ABSTRACT
Information about heavy metal burden of children in Nigeria related to playground soils and classroom dusts is lacking. Playground soil, classroom dust, blood and spot urine samples (n=253) were collected from 6 urban and 2 semi-rural public schools in Ibadan North-West, Nigeria. Samples were analysed for Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn. Mean blood Pb levels in urban area (male, 41.66±8.78µg/dl vs. female, 40.64±5.46µg/dl) were twice as high as those in semi-rural area (male, 19.71±3.73µg/dl vs. female, 20.65±2.26µg/dl). Concentrations of Pb, Cu, Zn, and Fe in soil and dust samples in the urban schools were between 2- to 4-fold greater than that of semi-rural schools. No correlation was observed between blood and dust metals. A positive correlation (r=0.168, p=0.008) was observed between blood Pb and playground soil Pb. Pb burden in the children might be from their schools' playgrounds and other yet unidentified sources.
