Background and Objective: Petroleum hydrocarbons are one of the major organic pollutants that consist of an extremely complex assemblage of chemicals coming from various sources and their fate on the environment is receiving attention in recent times.This research is designed to determine the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Clarias gariepinus, water and sediment of the Oluwa River.Materials and Methods: The concentrations of 16 environmentally significant Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAH, were investigated in the sediment and water samples as well as fish (Clarias gariepinus) from the Oluwa River using standard analytical methods.Results: The result revealed that all the 16 PAH investigated were present in all samples investigated at varying concentrations.The total of 16 PAH (Σ 16 PAH) in the fish sample (Clarias gariepinus) was 4.90×10G 3 mg kgG 1 and that of sediment was 4.242×10G 1 mg kgG 1 while, that of the water sample from the river was 1.038×10G 1 mg LG 1 .The results followed the order C. gariepinus
Background and Objectives: Lonchocarpus cyanescensis is a common tropical plant used traditionally by fisher folks to stun and catch fish in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.Lonchocarpus cyanescens is a shrub of twining habitat, belonging to the tribe Dalbergiae of the natural order Leguminosae.This study was conducted to determine the bioactive components and assess the acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of the L. cynescens on C. gariepinus fingerlings and anuran tadpoles.Materials and Methods: The 96 h LC 50 values of L. cyanescens bark aqueous extracts were determined in the laboratory under static bioassay conditions against C. gariepinus fingerlings and anuran tadpoles.Range finding bioassays were conducted to get the range of concentrations for the definitive bioassays.The range of concentrations of test media for C. gariepinus fingerlings was 0.6-5 mg LG 1 while that of anuran tadpoles was 0.6-2 mg LG 1 .The median lethal concentrations (LC 50 ) were determined using probit analysis.Results: The 96 h LC 50 values indicated that L. cynescens was more toxic against C. gariepinus fingerlings than the anuran tadpoles.Unpaired t-test also showed that the test plant was significantly (p<0.05)more toxic against the fingerlings than tadpoles.The mean water quality parameters were within the optimal range requirement for the test species.Conclusion: The study indicated that L. cyanescens exerted piscicidal effects on C. gariepinus fingerlings and anuran tadpoles.The indiscriminate use of this plant to catch fish by local fishermen should be discouraged.
Background and Objective: Consumption of water contaminated by the heavy metals can lead to many biological disorders, cancers or even death.The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical quality of well water and boreholes at 2 sites in Lomé (Togo).Materials and Methods: Analysis was made by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) for metallic trace elements and the molecular absorption spectrophotometer for nitrates.Results: Well and borehole water from the Agoè Sorad site, close to a large garbage dump, are acid.They were polluted with nitrates with concentrations exceeding the WHO standard.The well and borehole waters of the Bè Aveto site, whose soil was sandy than the previous site, was alkaline and have nitrate pollution with concentrations exceeding the WHO standard.The site was subject to metallic pollution with As, Hg, Pb, Cd and Cu with concentrations above their respective standards with the exception of Cu.Conclusion: This study shows that the 2 sites (Agoè Sorad de Bè Aveto) are polluted with nitrates.Regarding the metallic trace elements studied, the waters of the Agoè Sorad site are safe for consumption.This study also shows that there are potential health risks related to exposure to As, Hg and Pb through the consumption of well water and boreholes at the Bè Aveto site.At the end of this study, the results have shown that the site of Bè Aveto is more polluted than the site of Agoè Sorad.
Background and Objective: Accumulation of heavy metals in waste dumpsites affects soils and release concentrated leachate to the environment which further enters the food chain.Heavy metals accumulation results in serious health and environmental problems because of poisonous effects of these metals on plants and potential health implications to humans and animals consuming such vegetables from these dumpsites.The objective of this study was to assess the concentrations of 5 heavy metals (Cadmium, zinc, lead, chromium and copper) in leachates and crops grown around four selected waste dumpsites in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of the Western region of Ghana.Materials and Methods: Leachates and crops samples were collected from the selected dumpsites, digested and the heavy metals concentrations were determined by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).Results: The mean concentrations of the heavy metals in the leachates and the crops grown at the selected dumpsites were found to be high as compared to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits.Zinc and copper concentrations were higher in leachates from Essipong waste dumpsite.Conclusion: Zinc and copper were the most abundant heavy metals in most of the crops from the selected dumpsites.Heavy metals concentrations in crops must be monitored regularly since the detrimental effects of heavy metal pollution manifest many years after exposure.
Major occupational health problems in India or elsewhere include-industrial accidents, pesticide poisoning, farmers' lung, miners' lung, silicosis, asbestosis, byssinosis, metal fume fever, hearing loss and occupational cancer.The ATSDR has identified 275 chemicals, in its priority list, that cause morbidity in human population.The list includes heavy metals viz: Arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel etc. and organic solvents i.e., benzene, xylene(s), alcohol(s) and trichloroethylene etc.They are being indiscriminately used in unorganized sector.Prolonged human exposure to them through work environment leads to serious health problems.Identification of exposure using reliable tools and techniques of biological monitoring has been found useful in the prevention of occupational diseases in developed countries.However, the concept is still to be promoted in countries like India.The results of some of the experiments done by us in the past, their comparison with international standards/values and application in occupational health risk assessment has been presented in this overview.
Background and Objective: The biological efficacy of bioinsecticdes gradually decreases with time especially if these compounds are subjected to environmental factors (e.g., temperature, UV, sunlight).Also the activity can be altered if not stored properly.The objectives of this work were to examine the influence of temperature, light, types of water and shelf storage on the stability of some formulations of two bioinsecticides and also to assess the bioactivity of these bioinsecticides against cotton leaf worm.Materials and Methods: The active ingredients of formulations of Tracer (spinosad 24% SC), Radiant (spinetoram 12% SC), Proclaim and Broact (emamectin benzoate 5% SG) were determined using HPLC post exposure of the compounds to several environmental factors, i.e. temperature, UV and sunlight and storage for 2 years under ambient condition.Parallel a bioassay test was carried out to assess the biological activity of each bioinsecticide against neonate and the 2nd larvae instar of the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis.Data were subjected to statistical analysis using LD-P line version 1.0.Results: The results revealed that the loss (%) of all tested bioinsecticides after storage for 2 years was above the permissible limits of FAO specifications.In accordance with this trend, the bioassay tests showed a reduction in toxicity value (LC 50ʼ s) for neonate and 2nd instar larvae of cotton leaf worm.Moreover, samples stored under direct sunlight and UV their biological activity were reduced to half values of their LC 50 .Photolysis of aqueous solutions for bioinsecticides reduced the half-life especially in the case of emamectin benzoate formulation.Conclusion: Results indicated that stability of bioinsecticides could be properly evaluated prior to submission for registration as these products showed less stability under storage at ambient conditions.Also the decision makers will take these results into considerations and examine such products case by case.
Background and Objectives: Welders are often occupationally exposed to potentially harmful substances.This study assessed the haematological profile and the frequency buccal cell nuclear abnormalities of automobile welders who use calcium carbide as a source of fuel in Enugu, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A total of 50 participants (30 automobile welders and 20 controls) were recruited for the study.Questionnaires were used to obtain participantʼs bio data and exposure characteristics.Haematological parameters were measured and assessment of buccal cell nuclear abnormalities was done by cytological evaluation of participantsʼ the buccal cells.Results: The welders were observed to had significantly lower total red blood cells and haemoglobin concentration.They also had significantly higher micronuclei frequency compared to the control group.Further analysis showed that number of years spent in the occupation, alcohol consumption and ongoing medications significantly affected the frequency of micronuclei among the welders.Conclusion: Automobile welders may be exposed to toxic substances which may cause increased frequency of micronuclei and reduced red cell count and haemoglobin concentration.
Background and Objective: Artisanal mining have led to the exposure of heavy metals in the earth crust to the outer layer of the earth.These have led to the accumulation of heavy metals in soils and in burrowing organisms like snails which can further affect its metabolic activity.The objective of this study was to assess quantitatively and qualitatively the levels of heavy metals (Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn)) in land snails from mining site and the use of anti-oxidant defense system as biomarkers (Enzyme activities of Catalase, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Acetylcholinesterase (ACHE), indices of Lipid Peroxidation and Reduced Glutathione) to monitor the selected area.Results obtained were used to conduct an Ecological Risk Assessment.Materials and Methods: Soils and Snails were collected from Snail farm, Leru and Nkalagu mining sites and were denoted as A1, B1 and C1 for soil and A2, B2 and C2 for snails respectively.Heavy metal analysis was determined in both soils and snails while selected anti-oxidant enzyme activities were carried out snails.Heavy metal values and ecological risk assessment values were compared to the United State Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) and other standard values for toxicity.Results: Soils from the Leru and Nkalagu mining sites showed significant increases (p<0.05) in the levels of heavy metals (As, Pb, Cu, Ni, , Cr, Zn) as compared to soil samples from the Snail farm.Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities of snails from both Leru and Nkalagu mining regions were significantly higher (p<0.05)than snails from snail farm.Lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and acetylcholinesterase activities of snails also showed significant variations.Ecological risk assessment was estimated in two planes: Heavy metal pollution Index (HMPI) and Bioaccumulation Factor.Estimations of heavy metal pollution index for the Snails from Leru mining site showed index values (HMPI>1.00)with net HMPI (4.056) indicating severe pollution.Heavy metal pollution Index (HMPI) estimations for the Snails from Nkalagu mining site showed index values (HMPI>1.00)except for Cu which fell below the range of pollution (HMPI>1.00)but rather, contamination.Conclusion: The research results and analysis suggested that artisanal mining and snail consumption is positively correlated to ecological hazards as such there is a need to call for tough regulations that would restrict picking of snails from mining sites and subsequent consumption for public health safety.
Background and Objective: Increased milling of oil palm in the South-East area of Nigeria has led to copious production of palm oil mill effluents (POME) whose disposal on agricultural farmlands has brought unforeseen challenges.If this POME is disposed, is it fertile or toxic?What are its constituents and chances of appropriate disposal in water body?In this study, the effect of palm oil mill effluent (POME) on the integrity of soil was investigated.Materials and Methods: The samples (POME and soil) were collected from ROCHE-ADAPALM milling site in Ohaji-Egbema LGA, Imo state.Soil samples from the POME dumpsite as well as a non-POME site, both at different depths and were assessed for their enzymatic and physicochemical properties using standard analytical procedures.Results: The results of the physicochemical analysis of the POME were obtained in the following range: pH, 5.2-6.3;Dissolved Oxygen (DO), 12.20-12.60mg LG 1 ; Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 120-130 mg LG 1 ; Chemical oxygen demand (COD), 488-504 mg LG 1 .Findings revealed that the enzyme activities were affected significantly (p<0.05) with differing levels of activity at both top and subsoil levels.The carbon (%) and organic matter, total nitrogen and water holding contents across top soils showed a significant increase in their respective values with a significant decrease (p<0.05)across subsoils.Conclusion: Indiscriminate disposal of POME on land poses a threat to the soil properties, microbes, plants and by extension the ecosystem.For an entirely stable ecosystem waste materials should undergo quality control as to curtail its excesses.
Background and Objective: Crude oil as a major pollutant in oil-producing area requires diverse means of control to its toxicity; particularly on the liver.One strategy is to treat with natural products which are cost effective and non-toxic.This study investigated the ameliorative effect of co-administration of honey and coconut water against toxicity induced by crude oil.Materials and Methods: Thirty five male Wister rats were grouped into five groups treated for 11 days after which enzymes, antioxidant, oxidative stress and histopathology of the liver was assessed.Results: A significant (p<0.05)elevation in the serum activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate amino-transferase and alkaline phosphatase in the crude oil (Cr) only treated rats was observed.Consequently, treatment with both honey and coconut water (Cr+Hy+Cw) significantly reduced the enzyme activities than treatment with honey (Hy) and coconut water (Cw) separately.The Cr significantly decreased the concentration of liverʼs reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations.However, the activities of these enzymes: GSH, catalase, SOD increased, while MDA reduced in the group treated with both Hy and Cw than those animals treated with Hy and Cw separately.The Hy and Cw reversed histological damages caused by crude oil administration on the liver. Conclusion:The findings showed that honey and coconut water synergistically reversed hepatic damage induced by crude oil in rats via its antioxidant and minerals contents.Administration of honey and coconut water together at a dosage of 5 g kgG 1 b.wt.and 10 mL kgG 1 b.wt., respectively daily is recommended.
Background and Objective: Surface water of Bangladeshi is now in a great concern through the contamination with heavy metals.Therefore, characterization of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk due to the use of this water is a demand of time.This study aimed to determine levels of heavy metals in surface water of Padma river (Northwestern Bangladesh) and to estimate human health risk associated with the use of water from this River via. ingestion and dermal exposure.Materials and Methods: 4 study sites in Padma river were selected for sampling during 3 study seasons (summer, monsoon and winter).The concentration of heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Ni, Cd, As, Cu and Zn) of the water samples were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer.Results: The mean concentration of metals investigated during the study period was Cr (0.038 mg LG 1 ), Pb (0.009 mg LG 1 ), Ni (0.004 mg LG 1 ), Cd (0.005 mg LG 1 ), As (0.003 mg LG 1 ), Cu (0.012 mg LG 1 ) and Zn (0.030 mg LG 1 ).The Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) for both the child and the adult via.ingestion and dermal contact were less than one except for the child, whereas HI value via.ingestion was greater than one indicating an unacceptable risk of non-carcinogenic effects on health.Carcinogenic Risk (CR) due to use of water of Padma river ranged between 4.63×10G 7 (Pb) to 1.75×10G 4 (Cd) and 4.96×10G 7 (Pb) to 1.87×10G 4 (Cd) for the child and the adult, respectively.The cumulative cancer risk for both the child and the adult indicates medium-high risk for the studied metals according to the Delphi method.Conclusion: The health risk assessment of the heavy metals content in Padma river indicating minor adverse health risk effects but suggests caring about the risk status and to its remediation process.
Background and Objective: Crude oil has been reported to cause various toxic effects in the body.And vitamins C and E are among the antioxidants known to play important role in attenuating chemical toxicants-induced toxicities in the biological systems.This study aimed at assessing the protective effect of vitamin C against crude oil induced atherosclerosis in rats.Materials and Methods: Twenty four male albino Wistar rats, weighing 150-180 g, used in this study were distributed into four groups (1, 2, 3 and 4), with 6 rats each.Group 3 animals were orally administered 60 mg of NBLCO kgG 1 b.wt., while group 4 animals were orally administered 60 mg NBLCO kgG 1 b.wt.and co-administered 200.0 mg of vitamin C kgG 1 b.wt., of the rats daily for 30 days.The animals in groups 1 and 2 served as the controls receiving only distilled water and vitamin C, respectively.At end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and blood samples collected through cardiac puncture for plasma lipid profile analyses.Total plasma cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and atherogenic indices were determined in rats orally exposed to Nigerian Bonny light crude oil (NBLCO) and co-administered vitamin C. Results: The results of the study showed that exposure to crude oil is a risk factor for atherosclerosis by producing a significant (p<0.05)increase in plasma TC, TG, LDL and VLDL levels and the evaluated atherogenic indices (Group 3), compared to the control (Group 1).The plasma TC, TG, LDL, VLDL levels and the atherogenic indices recorded for rats exposed to NBLCO and co-administered vitamin C (Group 4) were significantly (p<0.05)lower, compared to the rats exposed to NBLCO only (Group 3).Conclusion: This study demonstrated that vitamin C is capable of providing protection against crude oil induced atherosclerotic conditions by regulating serum lipids profiles and atherogenic indices in rats.It may be concluded that vitamin C is potent in preventing cardiovascular disorders associated with crude oil induced atherosclerotic conditions.
Background and Objective: Problems caused by organosynthetic insecticides on the environment and non-target organisms has stimulated the use of natural products as an alternative pest control strategy, these natural products have a lower persistence in the environment and therefore, are considered environmentally and toxicologically safer than several of the currently used organosynthetic pesticides.This study was conducted in order to reduce the use of pesticides by mixing chemical insecticides with plant extracts, vegetable oils or microbial insecticides which considered safer to human and environment.Materials and Methods: The experiments were conducted in Toxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University.The insecticides applied as sugar bait method.The data was statistically analyzed using (one-way ANOVA) one way direction by F-test at LSD 5% probability.Results: Most of tested mixtures showed high synergistic effect on house fly adults.The five selected mixtures which recorded the highest synergistic effect achieved significant decrease in total proteins, lipids and carbohydrates, also in " and $-esterase and AChE activity.Conclusion: The quantity of pesticides can be reduced, reduced the environmental pollution, costs and achieve safety control of house fly by using mixtures of chemical insecticides with plant oils, plant extracts and microbial insecticides.It could be recommended that, using the promising mixtures which achieved higher synergistic effect as a component in integrated management programs and integrated resistance management strategies of M. domestica.
Background and Objective: Lead (Pb) has a variety of uses, namely in making bullets, pipes, wires, sinks, containers, leaded gasoline, paints, battery and radiators.Lead emissions cause environmental contamination which affects nervous, renal and cardiovascular systems.Lead is known to cause biochemical alterations in tissues.The present study evaluates the acute effects of lead at sub-lethal concentrations in zebrafish.Materials and Methods: A total 72 zebrafish were divided into four groups viz.control and exposed groups which were given 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mL LG 1 (ppm) of lead CRM for 24 h.Levels of malionaldehyde, glutathione and antioxidant enzyme activities were determined in liver, kidney and brain.Statistical significance was determined using one-way ANOVA where p<0.05 was considered as significant.Results: Acute exposure of zebrafish to lead caused increased lipid peroxidation and elevated activity of glutathione peroxidase in a concentration dependent manner.However, no change in glutathione content was observed at 0.5 mL LG 1 concentration while it was elevated at 1 mL LG 1 .There was alteration in the activity of other enzymes in a concentration dependent manner.Increased concentration of lead affected the brain tissue more as compared to liver and kidney.Conclusion: Lead exposure induces oxidative stress and a decline in enzyme activity presumably causes lipid peroxidation due to increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species.The biochemical mechanisms mediating low-level toxicity are not clearly understood but in several biological systems lead (Pb) alters cellular processes.Studies suggest that no threshold levels for lead have been prescribed which causes adverse effects.Safe disposals of domestic sewage and industrial effluents as well as enforcement of laws to protect our environment are therefore advocated.
Discharge of colored effluents into surface water bodies pose adverse effects to aquatic ecology and human beings due to mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of dyes responsible for producing color.Disperse dyes cause risk of sensitization and elicitation to the body when colored clothes contact to the body.It can also be regarded as potential allergens to children with suspected contact sensitization.This study enlisted various dyes have been compiled for the adsorption to provide a detailed up summary of available information on a variety of adsorbents such as activated carbon, CFA, orange peel etc.The adsorption capacity of adsorbents are increased by modifying the surface area in various ways and also varying different parameters like as adsorbent dose, adsorbate concentration, agitation speed, temperature, pH, particle size and contact time to minimize various contaminants present in the industrial wastewater.The role of adsorption isotherms and kinetics through various models are the factors influencing the adsorption capacity.
Background and Objective: Heavy metals showed an important environmental problem today.They can be toxic when they are present in excess.Their dangerousness is not only their ubiquitous presence, but also the fact that they exist in several chemical forms.Among the main metal extraction is mercury, its extraction has modified the proportion and the chemical form of this metal in various compartments of ecosystems making it bioavailable and potentially harmful for organisms especially human being.This study evaluated the toxicity of this metal and a bioluminescence method has been optimized.Methodology: Bioluminescence method consisted to optimize the intensity and stability of luminescence emitted by bacteria Vibrio fischeri (V.fischeri) strain NRRL-B-11177 cultivated in a modified LBS medium.Through this method, toxic effects of inorganic mercury (HgCl 2 ) on V. fischeri have been determined.All data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism and values were obtained as means±standard errors.Results: Results showed aeration (600 mL minG 1 ) and agitation (250 rpm) were essential to V. fischeri to emit light.It has found that at concentration 1.4 mg LG 1 , HgCl 2 was capable to inhibit totally the light emitted by V. fischeri.Conclusion: Thereafter, evaluated the detoxification of HgCl 2 in fluidized bed reactor using immobilized and free bacteria Escherichia coli strain R100 by the luminescence of V. fischeri.
Background and Objective: Ethiopia is one of the well-known coffee producing countries in the world.Coffee processing industries in Ethiopia are generating very high amount of pollution in the water resources because they are disposing its effluent to the nearby water course without any treatment.Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of effluents from wet coffee processing plants discharged into Walleme river.Materials and Methods: Water samples from 4 sampling stations were analyzed for pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD 5 ), total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen (NH 4 + -N) and phosphate (PO 4 3 G).Sampling stations were designated as S1 (upstream station above effluent discharge point) and three downstream stations (S2, S3 and S4).One-way ANOVA was used for analysis of data. Results:The mean values for all analyzed parameters, except phosphates were significantly (p<0.05)higher at the stations found below the coffee effluent discharge points than the upstream one.TSS, total ammonia, total nitrogen, COD, BOD 5 and pH were found to exceed the maximum permissible limit (MPL) set both by Ethiopian Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization (WHO). Conclusion:The study has clearly indicated that the water quality of the river was significantly affected by the discharge of un-treated effluents and by-product from coffee washed plants.Therefore, urgent interference should be taken for effluent management options to avoid further needless damage to the environment.
