kingsley kanu

Several health risks have been linked to exposure to environmental toxicants in food consume by man. This study aimed to determine the level of environmental toxicants in goats tended by rural farmers. Fur and blood samples were carefully collected from sixteen (16) goats in open range husbandry (ex situ) at four sites in Amawzari, Imo State, Nigeria. The samples were digested and analyzed separately to determine the concentrations of some environmental toxicants (heavy metals). The concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cd and Ni in blood were 0.01 to 0.05, 0.01 to 0.07, 0.00 to 0.01 and 0.05 to 0.12 mg/kg, while their concentration in fur were 0.02 to 0.03, 0.001 to 0.006, 0.00 to 0.00, and 0.04 to 0.05 mg/kg, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis show very strong positive relationship between Pb in blood and Pb in fur (r = 0.855, p < 0.01) and Ni in blood and Ni in fur (r = 0.811, p < 0.01). The order of abundance of the four heavy metals tested in goat fur and blood is Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd. Based on our findings, the concentrations of heavy metals in blood were higher than its corresponding values in fur. Thus, consumption of meat processed from these metal-contaminated goats and utilization of their blood to manufacture blood meal for pigs and poultry birds will result to bio-magnification of heavy metals in man and animals. Therefore, we recommend that rural farmers should be enlightened on health challenges associated with in situ form of animal husbandry.

The acute toxicity of the pesticides atrazine, mancozeb, chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin, acting singly and jointly, was assessed on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Median lethal concentration (LC50), median lethal time (LT50), and mixture interaction were estimated, whereas survival analysis was used to model time-to-death. The most toxic single and joint mixture was lambda-cyhalothrin and chlorpyrifos-lambda cyhalothrin, respectively. The risk of death (RoD) of fingerlings exposed to 9.22 mg l−1 atrazine-mancozeb mixture was 1.76 times higher than fingerlings exposed to 9.0 mg l−1 atrazine (p > 0.05). However, RoD of fingerlings exposed to 9.95 mg l−1 atrazine-chlorpyrifos was 5.59 times higher than fingerlings exposed to 9.0 mg l−1 atrazine (p < 0.01). The risk of death of fingerlings exposed to 20.8 mg l−1 atrazine-lambda cyhalothrin was 2.81 times higher than 21.0 mg l−1 atrazine. The toxicity of 2.3 mg l−1 mancozeb-chlorpyrifos was 254.25 higher than 2.2 mg l−1 mancozeb (p < 0.01). Fingerlings exposed to 4.33 mg l−1 mancozeb-lambda cyhalothrin and 0.177 mg l−1 chlorpyrifos-lambda cyhalothrin mixture were 0.02 and 0.14 times less likely to die than those exposed to 4.8 mg l−1 mancozeb and 0.17 mg l−1 chlorpyrifos, respectively (p < 0.01). Atrazine-mancozeb, atrazine-chlorpyrifos, atrazine-lambda cyhalothrin, and mancozeb-chlorpyrifos interaction were synergistic, and their relative risk was >1. Both mancozeb-lambda cyhalothrin and lambda-cyhalothrin-chlorpyrifos mixtures were antagonistic, and their relative risk was less than 1. Survival analysis can show interaction in complex pesticide mixtures.

This study evaluated the Spatial pattern of Land Surface Temperature (LST) over Umuahia North (Urban Area) and Bende LGA (Rural Area), Abia State, Southeast Nigeria. LANDSAT Imagery spanning Row 056 and Path 188, with 30m spatial resolution was captured on the 17th of May, 2018. Temperature and relative humidity were measured using a thermometer and multi-purpose Hydro-20 - 100 % model. Eight measurements were taken for each parameter at an interval of 8 hours at an elevation of 1.5m above the ground. Coordinates and elevation of the points were captured using a Garmin Handheld GPS. Data obtained were imported in compatible formats with ArcGIS 10.5 and the values for the un-sampled locations within the study area was determined through the interpolation of the collected data. A subset covering the study area was extracted for bands 1,2,3,4 and 5. Bands 1, 2 and 3 which are visible bands were used in generating a true colour composite image of the study area; the bands 4 and 5 which ...

The present study was designed to investigate acute toxicity of  dimethoate on juvenile Clarias gariepinus. Catfish with mean weight and length of 24.01 ± 11.60 g and 13.98 ± 5.66 cm respectively were exposed to sub-lethal levels of dimethoate in static bioassay system for 28 days and mortality data was statistically evaluated using Finney’s Probit analysis. The 96-hour LC50 value for C. gariepinus was estimated as 29.05 mg/l. The value for the LC50 was used in deducing the sub-lethal concentrations (0.01, 0.15and 0.29 mg/l). Biochemical changes in the serum such as glycogen, total protein, cholesterol, urea and creatinine were analyzed after the exposure period (28 days). The glycogenlevel decreased in all sublethal exposures. An increase in cholesterol at lower exposure concentration, followed by slight increase in urea and creatinine among treated groups was recorded. Behavioural changes which includes changes in skin colour, jerking, restlessness, erratic swimming, among others ...

Background Pulse exposures are the consequences of the intermittent release of pollutants in the environment. Brief exposure of aquatic organisms to high concentrations of pesticides simultaneously occurs, particularly in small watercourses during high flows. The effects of pulse exposure often include effects occurring during and after the exposure. Despite this, routine toxicity tests procedures often ignore brief exposure scenarios and the role of time in toxicity. We conducted a pulse toxicity test by briefly exposing African catfish and Nile tilapia fingerlings to pesticide mixtures of atrazine, mancozeb, chlorpyrifos, and lambda-cyhalothrin. The study aimed to estimate pesticide mixture interaction in pulse-exposed fish and elucidate the influence of species differences on the response of fish to the pesticide mixture. Results Despite the similarity in fingerlings weight, African catfish had a significantly higher survival probability than Nile tilapia after exposure to atrazi...

This study examines the level of noise generated by sawmills, and the contribution of sawmills to noise pollution. The objectives of the study were to identify prevalent health risks associated with noise pollution among workers and nearby residents and to identify specific sources of noise within sawmill sites. One hundred copies of questionnaire were administered to elicit information on the prevalent health problems. The noise level within and around the sawmill was determined using a sound level meter (SLM) to measure the noise level at every 10meters away from sawmill up to 30 meters and at selected residence around sawmill while the distance was observed. The result shows that noise levels measured within the selected sawmills exceed 100dBA. The average noise levels at the selected sawmills 10 meters, 20 meters, 30 meters away are 86.37dBA, 79.82dBA, and 75.l4dBA respectively. It was found that 22.6%,52.8%, 32.5%, 32.5%; 35%, 57.5%, 57.5%, and 20% of the workers experienced di...

Aquatic organisms are often exposed briefly to high pesticide concentration. Survival time model was used to study risk of death in C. gariepinus and O. niloticus fingerlings exposed to 24 mg/L atrazine, 42 mg/l mancozeb, 1 mg/L chlorpyrifos and 0.75 µg/L lambda cyhalothrin for 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes and continuously for 96 hours. Mortality, time-to-death, weight, length, and condition factor of the fingerlings were recorded. Results obtained showed tilapia was more susceptible than catfish to continuous exposure but not pulse exposure. The survival probability of both species was similar when exposed for 15, 30 and 45 minutes (p > 0.05) but differed after 60 minutes (p  0.05). Survival probability of tilapia exposed to chlorpyrifos for 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes was similar (p > 0.05) and was not influenced by pulse length. Pesticide hazard and risk of death decreased as fish size (weight, length, and condition factor) increased. Pulse toxicity assessment using survival mod...

Bread is cereal product packed with a lot of nutrients, but a limiting factor to the benefits we can derive from this product is mould spoilage. This moud could produce mycotoxins which have pathological effects on humans, as such this study investigated the ability of different chemical preservatives to limit the fungal growth over a period of twenty(20) days at different temperatures thereby extending bread shelf-life and satisfying humans who want their food free of pathogens. Based on the results obtained there was significant difference between bread baked with a single preservative and that baked with a combination of two or more preservatives.Fungal load increased progressively as the period of storage increased. Potassium sorbate acted as a better fungal inhibitor when compared with calcium propionate and Ascorbic Acid.

In this study, the lethal toxicity, behavioral responses and hematotoxicity of formulated chlorpyrifos on Clarias gariepinus was evaluated. C. gariepinus fingerlings were exposed to 0.2 mg/L, 0.25 mg/L, 0.3 mg/L, 0.35 mg/L and 0.4 mg/L of the active ingredient chlorpyrifos to determine the lethal concentrations and behavioral effects. C. gariepinus juveniles (38.84±7.67g) were then exposed to 0.0256 mg/L and 0.0128 mg/L for 14 days to study somatic indices and haematological effects. The 24h, 48h, 72h and 96h LC50 were estimated as 0.292 (0.210 – 0.376) mg/L, 0.275 (0.252 – 0.297) mg/L, 0.263 (0.242 – 0.282) mg/L, and 0.256 (0.235 – 0.275) mg/L respectively. Hyper activity, loss of equilibrium, erratic swimming, trembling, respiratory distress and poor startle response were observed in fingerlings in response to acute toxic stress of chlorpyrifos. Liver somatic index (LSI) of exposed juveniles increased significantly (p<0.05) compared with control, while there was no statisticall...

Background: Vinyl acetate monomer is a commodity chemical widely used in the manufacturing of various products. The chemical is hazardous and exposure to it may occur in both occupational and non-occupational settings. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of short-term exposure to Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) vapour on the liver and lungs of Wistar rats. Methods: Mice weighing 25-30g were used to determine the acute lethal dose, while Wistar rats weighing 120-140g were randomly assigned to a control group and two experimental groups, which were exposed daily to VAM vapour for 2 or 4 hours. On the 5th day, rats were sacrificed, the blood was collected for biochemical analysis while liver and lungs were examined for histological alterations. Results: The acute lethal dose of VAM vapour was estimated to be 173.21 mg/kg body weight. A significant decline in total protein (6.725±0.10 g/dl; p<0.05) and increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT; 33±1.47 u/l), aspartate ...