Eleven city playgrounds in Adelaide will undergo testing for soil contamination after routine council tests revealed elevated levels of the toxic chemical benzene at one playground. The playground at the corner of East Terrace and Wakefield Street has been closed to the public as a precautionary measure.
Adelaide City Council infrastructure management corporate manager Phil Burton said the benzene levels were above recommended guidelines but did not pose an unacceptable risk. He stated that the closure and application of mulch were precautionary steps to protect public health. Burton noted that soil contamination is not uncommon in the parklands due to historical use as a dumping ground.
The council plans to conduct further assessments and involve a health assessor to determine risks and necessary remediation. All new playgrounds have already been tested, and any previous contamination has been addressed. The council will progressively test all other playgrounds in the city's parklands.
Flinders University toxicologist Associate Professor John Edwards commented that benzene is common in metropolitan areas due to traffic and industrial sources. He emphasized that the dose is key, and current levels are unlikely to cause harm to children, even with frequent use. Edwards added that more testing could clarify whether the detected levels are a concern.
