The physico-chemical and bacteriological analysis of borehole water in Ikot Akpaden and the surrounding villages in Mkpat Enin Local Government area of Nigeria designated as S 1 ,S 2 ,S 3 ,S 4 ,S 5 and S 6 have been carried out using standard analytical techniques. The physico-chemical results show that the secondary water quality parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, Turb., Alka., CaH., MgH., TH., DO., Cl - ., NO 3 - , NO 2 - , SO 4 2- , F - , Fe were either within or below the permissible range recommended by NSDWQ, USPH and WHO.The Statiscal analysis shows a high positive correlation between EC and TDS ; TH and MgH; SO 4 2- and CaH ; evidently, their distribution were significantly correlated, r >0.5. High negative correlation coefficient were seen between F - and Alka; NO 2 - and pH . Coefficient of Variation has also been calculated for the various parameters. However, the results of bacteriological analysis indicated that the water samples were E.coli contaminated in sites S 4 and S 5 , while all the samples were T.c contaminated. Keywords: Borehole water; Physico-Chemical, Bacteriological , Analysis , Statistical.

This study assessed the growth rate of snailets of A. marginata under three feed treatment. Ninety snailets divided into thirty snailets per treatment were used for the study. Data collected include Shell Length, Shell Width, Aperture Length and Weight gained. The results indicate that Treatment C (T C ) had the highest value for all the growth parameters assessed, while Treatment A (T A ) had the least values. The mean Weight gained varied between 16.01±1.92g (T C ) and 12.55±0.90g (T A ) and was significantly different between the treatments (p<0.01), mean length and shell width varied between T A (4.24±0.40, 6.50±0.40) and T C (4.48±0.13, 6.92±0.30) and were not significantly different (p<0.05). The mean mouth aperture of A. marginata fed with T C (4.90±0.19) was greater than and significantly different form T A (4.35±0.30) and T B (4.58±0.28) at p<0.05. These findings indicate that local farmers who feed their snailets with only vegetable leaves and fruits obtained locally could obtain mature snails with good weight and shell growth even without combination with any other feed material.

The paper compares three contextually different urban areas in Nigeria’s Niger Delta to understand how private involvement in the management of water has affected the spatial and socio-economic circumstances of the population. A wide range of methods including semi-structured interviews, observations and analysis of secondary records were used to collect data. The paper observed different forms of private water services including commercial/private borehole, sachet/bottled water services, mobile supplies etc. Their mode of operations and services were not significantly different between the three urban areas despite differences in institutional histories. Findings show there is pervasive impact of private engagement in the supplies and management of water services in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. However such engagement is haphazard, uncoordinated, unclear and highly unregulated. We observed that while public supplies target high income residential areas, the low income areas have been taken over by commercial water vendors to further capital accumulation. Consequently the low income earners employ all forms of daily rationing practice of allocating water to minimize expenditure while indirectly maximizing potential for health and other socio-economic problems. The paper argues that the involvement of the private sector in the management of water resources in Nigeria is a neoliberal agenda translated to reflect the demands and pressures of some major international financial organizations including the World Bank and IMF, rather than practical concerns for the citizens’ interest and needs. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n3s1p196

A study of heavy metals concentrations on soil and some economic crops grown within abandoned Peacock Paints Industry environment in Ikot Ekan, Etinan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was carried out. Heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni,) were analysed using Unicam Solar 969 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (A.A.S). Levels of these heavy metals in some economic crops and soil obtained from the abandoned Peacock Paint Industry environment were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those from the control site, indicating that the activities of paint production and other manufacturing processes which took place when the industry was operational, contributed to the observed higher levels of heavy metals concentrations in the industrial environment. Comparison of heavy metals in crops and soils obtained from abandoned Peacock Paint Industry environment showed that heavy metals in crops were higher than those recorded in the soil obtained from abandoned Peacock Paint vicinity. The higher levels of heavy metals in crops could be attributed to the bioaccumulations and biomagnifications of these metals in crops tissues. The average concentrations of Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd and Cr in pumpkin leaves (Telfaiferia occientalis) were (256.13±3.34, 87.49±2.38, 5.29±2.28, 25.13±2.11, 23.13±1.22, 7.17±1.32, 17.01±0.08 and 24.02±0.12) respectively. In okro leaves (Abelmoschus esculentus), the concentration of Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd and Cr were (217.28±3.41, 43.18±2.76, 7.46±1.41, 12.89±2.87, 18.31±2.74, 10.13±2.40, 23.10±1.13 and 21.13±1.02) respectively; and in cassava leaves (Manihot esculentus) the concentrations of Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd and Cr were (205.30±2.58, 57.19±8.40, 13.13±2.52, 16.34±2.87, 24.13±2.08, 3.52±2.10, 20.02±2.09 and 25.12±1.07) respectively. The concentrations of heavy metals in soil samples obtained within abandoned Peacock paint industry environment were significantly higher than those obtained from control sites. The levels of heavy metals in both soil and crops samples collected from abandoned Peacock Paint industry environment were significantly high to cause environmental concern as their concentrations exceeded the tolerable limits. However, there is need for suspension of all agricultural activities in the abandoned Peacock Paint industry to prevent the introduction of further heavy metals into the existing food chain. Also, there is need for government to regulate and control agricultural activities in all abandoned industries, and bioremediation of all the abandoned industries to avoid transmission of heavy metals to man through food chain.

The electrochemical studies of solid 2.0 X 10 -3 M Cu(en) 2 X 2 .nH 2 O (n=0 for X=ClO 4 - , NO 3 - , SCN - , and n=1for Br - ) in dimethylsulfoxide, acetonitrile , and dimetylformamide /0.1M tetrabuthylammonium perchlorate , have been carried out by cyclic voltammetry. The electrode process shows two electro reduction and two chemical steps(CECE) mechanism. The reduction potentials of Cu(en) 2 (ClO 4 ) 2 shift in the order DMF? DMSO ? AN contrary to one’s expectation. For Cu(en) 2 (NO 3 ) 2 and Cu(en) 2 (SCN) 2 , the reduction potentials are more negative in DMSO relative to DMF as expected. In DMF, the reduction potentials Epc 1 shift anodically in the order: Cu(en) 2 (ClO 4 ) 2 ? Cu(en) 2 (NO 3 ) 2 ? Cu(en) 2 (SCN) 2 indicating that Epc 1 is also dependent on the nature of the anion, X Keywords : Cu(en) 2 X 2 .nH 2 O, Nonaqueous Solvent, Voltammogram, CECE mechanism, Reduction potential

The cyclic voltammetric behaviour of copper (II) – Ethylenediamine systems with [Cu(II)]: [en] = 1:10, 1:100, 1:500 and 1:600 molar ratios, 1mM CuSO 4 .5H 2 O in Aqueous 0.2M NaClO 4 have been studied at pH values 7.10, 9.10 and 10.85 using cyclic voltammetry. The electrode process show quasi reversible one electron charge transfer preceded and followed by chemical reaction at glassy carbon electrode (G C E). At pH 10.85, the CV features for 1:10 and 1:100 molar ratios differ significantly as regards the oxidation process, while that of 1:100 and 1:500 are generally identical. Ipc 1 and Ipa 1 for 1:6x10-3 M are significantly small indicating the formation of binuclear copper (II) complex or formation of Cu(en) 3 2+ in solution. At a given ligand ratio and at a given pH, Epc 1 , shifts anodically in the order 1:600 1:500≈1:100≈1:10.

The cyclic voltammetric behaviour of copper (II) tetraethylethylenediamine systems with [Cu(II)]:[teen] =1:10, 1:100 molar ratios, 1x10M Cu(ClO4)2.6H2O in aqueous 0.2M NaClO4 supporting electrolyte have been studied at pH7.20, 9.10 and 10.85. The electrode process show quasi reversible one electron charge transfer preceded and followed by chemical reaction at glassy carbon electrode (GCE). For a given [Cu (II)]:[teen] molar ratio, Epc1 increases cathodically with pH. At a given pH, the value of Epc1 for 1:10 ≈1:100 indicating stability of complex species follow the same trend contrary to expectation. However, at a given metal: ligand ratio and at a given pH, Epc1 shifts anodically in the order en→tmen→teen, indicating that the ease of reduction also follows the same trend.

Soil samples were collected from an oil polluted site in the Niger - Delta, of the southern region of Nigeria, and were analyzed for petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals, which may have been introduced to the soil as a result of the oil spillage that was incidence at the site. The total extractable hydrocarbon content (THC) of 1.13×105±2.91 ×104 mg/kg of the affected soil revealed a high level of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination that far exceeds compliance limits. The gas chromatographic analyses conducted on the samples showed significant contamination in the n-C12 - n-C17 range, especially the n-C13 and n-C17 fractions, and pristane being more abundant than phytane. It also showed a significant concentration of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with naphthalene which may actually be oxidized before many saturates which are the most prone to biodegradation and attenuation, while indeno 1, 2, 3 cd pyrene was the most abundant. The results also depicted a substantial concentration of the benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (BTEX) fractions with 1, 3, dichlorobenzene as the most abundant fraction while o-xylene had the least concentration. Heavy metals were detected in varying concentration in polluted soils. Zinc had the highest concentration of 9.84 ± 0.93mg/kg while Arsenic had the least concentration of 0.12± 0.04mg/kg. These results suggest that as at the time of sample collection, the spilled oil was still fresh on site. That pristane was more abundant than phytane inferred an oxic depositional environment of a probable non-waxy, marine derived organic matter and a phytoplankton input for the spilled oil.

The redox behaviour of 3 × 10-3 M each of CuCl2.2H2O and CuBr2.H20 have been investigated at Platinum (Pt) electrode and 1 × 10-3 M CuCl2.2H20 at glassy carbon (GCE) electrode in dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile (AN) and ethanol/0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) using cyclic voltammetry. For CuCl2 System, Epc1 and E0 are more positive, ∆Ep is smaller and Ipa1/Ipc1 is > at GCE than at Pt electrode, exception being ethanol where opposite trend is observed. In ethanol, two reduction steps c1/a1 due to Cu2+/ Cu+ couple while a2/c2 due to Br-/Br2 couple are observed in CuBr2system. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) features of copper (II) chloro species in DMF and DMSO show splitting of the gII in frozen solution. For frozen CuBr2 system, the spectral features in DMF, DMSO and ethanol are characterized by four small peaks in the gII and one g^ signal as found for CuCl2in ethanol. However, splitting of the gII peak occurs in AN which was not observed in similar solvent for CuCl2. Key words: Redox, spectral, voltammograph, EPR, nonaqueous, cupric halide.

This study focused on the influence of base metal mining on heavy metal levels in soils and plants in the vicinity of Arufu lead-zinc mine, Nigeria. Soil samples (0–15 cm depth) and plant samples were collected from cultivated farmlands in and around the mine, the unmineralized site and a nearby forest (the control site). The samples were analyzed for heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr and Cd) by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The physical properties of soils (pH and LOI) were also measured. Results showed that soils from cultivated farmlands have neutral pH values (6.5–7.5), and low organic matter contents (<10%). Levels of Zn, Pb and Cd in cultivated soils were higher than the concentrations obtained from the control site. These heavy metals are most probably sourced from mining and agricultural activities in the study area. Heavy metal concentrations measured in plant parts decreased in the order of rice leaves>cassava tubers>peelings. In the same plant species, metal levels decreased in the order of Zn>Fe>Mn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd. Most heavy metals were found in plant parts at average concentrations normally observed in plants grown in uncontaminated soil, however, elevated concentrations of Pb and Cd were found in a few cassava samples close to the mine dump. A stepwise linear regression analysis identified soil metal contents, pH and LOI as some of the factors influencing soil-plant metal uptake.

The cyclic voltammetric behaviour of copper(II) complexes with various imidazoles, viz. imidazole (ImH), 2-methylimidazole (2-MeIm), 1,2-dimethylimidazole (1,2-Me(2)Im) and benzimidazole (BzIm) has been investigated in dimethylformamide (DMF) containing 0.1 M tetrabutyl ammonium perchlorate (TBAP) as a supporting electrolyte at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). All these copper(II) complexes revealed a diffusion-controlled quasi-reversible one-electron transfer process (CU2+/(+)). It has been observed that the reduction peak potential becomes less positive (difficult reduction) with increasing concentration of a given ligand. The observed reduction potentials of these complexes become more positive in the order : Im -> 2-MeIm -> 1,2-Me2IM -> BzIm. The deviation of reduction potentials from the expected trend based on pK(a) values of the ligands is attributed to the dominance of steric effects over the electronic effects (i.e. inductive effects) in the case of 2-MeIm and 1,2-Me(2)Im ligands.

The effect of 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500mg/ml of carbamate molluscicide on the behavioural and macroscopic changes of Limicolaria aurora were investigated in the laboratory using Carica papaya as bait for 120h. The data showed that 48h after dosing the organism with furadan, 60% mortality was recorded. Above 200mg/ml deters snails from feeding and becomes sub-lethal. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 9(1) 2005: 99-102

The electrochemical behaviour of copper(II)-chloro and -bromo complex species has been investigated in different organo (ethyl alcohol, DMSO, DMF and AN) and organo-aqueous media containing 0.1 M tetrabutyl ammonium perchlorate (TRAP) and 0.2 M KCl/KBr, respectively. The cyclic voltammetric parameters are calculated. Both the complex species involve two redox steps. The first couple (Cu 2 + / + ) involves a single electron, diffusion-controlled quasi-reversible electrode process, while the second step involves irreversible reduction of Cu I -halide species to metallic copper. Also, the reduction potential for the first couple (E p c l ) becomes more positive and that of the second step (E p c 2 ) becomes more negative with increasing percentage of a given organic solvent, indicating that the copper(I)-halo species becomes stabilized with respect to copper(II)-halo species. The EPR parameters (g∥, g⊥ and A∥) for the frozen solution spectra of CuCl 2 .2H 2 O and CuBr 2 .H 2 O in ethyl alcohol, DMSO, DMF and AN, each containing 0.1 M TBAP at liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) are calculated and the results are discussed.