Soil contamination by Ancylostoma spp. and Toxocara spp. eggs in elementary school playgrounds in the extreme south of Brazil

Millions of people worldwide, and especially schoolchildren, may be infected by geohelminths due to their exposure to a contaminated environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate soil contamination by Ancylostoma spp. and Toxocara spp. eggs in recreation areas at elementary schools in Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Sand samples were collected from 22 schools and were processed using the centrifugal flotation method. Helminth eggs with zoonotic potential were found in 12 out of the 22 schools (54.5%). Contamination by Ancylostoma spp. and Toxocara spp. was observed in 36.4% (8/22) and 27.3% (6/22) of the soil samples collected at these schools, respectively. These findings of eggs show that the school communities are exposed to risks of zoonotic transmission.

Heavy Metal Contents in Topsoil of Selected Public Primary Schools Playground in Benin Metropolis, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine some physicochemical properties and heavy metals level in primary school playground located in Benin City, Southern Nigeria using standard methods. A total of 10 topsoil samples were collected from five primary school playgrounds from different locations in Benin metropolis, Southern Nigeria in February, 2017. The mean levels of pH and EC ranged from 5.53 to 7.02 and 200.05 - 410.00 µS/cm respectively. The mean concentrations for heavy metals ranged from 337.15±64.28 and 464.10±19.37 for Fe, 23.40±7.50 and 29.70±4.81 for Mn, 45.95±8.70 and 67.95±4.74 for Zn, 8.48±1.61 and 12.90±3.82 for Cu, 5.10±2.33 and 7.41±1.54 for Cd, 4.42±2.02 and 8.39±7.09 for Cr, 6.17±2.82 and 13.82±6.76 for Pb, 0.99±0.09 and3.24±3.73 for Ni respectively. Heavy metal concentrations were in the following order. In Ogiegbaen, Eresoyen and Ekosodin Primary schools (PS) playground, the order was Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu> Pb> Cd> Cr> Ni while the order in Agbado PS and Olua PS were Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu> Pb> Cr> Cd> Ni and Fe> Zn> Mn> Pb> Cu> Cd> Cr> Ni respectively. Enrichment factor (EF), Contamination factor (CF) and Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) were used to evaluate the pollution status of the soil. Keywords: Topsoil, Playground, Heavy metals, Assessment Indices

Playgrounds, Injuries, and Data: Keeping Children Safe

Child safety is a top priority in the school setting. Many accidents that occur on school playgrounds range from minor scrapes and bumps to fractures or other health problems that require quick medical response. Data can be a powerful tool for school nurses when seeking to promote changes in their schools.

Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths in primary school playgrounds in Edo State, southern Nigeria

SummarySchoolchildren in primary schools are mostly at risk of acquiring soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infections due to their habits (geophagy, onychophagy and playing with barefoot). Profiling soil parasites on school playgrounds is expected to provide an insight to an array of parasites schoolchildren are constantly at risk of acquiring; and this information could guide on intervention programmes. Soil samples from sixteen primary school playgrounds in Edo State (South-South, Nigeria) were collected over a six-month period both in the dry (January, February and March) and wet (May, June and July) seasons in 2018 and early 2019. Samples were processed and analysed following standard parasitological procedures. Of the 576 soil samples collected, 318(55.2 %) were positive with one or more soil parasites. Generally, the predominant parasites recovered from the total number of soil samples collected were: Ascaris 127(22 %), Strongyloides 111(19.27 %) and hookworm 50(8.68 %). Ascaris was most preponderant in the dry season, while Strongyloides was the most occurring in the wet season. The mean differences in the parasite load for Ascaris and hookworm between dry and wet seasons were not significant; while for Strongyloides it was higher in the wet than dry season. These results could be a consequence of observed poor state of toilet/sanitary facilities as well as the lack or poor state of basic infrastructure like proper drainage and waste disposal systems in the host communities. There is therefore urgent need to interrupt the STHs transmission cycles in the environment and possibly in schoolchildren by instituting sustainable intervention programmes within schools located in STHs endemic regions like southern Nigeria.

School environment and obesity in primary schools. An analysis of the WHO European COSI in Austria

Background Overweight and obesity in childhood and the associated secondary diseases are constantly on the increase. Studies show that the school environment can have an influence on the weight of children. The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) of the WHO is a Europe-wide epidemiological monitoring of anthropometric sizes of school children aged six to nine, with Austria participating in COSI for the first time in 2016. Methods A retrospective secondary data analysis based on two standardized questionnaires was performed. On the one hand, data on determinants specific to the school field were collected, on the other hand anthropometric data of children in third grade were measured. Across Austria, data from 97 schools and 2530 children were collected and evaluated using descriptive and inductive statistical methods. Results In 43,3 % of the schools, an existing playground can be used outside school opening hours. 73,2 % of the schools integrate nutrition education into their school curriculum either as a separate subject or in combination with another subject. Milk and dairy products are available in 60,8 % of schools, fresh fruit in 63,9 % and vegetables in 51,5 %. 28,3 % of the examined, 8 to 9-year-old children are overweight or obese (n = 658), while boys have a significant higher BMI than girls (p < 0,001). Also, in urban areas children have a significant higher BMI on average than in rural areas (p = 0,025). No significant relationship could be identified between the duration of physical education lessons per week and the BMI. However, a significant difference in childreńs BMI became visible when school playgrounds were also accessible outside opening hours (p = 0,018). Conclusions The alarming number of overweight children in Austria should be diminished through policies and further interventions. Schools can make a substantial contribution to this. The course of the development could be closely observed through possible further surveys by COSI. Key messages 73,2% of the schools include nutrition education in their curricula. Yet, about every third Austrian child aged between 8 and 9 is overweight, with boys being significantly more overweight than girls. If school playgrounds are accessible outside opening hours, the childreńs BMI is significantly lower. In urban areas, children have a significantly higher BMI than in rural areas.

The role of the National Support Centre for Agriculture in the process of revitalization and renewal of the rural areas

Rural development policy of Agricultural Property Stock (APS) of the State Treasury in Poland is run by the National Support Centre for Agriculture (until 31.08.2017 Agricultural Property Agency). In the article, on the example of the Braniewo municipality, the size and spatial distribution of land transferred from the Agricultural Property Stock (APS) of the State Treasury to the municipality was analysed. One of the most important goals associated with this was activities related to social aspects, often part of the revitalization and renewal of the rural areas. After Poland's accession to the European Union, it was possible to obtain subsidies that allowed the rural population to apply for financing projects, such as: road construction, creating school playgrounds or socio-cultural facilities. Authors also analysed examples of good practices in this area in the municipality of Braniewo, as a recommendation for other municipalities. Attempts have also been made to indicate the role of the National Support Centre for Agriculture in the transformation of the Polish countryside, with particular emphasis on the areas of former State Agricultural Farms.