The Pattern of Environmental Conditions and Genomic Typing of Airborne Bacteria and Fungi in selected Farm Settlements in Ogun State, Nigeria
Abstract
Low attention has been given to environmental health and the impacts of
agricultural farming activities on the microbial quality of the surrounding
air. This study assessed the bacteria and fungi in the indoor and outdoor air
of seven farm settlements in Ogun State. The study used the settle-plate
technique characterized by phenotypic and genomic methods through the
isolation of genomic DNA, PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S
rRNA and ITS genes. The nucleotide sequences of the isolates were
assembled, aligned, and compared with the GenBank database at NCBI
using the BLAST search tool. Results showed a total of 39 distinct
bacteria colonies with 29 (74.4%) gram-positive and 10 (25.6%) gram
negative and 17 fungal isolates belonging to different genera and species.
The indoor air of Ikenne had the most diverse bacteria in the morning (21)
and evening (22), while the outdoor of Ado-Odo displayed the highest
number of diverse bacteria both in the morning (21) and evening (19)
during the wet season. However, during the dry season, the indoor air of
Ibiade and Ado-Odo had the most diverse bacteria in the morning (16) and
evening (18), respectively while the outdoor air revealed highest in Ado
Odo (17) in the morning and at Ado-Odo and Ikenne (13) in the evening.
Farm settlements may be a potential source of pathogenic organisms to
communities, especially where personal hygiene and sanitation are not
adequately maintained. This study recommends that environmental
conditions of farm settlements should be given utmost attention to prevent
the proliferation of pathogenic organisms and outbreak of diseases.
Assessment of Students’ Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter at the University Campus
Abstract
Major health effects linked with air pollution are from long-term exposure, but the complicity of air pollution is that it varies with locations, time, and sources. In this study, the authors assessed students' exposure to fine Particulate Matter ( P M 2.5 ) at the University of Rwanda's campus. Data were collected in the most accessible areas using low-cost sensors known as Air Visuals. To estimate the degree of students' exposure to P M 2.5 , the study considered the students' number, indoor P*M_{2S} concentrations, and time spent in the selected areas. In classes, the highest indoor and outdoor concentrations were found on Muhabura's second floor with mean values of 20.7 plus/minus 2.42 * mu*g / (m ^ 3) and 27.83 plus/minus 3.4 * mu*g / (m ^ 3) respectively. P*M_{2}*S data in hostels were collected at night, with the highest concentrations observed on second floor 0.96 + 2.56mu*g / (m ^ 3) and 80.73 plus/minus 3.77 * mu*g / (m ^ 3) for indo
Pollution Indices of Heavy Metals in Urban Farm Soils along selected Highways in Lagos, Nigeria
Abstract
Urban farm soil may be severely affected by heavy metal (HM) pollution,
impairing environmental and human health. Proximity to pollution source
such as roads can compromise soil quality, especially in ever-expanding
cities with limited cropland. Pollution indices are useful tools for
describing HM pollution of soils. Therefore, this study utilized pollution
indices to assess HM pollution of urban farm soils along selected major
highways in Lagos, Nigeria. Surface soil samples (0 –15 cm) were
collected from the highway to the farms. Soil parameters (pH and organic
carbon) and HMs (Cd, Cr, Co, Ni and Pb) were determined using standard
methods and atomic absorption spectroscopy, respectively. Pollution
indices: contamination factor (C), contamination degree (C ),
f
d
geoaccumulation index (I ), pollution load index (PLI), ecological risk
geo
(E) and risk index (RI) were used to determine HM pollution. Soil pH
r
ranged from 5.36±0.34 – 6.97±0.24, indicating strongly acidic to neutral -1
state. Organic carbon was > 4% across the study area. Soil HM (mg kg soil)
varied as follows: 1.30±1.06 to 7.76±5.65 (Cd), 2.85±0.49 to 29.54±17.25
(Ni), 0.08±0.07 to 1.53±1.65 (Cr) and 0.11±0.04 to 22.68±7.19 (Co),
while Pb was generally very low. Only Cd exceeded the recommended
limits. In terms of C , soils were moderately contaminated by Co (1.07)
f
but very highly contaminated by Cd (7.27). Mean C showed moderate
d
(8.34) contamination across the study sites, while mean PLI (0.42)
suggested that most soils were unpolluted. Most of the I values for Cd
geo
Mots clés:
Sol urbain;
métal lourd;
indices de pollution;
Risque écologique
were >1 indicating moderate pollution in soils. Moreover, soils had high
to dangerous E by Cd (95.12 – 567.80) and the RI values showed
r
moderate to high risk in 50% of the study area. This urban farm soils
showed relatively serious pollution with cadmium. There is the need to
prevent and control sources of this heavy metal into the soil environment.
Occupational Health and Safety among Waste Scavengers at Kiteezi Landfill, Wakiso District, Uganda
Abstract
Scavengers are involved in sorting and cleaning of waste materials at
landfills such as plastics and metals to make them commercially viable.
During the process, they come in contact with hazardous substances and
items. This study assessed occupational health and safety among waste
scavengers at Kiteezi landfill, Wakiso District, Uganda. A descriptive
cross-sectional study employing both quantitative and qualitative methods
of data collection was conducted. A total of 132 waste scavengers and 8
key informants were involved in the study. Quantitative data was entered
in EpiData then exported to Stata for univariate analysis, while qualitative
data was analysed manually using thematic analysis. The majority of
respondents 77.3% (102/132) knew that there were hazards associated
with waste handling, while 65.1% (86/132) had experienced illness and
injury related to their work. Most of the respondents, 90.1% (119/132)
used personal protective equipment (PPE), more than half, 58.3%
(77/132) said that they had hand washing facilities, and all of them noted
having sanitary facilities. Over half of the respondents, 51.5% (68/132)
had received training on PPE use and occupational hazards, and 85.6%
(113/132) noted to have received health education on occupational
hazards. According to the key informants, the potential causes of harm at
the landfill were drugs and alcohol, bad weather, sharp objects, acid spills
from containers, and lack of PPE. There is need for continuous logistical
support, sensitization and training of scavengers on occupational hazards
to improve their health and safety while working at the landfill
Environmental and Health Impact of Household Wastes on Communities of Lagos Lagoon
Abstract
Lacustrine, a coastal community where residents live on water bodies is
gradually becoming a major menace to public health due to its highly
deplorable living conditions. The water bodies have become the community
waste sites. It is therefore, important to evaluate the impact of waste
disposal on marine water quality of lacustrine communities and its pertinent
effect on environment and health conditions of residents in Ago Egun
community in Ilaje Bariga, Lagos. The study design is field and
laboratory-based with distribution of copies of questionnaire to 150 housing
units. The questionnaire, translated to the local language (Yoruba), was
distributed to residents that had been in the community for over two years.
Information sought for included the social and demographic characteristics
of the respondents, knowledge, attitude, and practices towards environmental
health issues, type of material used to build the house, roofing sheet,
number of occupants per house, per room, toilet and cooking facilities,
with the mode of waste disposal. Quantitative survey revealed that nearly
all the houses (85.7%) are built on the lagoon; while 50% of the houses are
made of wooden sheets and corrugated iron sheets. Ninety-seven percent
(97.0%) of the household solid wastes generated are dumped into the
lagoon. No adequate fecal disposal. Physico-chemical parameters (pH,
_
Ec, BOD, Temp, Cl , NO , etc.) of the water in the community were
3
evaluated to assess the level of pollution by domestic/household waste as
well as its effect on marine lives. When compared with WHO standard, it
was found polluted with chloride (833.2 - 3653.5) and TDS (7700.0 -
9288.0) due to the waste disposed within the lagoon. The results revealed
gradual pollution of the water bodies due to indiscriminate waste disposal. A
major awareness programme should be set up for the community such that
inhabitants gain an understanding of how indiscriminate waste disposal
can be detrimental to health
Assessment of the Contribution of Rush Hour Fine Particles Levels to the Daily Particulate Matter Concentrations in Kigali
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) is the most dangerous form of air pollution as it
causes serious health problems. In Kigali, most vehicles use petroleum
and diesel which consequently contribute to toxic air pollution. These
emissions are high because of rush-hour traffic, and exposure to these
emissions could have serious effects on human health. This study focused
on the contribution of rush hour fine particle levels to daily particulate
matter (PM) concentrations. From July 2021 to May 2022, real-time data
on fine particulate matter (PM ) were collected at two sites: Gacuriro and
2.5
the University of Rwanda-College of Science and Technology (UR
CST). Seasonal, diurnal, weekly, and rush-hour variations in PM levels
2.5
were investigated using descriptive, correlation, and time series analysis.
Peak PM concentrations were found at both sites during rush hour
2.5
2.5
periods, particularly between 06:00-08:00 and 18:00-20:00 h. The lowest
PM levels were observed between 14:00 and 16:00 h. Across all seasons,
weekends had lower PM levels than weekdays, with the lowest values
2.5
observed on Sundays. During rush hour, Vehicle exhaust emissions were
recognized as a major cause of air pollution in Kigali. Focused measures
are required, such as promoting cleaner fuels, supporting alternative
transportation, and improving traffic management during rush hours.
This study provides significant insights for effective air pollution mitigation
techniques in cities affected by vehicle emissions, and it informs
policymakers about the air pollution situation in Kigali, allowing them to
make decisions to reduce air pollution.
Food Waste and its Management in Restaurants in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria
Abstract
Food waste in the foodservice sector is currently regarded as an emerging
issue of public concern particularly in developing countries like Nigeria.
In order to understand the extent of this problem in Ibadan North Local
Government Area (LGA), a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted.
A representative sample (70) of restaurant managers were interviewed,
using a semi-structured questionnaire, on their knowledge, attitudes, and
practices towards food waste management system. Purposive sampling
was used to select eight (8) restaurants for compositional analysis of food
waste generated for a period of one week. Results showed that 52.9% of
the respondents had satisfactory knowledge of proper waste management.
Moreover, the respondents showed significantly positive attitude (mean
score of 3.66±0.65) towards proper waste management system. However,
their practices of food waste management were found to be poor. Mean
daily food waste disposal from all the restaurants ranged from 6.0–33.6 kg
with yearly disposal that ranged from 2,177.9 to 12,215.7 kg (2.2–12.2
tonnes). The sample average for the study locations was estimated at 5.8 t
per year. With average of 30 consumers per day, the per capita disposal
was estimated at 24 t/capita/year. Compositional analysis also showed
that waste generated were in the order of preparation waste (45%), spoilage
waste (21%), and consumer's plate waste (34%). The results showed that
poor waste management practices of restaurant managers play significant
role in waste generation in restaurant operation. Hence, improved waste
management practices such as food waste recycling should be adopted.
Challenges of Waste Disposal Management Systems in Core Areas of Ibadan
Abstract
Waste management is an integral component of urban infrastructure with
is attendant challenges. Studies on waste have focused more on
generation without a recourse to its disposal management system. This
study therefore, assesses the challenges of waste disposal management
systems in core areas of Ibadan. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) provides the
theoretical framework while survey research design was adopted for the
study. Both primary and secondary data were sourced. A multi-stage
sampling technique was used to select localities that constitute the core
areas of Ibadan, falling within Ibadan North Local Government Areas.
Four wards were then randomly picked from the areas, which formed the
focus of the study. Subsequently, a total of 100 copies of questionnaires
were proportionally administered to households in the selected wards.
Both descriptive and inferential (regression analysis) statistics were used
to analyze the data at p>0.05 level of significance. The result revealed
that 76.0% of the respondents were females. Plastics are the major types
of waste generated. Household waste generation weighs between 0.1 and
4.0kg. The root cause of waste management challenges is attitudinal.
There is significant negative effects of waste disposal systems on the
2=
respondents in the core areas of Ibadan (R 0.325, F=15.24, p<0.05). The
study, therefore, concluded that attitude constitutes the major challenge in
the waste disposal system. There is the need for a change in behaviours of
the residents towards waste disposal system, through public enlightenment
campaigns.
Treating Jaundiced Neonates in Low- and Middle-income Countries with Locally Redesigned Phototherapy Lamps Sourced from Biomedical Wastes
Abstract
middle-income countries are usually obsolete or near end of life. Putting
them back into value chain provides opportunities for remanufacturing,
repair, redesigning or recycling which have not been fully exploited in
these regions. The study assessed the efficacy of waste phototherapy lamps
that were locally redesigned for the treatment of neonatal jaundice at the
University College Hospital, Ibadan. A semi-structured and interviewer
administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from 88
mothers and their jaundiced babies. Besides, through a clinical trial, blood
samples were taken to assess Total Serum Bilirubin (TSB) of the neonates
before treatment commenced and at every six hours into therapy until the
intervention was complete. The TSB levels of the jaundiced neonates
were measured in the laboratory at 0 hour, 6 hour, 12 hour, 24 hour, and 48
hour. Two phototherapy lamps were redesigned and fabricated locally
(F1, F2) and compared to conventional lamps (CI and C2). The mean age
of the jaundiced neonates was 3.5±1.7 days, 59.1% were male, 79.5%
weighed >2.5kg and 25% were preterm neonates. The healthcare worker
had adequate knowledge about symptoms of neonatal jaundice, severe
hyperbilirubinemia and phototherapy but limited knowledge about the
causes of neonatal jaundice. The rate of reduction of TSB between 6-hour
and 48-hour in the F1, F2, CI and C2 were 69.9%, 73.1%, 58.7, and 57.2%
respectively. There were no significant differences in the rate of TSB
reduction among the lamps (P>0.05). The lamps met with all the local and
global specifications and are found effective in treating neonatal jaundice.
Protective Effect of Aqueous Leaf and Seed Extracts of Carica papaya against Lead Bioaccumulation in Albino Wistar Rats
Abstract
Lead is an environmental pollutant. Humans are frequently exposed to
lead through drinking water, air, food, or occasionally through the skin.
On exposure, lead bio-accumulates in human organs and tissues and
subsequently leads to disorders of the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory
and renal systems. There is therefore need to explore the potentials of
natural products in neutralizing these toxic effects. This study evaluated
the protective effect of Carica papaya leaves (CPL) and Carica papaya
seed (CPS) against lead bioaccumulation in albino rats. Thirty male
albino rats of the Wistar strain weighing 174-196g were assigned to six
groups of five animals receiving various treatments: group 1- control; 2
50mg/kg body weight (BW) lead nitrate (PbNO ); 3- 500 mg/kg BW CPL
3
extract; 4- 500 mg/kg BW CPS extract; 5- 50mg/kg BW PbNO +
3
500mg/kg BW CPL; and 6- 50mg/kg BW PbNO + 500mg/kg CPS orally
3
for 31 days. The study revealed a significant reduction (P 0.05) in the group complemented with CPS than CPL. This
finding suggests that CPL and CPS have the potential of reducing lead
bioaccumulation and its detoxication potential can be explored by
pharmaceutical industries for this potential
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Article Information |
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Author(s):
Oyebanji, Funmilola F., Atayese, Adijat. O., James, Abraham O., Ana, Godson, R.E.E., Mijinyawa, Yahaya.
Page No : 1-21
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Author(s):
Abdou, Safari Kagabo, Bonfils, Safari', Ange, Marie Umuhozawase, Deborah, Nibagwire, Jimmy, Gasore, Bethwel, Kipkoech Mutai.
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Author(s):
Akinsete, Shade. J., Ojie, Iyere.
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Nabbanja, Carol, Esther, Musoke, David .
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Author(s):
Fayomi, G. O.,, Sridhar, M.K.C., Laniyan, T. A..
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Author(s):
Nibagwire, Deborah , Ana, Godson, R.E.E, Kalisa, Egide, Kagabo, Abdou Safari .
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Author(s):
Lateef, S. A., Ayomide, D. O., Hammed, B.T..
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Author(s):
Jimoh, U.U, Adeowu, B.A..
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Author(s):
Hammed, T. B. , Lawal, Sakirat O., Sridhar, M. K. C., Olukemi, Tongo.
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Author(s):
Okon, A. J., Okon, I. J., Inah, S. A., Aluko, O. O., Olanrewaju, O. E., Dania, A. V..
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