Accumulation and toxicological risk assessment of Cd, As, Pb, Hg, and Cu from topsoils of school playgrounds at Obio-Akpor LGA Rivers State Nigeria

The adverse health effects associated with heavy metal pollution have become a subject of topical discussion. Using standard methods, this study evaluated the accumulation and toxicological risks of heavy metal deposition on top soils of school playgrounds in Obio-Akpor LGA. Results obtained from the top soils, sampled from 10 different schools showed that the concentration of heavy metals assessed, followed the trend; Hg Hg>Cu>Cd>As while the highest (0.0213) and least (0.0162) total hazard index value occurred at RBPS and MOM respectively. These values obtained for this study indicate that the school playground's soils are still within the recommended heavy metal content safe levels.