[Preliminary evaluation of biological-sanitary contamination of grass lawns and children's playgrounds in Warsaw in 1991].

This paper presents results of microbiological investigations of grass lawns and sand playgrounds in selected parks, Jordan gardens, squares, large inhabited complexes, creches and kindergartens on the territory of four parts of Warsaw (Zoliborz, Saska Kepa, Sródmieście and Mokotów). Following indexes were subjected to analysis: titer of bacteria from the coli group of general and fecal type, bacteria from the genus Clostridium and Salmonella and number of bacteria from Enterococcus species. In sanitary evaluation of tested material criteria proposed by National Institute of Hygiene (1970) and Institute of Rural Medicine (1990) were applied. Among tested materials, 50% of grass lawns and 40% of sand playgrounds were considered as unsanitary and dangerous (disqualified by all indexes). It was found that presence of Salmonella in all cases was connected with existence of large numbers of other members of Enterobacteriaceae family (10(3)-10(5) CFU/Ig.s soil) and of E. faecalis (10(2)-10(3) CFU/Ig. s. soil). Identified bacteria from genus Salmonella were most frequently represented by S. arizonae (90%) S. choleraesuis and other (10%). Comparison of own results with data obtained by Warsaw Sanitary-Epidemiological Station from previous years indicates worsening of sanitary status of green lawns and sand playgrounds in Warsaw City aglomeration. Continuously present high numbers of bacteria of sand playgrounds in kindergartens and creches is disturbing. In this situation there is an urgent need of systematic sanitary investigations of soil in natural conditions on territories a large agglomerations for determination of size of danger of contamination and preoparation of appropriate prevention.