Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Indices and Human Health Risks in Playground Soils from Filin Police Station, Batagarawa Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria
Abdullahi Nasir *
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, P.M.B. 2218, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.
Aminu Usman
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, P.M.B. 2218, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.
Aliyu Ibrahim Yaradua
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, P.M.B. 2218, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.
Aminu Idi
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bayero University, P.M.B. 3011, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
Akilu Sada Abdullahi
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, P.M.B. 2218, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.
Ibrahim Hamza Kankia
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, P.M.B. 2218, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.
Ibrahim Safiyanu Darma
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, P.M.B. 2218, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.
Usman Salmanu
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, P.M.B. 2218, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Heavy metal contamination in recreational soils may present environmental and public health concerns, particularly in areas exposed to traffic, commercial activities, and other anthropogenic inputs. This study assessed the concentrations, pollution status, ecological risk, and human health risks associated with selected heavy metals in playground soil collected from Filin Police Station, Batagarawa Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria. Topsoil samples were collected from three locations at a depth of 0–10 cm using a systematic sampling approach. Heavy metal concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry after sample preparation and acid digestion. The results were used to estimate the geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor, contamination factor, pollution load index, potential ecological risk index, target hazard quotient, hazard index, and incremental lifetime cancer risk. Iron (1.42 ± 0.0201 mg/kg), manganese (1.34 ± 0.0045 mg/kg), and chromium (1.27 ± 0.0125 mg/kg) had the highest measured concentrations, while cadmium (0.09 ± 0.0010 mg/kg) and copper (0.04 ± 0.0048 mg/kg) occurred at the lowest levels. The geo-accumulation index, contamination factor, pollution load index, and potential ecological risk index generally indicated low contamination and low ecological risk. However, enrichment factor values suggested possible anthropogenic influence for chromium, lead, and zinc. Health risk estimates indicated that dermal exposure was the main contributor to non-carcinogenic risk in both children and adults. Chromium, nickel, and cadmium indicated potential carcinogenic concern for children, while lead, chromium, and nickel indicated potential carcinogenic concern for adults.
Keywords: Heavy metals, playground soil, pollution indices, enrichment factor, ecological risk, hazard quotient, hazard index, incremental lifetime cancer risk, dermal exposure, soil contamination