Analysis of Hazardous Heavy Metal in Colored Materials of Playground Facility for Children

The content of hazardous heavy metal of materials used in playground facility for children was investigated using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyses, In order to examine the content of hazardous heavy metals according to the material color, four colors, i.e., green, red, yellow and blue, were categorized on the materials used. The highest lead content is observed in the yellow plastic samples. The yellow samples with relatively high lead content show that the chrome content is also high. This can explained that lead chromate, so-called chromium yellow, is normally used as a main pigment to express the yellow color. Therefore, it is concluded that hazardous heavy metal detected in the materials of playground facility for children is due to the pigments used for coloring. Based on above findings, the relationship between the color of materials used in playground facility for children and the content of hazardous heavy metal is discussed.