Investigating Bacterial Loads on Different Playground Surfaces

Abstract

Urban playground equipment is made from a wide array of materials, designed for children to use as a means of entertainment during their breaks in their daily academic schedule. However, the extent to which these surfaces may harbour potentially disease-causing bacteria is not well understood. This study investigated the bacterial load on playground equipment made from wood, plastic, and metal to assess material-specific differences and evaluate the efficacy of a standard alcohol-based sanitizer. Swabs were collected from wood, plastic, and metal surfaces of playground equipment and streaked onto agar plates in a controlled lab environment. The plates were incubated at 37°C and monitored for bacterial growth across 10 days, which were examined under light microscopes to determine bacterial load upon the end of the incubation period. Results showed a significant amount of organic growth from the agar plates streaked with swabs collected from wooden surfaces and a lack of organic growth in plates streaked from plastic and metal surfaces. Sanitization resulted in an average of 70% reduced organic material compared to their untreated counterpart. These findings highlight the importance of material choice in playground design and show the critical role sanitization plays in preventing bacterial transmission and protecting children’s health in their school environment.