Journal of Global Ecology and Environment
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HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN BOBO CROAKER (Pseudotolithus elongatus) FROM THE BONNY RIVER, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA
No full textThe sudden death of thousands of Pseudotolithus elongatus in the first quarter of the year 2020 was an indication of elevated effluent contamination. The study was aimed at evaluating the human health risk of human exposure Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)s to P. elongatus exposed to contaminants in Bonny River. Thirty-six P. elongatus and eighteen controls were sampled from the Bonny River in two seasons, (Wet season and Dry season) and analyzed for PAHs using Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Risk assessment of PAHs for the Dietary Daily Intake (DDI), carcinogenic potencies[(B(A)Pteq)], PAH4 index, Carcinogenic toxic equivalents (TEQ) and Excess Cancer Risk Index (ECR) was evaluated. DDI of PAHs indicates 1.4E-03 in Chrysene and Indeno (1,2,3) pyrene for wet season, and 1.1E-03 during the dry season. PAH4 revealed 0.065mg/kg in wet season and 0.23 mg/kg in dry season which are significantly above EU standard of 0.03mg/kg. B(A)Pteq in Dibenzo (a,h)anthracene (6.2E-02 and 0.22) were also higher than the EU standard. TEQs values were 0.23 mg/kg and 6.5E-02 were above the SV of 5.55E-03mg/kg which indicates potential toxicity. Result of the present studies indicates that there could be high potential PAHs human health risk associated with the consumption of Bobo Croaker (Pseudotolithus elongatus) from Bonny River
DYNAMICS OF SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AS SUB-INDICTOR FOR LAND RESTORATION IN ETHIOPIA: IMPLICATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF GOAL-15
No full textLand degradation is one of severe environmental problems, which affect the organic carbon accumulation by reducing land productivity of most productive soils of Ethiopia. The effort of forest landscape restoration is widely practiced through community and public resource mobilization for the last three decades. Soil organic carbon accumulation is one of strategic sub-indicator for the implementation of sustainable development goal-15 which signifies making land suitable for life and achievable by 2030. The dynamics of soil organic carbon was studied from 2000-2015 using secondary data from Trend Earth Global Observation in Praise-3 portal of United Nations Convention for Combating Desertification (UNCCD). The soil organic carbon dynamics of six land use and land cover classes were analyzed within in the total land mass of the country. Result showed that the total land mass of Ethiopia is 1,119,715.5 km2. The organic carbon contained in 4,059.5 km2 area has improved accounting 0.36% and the organic carbon in 278.9 km2 area was degraded which accounted 0.29%, while 1,112,128.4 km2 remained stable accounting 99.32% over 15 years land use/cover changes. Findings of the present study revealed that the overall rate of soil organic carbon improvement is less than one percent as the decomposition of organic matter took longer period of time from the target year to the baseline year. The highest positive rate of change from target year to baseline year was analyzed for artificial/ built up area accounting 111.78 % while, the least was analyzed for wetland 0.46%, On other hand, the highest negative rate of change was analyzed for grassland accounting -1.48%, while the least was analyzed for other land -0.18%., The correlations depicting trends of amount of organic carbon dynamics among the land use and land cover classes showed linear positive relationships, while negative linear correlation was observed between cropland and grassland. Hence, the effort of forest landscape restoration practices through community and government initiatives need to integrate area ex-closure, climate smart agriculture and diverse physical conservation technologies to improve below ground soil organic carbon accumulation. This study concluded that rate of soil organic carbon decomposition is very slow process for improvement of soil organic carbon accumulation as sub indicator of sustainable development goal-15 to ensure reversing land degradation and combating desertification and drought
TOXICITY OF OIL EFFLUENT ON OXYGEN UPTAKE, FILTRATION RATE AND GLYCOGEN IN Lamellidens marginalis (BIVALVIA: UNIONIDAE) UNDER LABORATORY CONDITION
No full textLamellidens marginalis, a freshwater bivalve, was experimentally exposed to 1/4th and 1/10th sublethal concentrations of oil effluent to examine the filtration rate, oxygen uptake, and glycogen level of foot, gill, and digestive gland tissues for healthy assessment for reuse in oil effluent intoxicated aquatic environments. The treated group\u27s oxygen uptake was higher than the control group\u27s by (10.43±3.476 ml oxygen/hr) in 1/4th and (11.37±3.790 ml oxygen/hr) in 1/10th exposures, which peaked at 48 hours and then declined. The concentrations of oil effluent exposure gradually increased and peaked at (205± 68.344 ml oxygen/hr) 72 hours in 1/4th and (172± 57.346 ml oxygen/hr) 42 hours in 1/10th concentrations, followed by a moderate decline trend.When compared to the control of all hours, oil effluent uptake peaked at 84 hours in 1/4th foot tissues (512±170.675 µg g-1);1/10th foot tissues (498±166.014µg g-1); 1/4th gill tissues (516±172.013 µg g-1); 1/10th gill tissues (464±154.69µg g-1) and 1/4th digestive gland tissues (540±180.012 µg g-1); 1/10th digestive gland tissues (522±174.03 µg g-1) of freshwater mussel.Mean glycogen concentrations ranged from 1.934 mg to 3.262 mg/g wet tissue in 1/4th and 2.318 mg to 3.286 mg/g wet tissue in 1/10th of sublethal exposures in foot tissues; 1.705 mg to 3.579 mg/g wet tissue in 1/4th and 2.324 mg to 3.074 mg/g wet tissue in 1/10th of exposures in gill tissues ;1.852 mg to 3.314 mg/g wet tissue in 1/4th and 1.989 mg to 3.364 mg/g wet tissues in 1/10th of exposures in digestive gland tissues. Our study concluded that the freshwater bivalve, L.marginalis can be used as biomarkers for animal health assessment and provide a new opportunity for researching the energetic reserves and health status of freshwater mussels
REMEDIATION POTENTIALS OF WHEAT-BRAN AND WOOD-CHIPS ON EFFLUENT CONTAMINATED SOILS FROM PAINT INDUSTRIES IN ABA, ABIA STATE NIGERIA
No full textThe remediation potentials of wheat bran and wood chips as Bulking-agents on paint effluent-Polluted Soils was evaluated. Different concentrations of bulking agents (10%, 30%, and 50%) were introduced into soils polluted with effluents and the physicochemical and microbiological properties of the soils were monitored for a period of 24 weeks. The Mean Heterotrophic Count (THC) of the Bacterial and fungal Isolates from the Paint effluents indicates that the effluents from sample F showed the highest bacterial count of 6.66±2.51 x 104cfu/ml, while sample B exhibited the least bacterial counts of 1.7±2.00x104 cfu/ml. Sample B showed the highest fungal count of 7.5±0.21 x104 cfu/ml while sample E showed the least count of 5.7±12.10x104 cfu/ml. The microorganisms isolated from the paint industry effluents include species of Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Bacillus, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Mucor, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium funiculosum and Geotrichum. Bacterial and fungal counts shows wood chips contain of 3.20x104cfu/g and 1.58x104cfu/g respectively while Wheat bran contains 3.47x104cfu/g and 1.77x104cfu/grespectively. Fungal isolates from the bulking agents include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhodotorula species, Rhizopus species, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillum notatum. The Bacterial and fungal counts of the paint-effluent polluted soil mixed with bulking agents over a 6-month remediation period increased progressively from the 1st week to the week 8, after which there was a decline from week 9 down. The polluted soil without amendment presented a slight increase in microbial growth. Higher microbial growth rates were manifested by the 50% amended option, followed by 30%, 10% and then the control. The Total Heterotrophic Bacteria isolated from the polluted soil amended with bulking agents include Pseudomonas putida, Serratia spp., Flavobacterium spp., Micrococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Klebsiella spp. and Arthrobacter spp. The Mean Physicochemical properties of the paint-effluent polluted soil mixed with bulking agents over the 24 weeks remediation reveals the pH ranges from 6.60±0.10 to 7.54±0.09 for the paint effluent polluted soil amended with a combination of the bulking agents. The concentrations of zinc, total nitrogen, total organic carbon and electrical conductivity levels had significant statistical difference across the samples through the period of remediation at p< 0.05. Germination test reveals growth of the bean seeds (Vicia faba) after 6 days of planting but significantly in the 50% treatment samples. The study however, demonstrates that paint effluent polluted soils treated with combination of bulking agents mainly at 50% amendment concentration reduces the toxicity of pollutants and increase the percentage of germination
PERI-URBAN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: PERCEPTION OF THE VISITORS OF THE PARK OF FUNAAB ZOO, ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA
No full textZoo parks are mainly perceived as recreational areas. However, they could be suppliers of ecosystem services, which could enhance overall societal wellbeing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visitors’ perception of the ecosystem services provided by FUNAAB recreational zoo park Abeokuta in the State of Ogun in the Republic of Nigeria. Primary data were collected from the visitors of the Zoo and a Likert scale technique was used to evaluate the visitors’ perception of the ecosystem services by the Zoo park. The findings showed that most visitors were aware of numerous specific ecosystem services provided by the Zoo park. Accordingly, most visitors were aware of medicinal and cosmetic plants, education/interpretation, soil purification as ecosystem services provided by the zoo park. However, only few visitors were aware of the microclimate regulation role of zoo park Abeokuta. Consequently, the study ends with some recommendations for the managers of Zoo Park to increase the awareness of visitors about the key role of Zoo Park in supplying numerous ecosystem services for overall society wellbeing. This study provides an insight, which constitutes a baseline situation to enable sustainable decision making via the incorporation of urban zoological park into policy. This can facilitate more effective planning and management of the FUNAAB zoological park
FOREST COVER CHANGES, AND COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE ON ITS DRIVING FORCES IN SETEMA DISTRICT JIMMA ZONE, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA
No full textGlobally, forests are the main components of biodiversity that represent the bases of ecosystems, through the services they give and influence human well-being through supplying services, environmental and ecological regeneration, and cultural service. In the Setema district, there is a problem of forest cover change which result in loss of soil, loss of biodiversity, change of climate, constraints of fuelwood, and constraints of farm equipment. Thus, the general objective of this study was to identify forest cover changes in the setema district and the community perspective on its direct and indirect driving forces. The study was used primary data, secondary data, a two-stage sampling design, and, 384 samples of households to accomplish the objectives of the study. The study used QGIS software, Minitab software, and, Microsoft excel 2010. The result showed that between 1988 and 2018, the forest land and grassland were lost from 62104.4 ha (56.22%) to 43867ha (39.71%), and from 17416.0 ha (15.77%) to 7208ha (6.53%), respectively. Agricultural land and settlement land were increased from 25553.5ha (23.13%) to 484805.5ha (43.89%) and from 1840.33ha (1.58%) to 7562.79ha (6.85%), respectively. The overall accuracy assessments of the 1988, 1998, 2008, and 2018 period findings were 82.6%, 85.5%, 87.6%, and 91.06 %, respectively. Based on downloaded satellite image classification, and qualitative research of KII, FGD, and HHs; forest land cover, grassland cover, bushland cover, and wetland cover were decreased and agricultural land, settlement land, and bare land were increased. According to community perception, the decrease of forest land and the increase of other land use land cover were due to the proximate drivers such as fuelwood extraction, illegal wetland conversion to agricultural land, illegal timber production, agricultural expansion, extraction of wood for house construction and underlying drivers of population growth, corruption, and lack of institutional collaboration
THE IMPACT OF RIVER BED SEDIMENTATION ON THE SUNDARBANS MANGROVE FOREST (BANGLADESH) WITH ITS EXCEPTIONAL ECOLOGICAL VALUE
No full textThe present contribution focuses on challenges for conservation efforts of the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh, which is a World Heritage Site. Current threats to its ecology may affect the forest\u27s diminishing population of Royal Bengal Tigers. Moreover, the vegetation and wildlife are under threat because of significantly increasing concentrations of salt in the water. The effect of dredging in the Passur River is insignificant in terms of the so-called Outstanding Universal Value of the forest because the measured Environmental Risk Index is relatively low. The toxicity level is to be 29%. The salinity levels of the Sundarbans vary from 54,025 dS/m to 69,152 dS/m for south western rivers, which is some 50% higher than the typical salinity value of 43,320 dS/m. This has a strongly negative effect on the soil, agriculture, fisheries, flora, and wildlife; all this is detrimental for the Outstanding Universal Value of the Sundarbans. Examination of the current physical, chemical, and biological processes that pay a role in the Sundarbans natural setup and ecosystem indicates that it is under significant environmental stress
GREEN MANURES AND NPK FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS EFFECT ON ORGANIC CARBON POOL, SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND CUCUMBER PRODUCTION
No full textDeterioration of soil physical properties and organic matter depletion resulting from continuous cultivation of tropical sandy loam soils, even with the regular applications of inorganic fertilizers is common. To regenerate the soil organic matter and maintain soil structural and hydraulic properties for crop production, the effects of different legumes green manures and NPK chemical fertilizer were evaluated after a 3-year field experiments at the University of Port Harcourt, Teaching and Research Farm (2018 – 2021). Treatments were: 5 tons ha-1Centrocema (Ce5), 5 tons ha-1 Gliricidia (Gl5), 5 tons ha-1Calapogonium (Ca5), NPK 20:10:10 (NPK) and the Control, arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), in 5 replications. Results showed that three annual applications of Centrocema, Gliricidia, and Calapogonium increased soil organic carbon pool at the 0-30 cm topsoil, and reduced the bulk densities by 8.5%, 4.1%, and 7.0%, respectively, compared to the NPK fertilizer and control. The increased in bulk density in untreated plots led to decrease in water stable aggregates, low water holding capacity and low yield of cucumber crop. Green manures applications increased soil organic carbon pool, improved topsoil physical properties and cucumber yield, while NPK chemical fertilizer had negative effects on these properties
ASSESSMENT OF PROXIMATE, VITAMINS AND MINERALS OF AFRICAN BREADFRUIT SEED (Treculia africana)
No full textThe African breadfruit, Treculia africana, has immense nutritional potential. This tree is a wild tropical evergreen that can grow in various regions. The objective of this study was to determine the mineral and vitamin properties of this fruit. Treculia africana fruits samples were purchased Nkwogbe market Ihiala, Anambra state. They were transported to Alpha research laboratory Awka, Anambra state. The analysis were conducted using the standard procedure. The result showed that the seeds contained the following: 8.00% moisture, 13.00% fats and oil, 11.00% ash, 20.00% crude fibre, 9.60% protein, 38.39% carbohydrate. The carbohydrate contents in it were much higher while moisture content was the lowest in parameters studied. The seeds further contained considerable amounts of minerals and vitamins as follows: 273.74mg/100g of calcium, 105.56mg/100g of magnesium, 26.70mg/100g of phosphorus, 18.00mg/100g of potassium, 7.10mg/100g of iron, 8.47mg/100g of zinc, 10.10mg/100g of copper, 15.50mg/100g of sodium, 0.53mg/100g of vitamin C, 0.08mg/100g of vitamin A, 8.00mg/100g of vitamin E, 0.75mg/100g of vitamin D. African breadfruit showed highest phosphorus content while Vitamin D was the lowest in the parameter studied. The results therefore demonstrate that African breadfruit could serve as supplementary source of essential nutrients for humans with health benefits
DISTRIBUTION OF POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC AND TOTAL ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBON CONTENTS IN SURFACE WATER AND SEDIMENTS OF SOMBRIERO RIVER IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA
No full textVariations in Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Total Aliphatic Hydrocarbon (TAH) concentrations in surface water and sediments of Sombriero River during wet and dry climatic conditions and their implications to human health and the environment were investigated. The sediments and water samples were collected from seven selected stations at Sombriero river banks and within Sombriero River. The dry season sampling was carried out in December, 2020 while the wet season sampling took place in May, 2021. The samples were analyzed in the laboratory for Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s), and Total aliphatic Hydrocarbons (TAHs) following the standard operational procedures. The results indicated that the summation of the Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH’s) exceeded 0 – 50ng/l background value signifying contamination by polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon with congeners such as benzo(a) pyrene; benzoflouranthenes; benzo(a) anthracene; indeno(1,2,3-cd) pyrene and dibenzo(a,h) anthracene which are carcinogenic. The aliphatic fraction of the total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) results indicated ranges within DPR target and intervention limits, but the aromatic fraction indicated presence of chemical compounds that are carcinogenic to human health and at concentrations that exceeded their tolerable limits. The potential health effect of concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons to human exposure in the study area lies on the carcinogenic Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) fractions constituent chemical compounds such as Benz[a]anthracene, Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Dibenz [a,h] anthracene, Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, whose concentrations portends human health hazard