Tree Leaves as Bioindicator of Heavy Metal Pollution in Mechanic Village, Ogun State.

Metal contamination issues are becoming increasingly common in automobile workshop and elsewhere, Heavy metals, such as cadmium, copper, lead, are major environmental pollutants. Heavy metal accumulation in soils is of concern in agricultural production due to the adverse effects on food safety and marketability, crop growth due to phytotoxicity, and environmental health of soil organisms. Soil and plant samples were collected from mechanic village in Odeda local Government of Ogun State. The soil samples were collect at depth of 0-15cm and 15-30 cm, which are top soil and sub soil. The physiochemical parameters for soil were determined through the standard method and the heavy metal concentrations were determined using AAS. (Atomic Absorption Spectrometer). The EC range of the control farmland is 25 μS/cm- 195 μS/cm at 25oC while that of mechanic village ranges from 70 μS/cm-276 μS/cm at 25oC, the temperature of the farmland ranges from 27.8oC-28.0oC while that of the mechanic village ranges from 27.7oC-28.1oC. The pH of the farmland and mechanic village ranges from 6.47-7.67 and 6.48-7.79 respectively. The mean concentrations of the heavy metals in the soil of the farmland are in order of magnitude Cd>Cu>Pb, (0.62>0.018>0) while the mean concentration of the heavy metals in the soil of the mechanic village are in order of magnitude Pb>Cu>Cd (2.96>0.67>0.14) The mean concentration in leaf of farmland are Cu>Cd>Pb. (0.105>0.03>0.0001), while the mean concentration in mechanic village are Cu>Pb> Cd. (0.13>0.11> 0.02) the sudden rise of lead in mechanic village is understandable giving the various activities such as painting, welding, soldering and fueling which contain lead. Though the result indicate that they are not significant as they that are within the acceptable standard of FAO and WHO, 2010. © JASEMKeywords: Bioindicator, Contamination, Environmental Health, Heavy Metal, Phytotoxicit

Tree Leaves as Bioindicator of Heavy Metal Pollution in Mechanic Village, Ogun State

Metal contamination issues are becoming increasingly common in automobile workshop and elsewhere, Heavy metals, such as cadmium, copper, lead, are major environmental pollutants. Heavy metal accumulation in soils is of concern in agricultural production due to the adverse effects on food safety and marketability, crop growth due to phytotoxicity, and environmental health of soil organisms. Soil and plant samples were collected from mechanic village in Odeda local Government of Ogun State. The soil samples were collect at depth of 0- 15cm and 15-30 cm, which are top soil and sub soil. The physiochemical parameters for soil were determined through the standard method and the heavy metal concentrations were determined using AAS. (Atomic Absorption Spectrometer). The EC range of the control farmland is 25 \u3bcS/cm- 195 \u3bcS/cm at 25\u2103 while that of mechanic village ranges from 70 \u3bcS/cm-276 \u3bcS/cm at 25\u2103, the temperature of the farmland ranges from 27.8\u2103-28.0\u2103 while that of the mechanic village ranges from 27.7\u2103-28.1\u2103. The pH of the farmland and mechanic village ranges from 6.47-7.67 and 6.48-7.79 respectively. The mean concentrations of the heavy metals in the soil of the farmland are in order of magnitude Cd>Cu>Pb, (0.62>0.018>0) while the mean concentration of the heavy metals in the soil of the mechanic village are in order of magnitude Pb>Cu>Cd (2.96>0.67>0.14) The mean concentration in leaf of farmland are Cu>Cd>Pb. (0.105>0.03>0.0001), while the mean concentration in mechanic village are Cu>Pb> Cd. (0.13>0.11> 0.02) the sudden rise of lead in mechanic village is understandable giving the various activities such as painting, welding, soldering and fueling which contain lead. Though the result indicate that they are not significant as they that are within the acceptable standard of FAO and WHO, 2010

Sustainable Non-Motorized Transport for Ga- Rankuwa and Rosslyn Transport Corridor, City of Tshwane, South Africa

A sustainable transportation system is safe, affordable and accessible. It connects different modes of transportation in order to achieve efficient movement. A sustainable transport system is one that is economical and friendly to the environment. All trips in private and public transport begin and end with walking. Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) plays a key role in completion of any journey from origin to destination. However, this mode of transport is not used optimally to enhance sustainable transport, especially where public transport is concerned. The main objective of the research was to evaluate an optimal combination of transport modes for trips made by BMW employees residing in Ga-Rankuwa north of Pretoria, in order to reduce cost of transport. The travel behaviour of BMW employees was investigated by first studying secondary data on the Municipal Household Survey (MHS) and Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) of Tshwane City. The secondary data was supplemented with primary data which was sourced by interviewing the BMW’s human resources department and conducting trip studies between Rosslyn and Ga-Rankuwa. The trip pattern of workers of BMW was evaluated to know the origin-destination, journey period and transportation cost of the trips. The movement patterns of the BMW workers were grouped into four categories. The patterns were subjected to optimization using linear programming which included the subsisting movement pattern. The trip patterns developed were based on relevant literature. The BMW workers’ movement from home to work was optimized. Their movement to work constituted a transportation challenge or problem; and was solved using simplex technique, a linear programming approach. The model was subjected to a sensitivity analysis and the results were analysed. It was found that the most patronized transportation mode for the trips between Rosslyn and Ga-Rankuwa was taxi. It was further discovered that BMW workers expended R18.47 averagely on movement from home to work through taxis. The recognition of cycling, a means of movement within short distances, allows for additional trip patterns as available options for commuters. The integration of cycling as a feeder system to trains resulted in 36% trip cost reduction for the commuters. The research revealed that while less than 45% of the employees may continue to use the present scenario, more than 55% of the employees may use a combination of cycling and trains. The study suggested that similar work should be done to cover other economic and important routes in order to encourage the use of cycling as a link to other transportation modes in other industrial areas of the City of Tshwan