Harnessing root powder (MORP) for the sustainable remediation of heavy metal contaminated water.

Heavy metal environmental pollution is rapidly increasing due to the increase in industrialization and urbanization. Industrial processes, such as paint production, mining, and raw materials producing industries release effluents rich in heavy metals, like Pb, Cd, Cu, and Cr. These heavy metals are dangerous because they persist in nature, are non-biodegradable and they have high tendency to accumulate in the environment and in living organisms who are exposed to them.

Interventions to Reduce Pesticide Exposure from the Agricultural Sector in Africa: A Workshop Report.

Despite the fact that several cases of unsafe pesticide use among farmers in different parts of Africa have been documented, there is limited evidence regarding which specific interventions are effective in reducing pesticide exposure and associated risks to human health and ecology. The overall goal of the African Pesticide Intervention Project (APsent) study is to better understand ongoing research and public health activities related to interventions in Africa through the implementation of suitable target-specific situations or use contexts. A systematic review of the scientific literature on pesticide intervention studies with a focus on Africa was conducted.

Pollution and risk assessment of heavy metals in water, sediment and fish (Clarias gariepinus) in a fish farm cluster in Niger Delta region, Nigeria.

The study determined the following heavy metals: cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in surface water and in fish pond (water, sediments and farmed fish (Clarias gariepinus)) from a fish farm cluster with the view of assessing its pollution level and associated human health exposure risk to these heavy metals through fish consumption. Samples were digested with aqua regia and metal concentrations were determined with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with an air acetylene flame. Mean concentrations of the heavy metals (ppm) in surface and pond water ranged as follows: cadmium (below detection limit (bdl): 0.

Monitoring of pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables available in Nigerian markets and assessment of their associated health risks.

The presence of pesticide residues in agricultural products is posing serious health concerns for consumers. This study monitored the concentrations of pesticide residues in some selected fruit and vegetables, and their potential health risks were also assessed. Organochlorine (OCPs) and organophosphate (OPPs) residues were extracted and quantified with a gas chromatography-pulsed flame photometric detector.

Ecological and human health risk evaluation of potential toxic metals in paddy soil, rice plants, and rice grains (Oryza sativa) of Omor Rice Field, Nigeria.

Potential toxic metals from natural and anthropogenic sources accumulate in soil and plants, and represent important environmental contamination challenges. The ecological and human health risks of the potential toxic metals in rice grain, paddy soil, and rice plants of Omor rice field were assessed. The total metal concentration from the four sampling sections (mg/kg) were soil-Zn (29.

Impact of some beverage industries on the physicochemical characteristics of Ajali River in Enugu, Nigeria.

Ajali River near some beverage industries was assessed. Eleven physicochemical parameters and six heavy metals (copper, zinc, iron, cadmium, chromium, and lead) were analyzed on water and sediment collected from different locations near three beverage industries. Standard methods were used to determine the physicochemical parameters while heavy metals were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Levels and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and fish of Rivers Niger and Benue confluence Lokoja, Nigeria.

Background: As from last decade, the pollution of water bodies by chemical toxicants has become a topic of public discourse and concern in many countries. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogens and being ubiquitous in nature, are daily being released into water bodies as a result of anthropogenic sources.

Methods: The water samples were collected with plastic bottles/containers by dipping the sampler below the water surface to minimize the contamination of water sample by surface films and cocked below water surface to avoid air entrapment while the fish samples namely (Catfish) and (Tilapias) were purchased from fishermen at the bank of the river confluence.

Risk assessment of heavy metal contamination of paddy soil and rice (Oryza sativa) from Abakaliki, Nigeria.

The study assessed the concentration and bioavailability of Pb, Cd, Zn, Cr and Fe metals in soil from rice fields in Abakaliki, Nigeria. The concentrations of these heavy metals in rice grains were also determined, with a view to assessing their human health risk on consumers. Heavy metal concentrations in soil and rice were determined using FAAS after digestion with 5:1 HNO:HClO while Tessier's sequential extraction method was used to obtain the fractionated soil digests.

Human exposure risk to semivolatile organic compounds via soil in automobile workshops in Awka, South Eastern, Nigeria.

Evaluation of the human exposure risk to semivolatile organic compound (SVOC) levels in soil from automobile workshops in Awka was investigated. Soil samples were collected in both dry and rainy seasons. Solvent extraction of the soil samples was carried out using n-hexane: acetone mixture (1:1).

Hydrochemistry and Water Quality Index of groundwater resources in Enugu north district, Enugu, Nigeria.

The physicochemical parameters of groundwater in 12 cluster boreholes in Enugu North district/region, southeast Nigeria, were studied. Twelve physicochemical parameters were determined in triplicates at monthly intervals for 3 months in dry season and then repeated in rainy season in 120 boreholes grouped into 12 clusters for 2 years. The range of values obtained during dry season include phosphate (0.

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of rivers Niger and Benue confluence, Lokoja, Central Nigeria.

The concentrations of six heavy metals (HMs) and 16 US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment samples of the confluence of rivers Niger and Benue were investigated. The ecological risk assessment of the contaminants was carried out. The results showed that the sediment samples were heavily polluted with iron and moderately polluted with Cd while other metals posed no pollution problem when compared with USEPA sediment quality guidelines.

Health risk assessment of zinc, chromium, and nickel from cow meat consumption in an urban Nigerian population.

Background: Meat consumption is increasingly becoming a larger part of diets worldwide. However, the bioaccumulation of toxic metals from anthropogenic pollution is a potential health risk to human health.

Objective: To measure the daily intake of zinc, chromium, and nickel from cow meat consumption and assess the possible health risks in an urban population in Nigeria.