study, 10 years after the war activities, to report about the content of heavy metals and metalloids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in samples of soils from selected playgrounds in Sarajevo. Due to the fact that children are in direct contact with surface soils, it has been recommended that children’s playgrounds should be given special consideration in this respect. Basic properties (pH in H2O, pH in 1 mol dm−3 KCl, humus, and CaCO3) of the examined soils were determined. Samples for the determination of heavy metals and metalloids were prepared by microwave-assisted acid digestion and determined by using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. Fluorine was determined potentiometrically. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was used for determination of PAHs and PCBs. Determined contents (mg kg−1) for Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, Mo, Fe, Se, As, B, and F were in the ranges from: 0.031 ± 0.03 to 0.52 ± 0.05; 26.1 ± 2.5 to 47.7 ± 4.5; 0.07 ± 0.01 to 0.50 ± 0.08; 26.2 to 50; 19.5 ± 1.6 to 33.3 ± 2.7; 12.8 ± 1.8 to 31.9 ± 4.5; 56.0 ± 4.0 to 89.0 ± 6.5; 6.7 ± 0.6 to10.6 ± 1.0; <0.8; 3.05 to 7.35; 1.98 to 2.60; 6.5 ± 0.8 to 17.2 ± 2.0; 0.4 to 3.6, and 286 to 575, respectively. The total PAHs ranged between 0.184 ± 0.32 mg kg−1 and 7.983 ± 1.389 mg kg−1. The total PCBs was <0.002 mg kg−1. Our preliminary results may contribute to more accurate health risk assessments of the soils, and may be included in projects planning children’s health risk assessments and adopting environmental legislation which has not been sufficiently regulated in Bosnia and Herzegovina so far.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aleksander-Kwaterczak U, Rajca A (2015) Urban soil contamination with lead and cadmium in the playgrounds located near busy streets in Cracow (South Poland). Geology, Geophysics and Environment 41(1):7–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banger K, Toor GS, Chirenje T, Ma L (2010) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban soils of different land uses in Miami, Florida. Soil and Sediment Contamination 19:231–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blagojevic S, Jakovljevic M, Radulovic M (2002) Content of fluorine in soils in the vicinity of aluminium plant in Podgorica. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 47(1):1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhupander K, Sharma AK, Tyagi A, Gaur R, Verma VK, Singh SK, Sanjay K, Sharma CS (2012) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls and their source identification in urban roadside soils. Arch Appl Sci Res 4(4):1906–1914

    Google Scholar 

  • Cachada A, Lopes LV, Hursthouse AS, Biasioli M, Grcman H, Otabbong E, Davidson CM, Duarte AC (2009) The variability of polychlorinated biphenyls levels in urban soils from five European cities. Environmental Pollution 157(2):511–518

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calace N, Caliando L, Petronio BM, Pietrantonio M, Pietroletti M, Trancalini V (2012) Distribution of Pb, Cu, Ni and Zn in urban soils in Rome city (Italy): effect of vehicles. Environmental Chemistry 9(1):69–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo AM, Tocchini M, Dos Santos TFS (2010) Metals in playground soils of Sao Paulo city, Brazil. Procedia Environmental Sciences 4:303–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glorennec P, Lucas JP, Mandin C, Le Bot B (2012) French children’s exposure to metals via ingestion of indoor dust, outdoor playground dust and soil: contamination data. Environmental International 45:129–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hiller E, Lachka L, Jurkovic L, Vozar J (2015) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban soils from kindergartens and playgrounds in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Environmental Earth Sciences 73(11):7147–7156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y, Liu X, Bai J, Shih K, Zeng EY, Cheng H (2013) Assessing heavy metal pollution in the surface soils of a region that had undergone three decades of intense industralization and urbanization. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:6150–6159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ikegami M, Yoneda M, Tsuji T, Bannai O, Morisawa S (2014) Effect of particle size on risk assessment of direct soil ingestion and metals adhered to children’s hands at playgrounds. Risk Anal 34(9):1677–1687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imperato M, Adamo P, Naimo D, Arienzo M, Stanzione D, Violante P (2003) Spatial distribution of heavy metals in urban soils of Naples city (Italy). Environmental Pollution 124(2):247–256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jartun M, Ottesen RT, Steinnes E (2003) Urban soil pollution and the playfields of small children. Journal de Physique IV 107:671–674

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelepertzis E (2014) Investigating the sources and potential health risks of environmental contaminants in the soil and drinking waters from the rural clusters in Thiva area (Greece). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 100:258–265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kwon E, Zhang H, Wang Z, Jhangri G, Lu X, Fok N, Gabos S, Li X, Le X (2004) Arsenic on the hands of children after playing in playgrounds. Environmental Health Perspectives 112(14):1375–1380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ljung K, Selinus O, Otabbong E (2006) Metals in soils of children’s urban environments in the small northern European city of Uppsala. Sci Total Environ 366(2-3):749–759

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mugosa B, Djurovic D, Pirnat A, Bulat Z, Barjaktarovic-Labovic S (2015) Children’s health risk assessment based on the content of toxic metals Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in urban soil samples of Podgorica, Montenegro. Vojnosanit Pregl 72(9):807–812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maliszewska-Kordybach B (1999) Sources, concentrations, fate and effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment. Part A: PAHs in air. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 8(3):131–136

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marjanovic M, Vukicevic M, Antonovic D, Dimitrijevic S, Jovanovic D, Matavulj M, Ristic M (2009) Heavy metals concentration in soils from parks and green areas in Belgrade. J Serb Chem Soc 74(6):697–706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masclet P, Bresson MA, Mouvier G (1987) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emitted by power stations, and influence of combustion conditions. Fuel 66(4):556–562

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ottesen RT, Alexander J, Langedal M, Haugland T, Hoygaard E (2008) Soil pollution in day-care centers and playgrounds in Norway: national action plan for mapping and remediation. Environ Geochem Health 30(6):623–637

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popoola OE, Bamgbose O, Okonkwo OJ, Arowolo TA, Odukoya PAO (2012) Heavy metals content in playground topsoil of some public primary schools in metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria. Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences 4(4):434–439

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Puskas I, Farsang A, Csepe Z, Bartus M (2014) Heavy metal exposure and risk characterization of top soils in urban playgrounds and parks (Hungary). Geophysical Research Abstracts 16 EGU 2014- 641

  • Razanica A, Huremovic J, Zero S, Gojak-Salimovic S, Memic M (2014) Heavy metals in street dust in Sarajevo area, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Current World Environment 9(1):43–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su C, Jiang L, Zhang W (2014) A review on heavy metal contamination in the soil worldwide: situation, impact and remediation techniques. Environmental Skeptics and Critics 3(2):24–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Szynkowska MI, Pawlaczyk A, Lesniewska E, Paryjezak T (2009) Toxic metal distribution in rural and urban soil samples affected by industry and traffic. Polish J of Environ Stud 18(6):1141–1150

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang L, Tang XY, Zhu YG, Zheng MH, Miao QL (2005) Contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban soils in Beijing, China. Environment International 31:811–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • VROM (2000) Circular on target values and intervention values for soil remediation. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planing and Environment (VROM), http://www.minvrom.nl/minvrom/docs/bodem/S&I2000.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Vyskocil A, Fiala Z, Chenier V, Krajak L, Ettlerova E, Bukac J, Viau C, Emminger S (2000) Assessment of multipathway exposure of small children to PAH. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 8(2):111–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wuana R, Okieimen F (2011) Heavy metals in contaminated soils: a review of sources, chemistry, risks and best available strategies for remediation. ISRN Ecology. doi: 10.5402/2011/402647

  • Wania F (1999) On the origin of elevated levels of persistent chemicals in the environment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 6(1):11–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcke W (2000) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil—a review. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 163(3):229–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71 000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Aida Sapcanin

  2. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Vilsonovosetaliste 9, 71 000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Aida Sapcanin & Mirsada Cakal

  3. Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology, University of Montenegro, Dzordza Vasingtona bb, 81 000, Podgorica, Montenegro

    Zeljko Jacimovic

  4. Faculty of Biotechnical Sciences, University of Bihac, Luke Marjanovića bb, 77 000, Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Ekrem Pehlic

  5. Chemilab d.o.o., Dunajska cesta 238E, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Gordan Jancan

Authors
  1. Aida Sapcanin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mirsada Cakal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zeljko Jacimovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ekrem Pehlic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gordan Jancan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aida Sapcanin.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sapcanin, A., Cakal, M., Jacimovic, Z. et al. Soil pollution fingerprints of children playgrounds in Sarajevo city, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 10949–10954 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6301-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6301-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation