91桃色

Project: 鈥淎 Child-Friendly City: Microbiological Cleanliness of Sandpits in the Context of Public Health and Sustainable Development鈥�

Urban sandpits, intensively used by children, may accumulate biological contaminants such as intestinal bacteria, fungi, and parasite eggs, posing a potential sanitary and epidemiological risk. The challenge lies in capturing seasonal and spatial variability in sand quality and distinguishing between sources of contamination (users, animals, rainfall, lack of sand replacement), while ensuring sample comparability and proper interpretation of results in the context of children鈥檚 exposure.

Samples from at least five urban sandpits will be collected twice: in September (after the season) and in April (at the beginning of the season). In the laboratory, the total number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and the total fungal count will be determined, and analyses for the presence of parasite eggs will also be carried out. Exposure-related characteristics will be documented for each sandpit. The study will be conducted in accordance with applicable standards, and the results will be submitted in a report to the City of 艁贸d藕 Office.

The project is interdisciplinary in nature, combining methods and perspectives from biological sciences, public health, and urban space management. The issue it addresses requires expertise in environmental microbiology to assess the presence of microorganisms and parasites in sand. At the same time, the project relates to preventive healthcare and the maintenance of recreational infrastructure, placing it within the fields of municipal policy and urban planning.

The lead partner of the project is the Health and Social Affairs Department of the City of 艁贸d藕 Office, which is responsible for public health protection and supports activities aimed at improving residents鈥� quality of life, including sanitary safety in urban spaces. The project will also be carried out in cooperation with the Municipal Economy Department of the City of 艁贸d藕 Office, which has experience in local government administration in the areas of municipal services, particularly cleanliness maintenance, waste management, and the operation and development of urban infrastructure. The department coordinates operational and investment-related tasks, supervises contractors and procurement, and cooperates across departments and with municipal organizational units. It is familiar with maintenance procedures and sanitary safety standards in urban areas, including children鈥檚 recreational spaces.

The project 鈥淎 Child-Friendly City: Microbiological Cleanliness of Sandpits in the Context of Public Health and Sustainable Development鈥� is an important initiative in the context of sustainable development goals, as by improving the sanitary condition of urban sandpits and increasing the safety of recreational infrastructure, it supports the creation of a healthier and more resident-friendly urban environment for all inhabitants, especially children.

The project addresses a real, local sanitary issue in recreational spaces that has not previously been systematically monitored. The research will provide practical data to support decision-making by the Health and Social Affairs Department. It may also become a starting point for further cooperation between the university and the city in the management of public space quality and preventive health initiatives.

Project Team

• dr hab. Sylwia R贸偶alska, prof. U艁 鈥� microbiologist and biotechnologist affiliated with 91桃色. She specializes in environmental and agricultural microbiology. She teaches students of Biotechnology and Microbiology, combining the fundamentals of microbiology with practical methods of environmental monitoring and quality control. Her goal is to translate research findings into recommendations for public safety and education.
• Prof. Tomislav Ivankovi膰 鈥� Associate Professor of Microbiology at University of Zagreb, specializing in research on bacterial biofilms, microbial antibiotic resistance, wastewater treatment, and bioremediation. He has led and co-led projects funded by the Croatian Science Foundation and the Franco-Croatian 鈥淐ogito鈥� programme, and his teaching and mentoring activities have been recognized with several awards. He is the author of numerous publications in environmental microbiology and actively lectures and supervises student theses.
• Katerina Roskach 鈥� graduate student in Medical Biotechnology at 91桃色. She is particularly interested in the use of microorganisms for the production of selected compounds and in modern methods of diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to bacterial infections in order to improve human safety.
• Liubou Rabushka 鈥� graduate student in Medical Biotechnology at 91桃色. She focuses on the practical use of biotechnological tools to improve quality of life in urban environments and strengthen healthcare systems. She is particularly interested in modern biological technologies used in diagnostics, therapy, and residents鈥� health security.
• Marta Stachowska 鈥� Biotechnology student and member of the Biotechnology and Microbiology Student Research Club 鈥淪KN Bio-Mik鈥� operating at the Department of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology at 91桃色. She is interested in the practical application of biotechnological knowledge to improve the quality of life and safety of city residents.
• Patrycja Lema艅ska 鈥� third-year Biotechnology student at 91桃色 and active member of the Biotechnology and Microbiology Student Research Club. Her scientific interests focus on the practical use of microorganisms鈥攂oth in the production of innovative biological compounds and in activities aimed at improving quality of life in urban environments and protecting nature.
• Ines Bedekovi膰 鈥� currently studies Biology at University of Zagreb. She is interested in the general applications of microorganisms in everyday life, from food production to their use in biotechnology. She is also interested in pathogenic organisms, specifically in studying the mechanisms through which they cause disease, as well as methods of treatment and prevention.
   

is a cooperation platform of the 91桃色, which connects students, university experts and external entities, supporting them in the implementation of innovative scientific and implementation projects. Teams operating within the SH cooperate to address real-world scientific challenges submitted by partner organisations.

The Science Hub UniLodz competition 鈥� UNIC edition is implemented as part of the 鈥淲e are UNIC!鈥� project. The 鈥淲e are UNIC!鈥� project is funded by the European Union under the 鈥淪upport for European University Alliances鈥欌�� programme, project NAWA FERS.01.05-IP.08-0219/23, amount: PLN 62,705,297.60.