Review and assessment of mechanic village potentials for small scale used engine oil recycling business

Mechanic village should be adapted in developing countries rather than the city-wide auto mechanic workshop practice. This is suggested because developing countries are yet to enforce environmentally friendly automobile workshops and mechanic practice. If all automobile repair works in different cities are confined to mechanic villages, collection, preservation, recycling and reuse of spent oil will become effective. The goal is to stop the habit of disposing spent automobile oil on the ground, which results in excessive trace metal pollution of topsoil and insecurity of food products in the affected areas. Beside environmental quality, business and employment opportunities will improve. Small-scale refining or reprocessing of used oil in mechanic villages is lucrative and recycling plants are affordable and available. Cost benefit analysis indicate strong environmental benefits and annual turnover in excess of $2,234,375.00.Key words: Changed oil, reprocessing, re-refining, cost benefit analysis, auto repair, Nigeria

Characteristic Level of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in Soil and Groundwater of Oil Impacted Area in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria.

Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) is of environmental interest because they are toxic to human system and animals. Some of the TPH compounds are carcinogenic and poses health hazards. The communities in Niger Delta region of Nigeria were crude oil is being exploited are predominantly agricultural farmers and fishermen. The harvested crops and fishes obtained from these communities are usually contaminated with TPH. In view of health implication of crops and fishes contaminated with TPH  this study was carried out to ascertain the level of total petroleum hydrocarbon in soil and  groundwater of crude oil impacted area of five communities in Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The analysis were carried out with Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) instrument. The result of the analysis indicates that soil samples obtained from Station I at various depths 0 - 0.5, 0.5 – 1.00 and 2.0 – 3.00 were contaminated with mean TPH concentrations 5199.52, 2341.00 and 2066.83 mg/kg, respectively. Station III recorded mean TPH concentrations 1678.25, 1366.00 and 1242.33 mg/kg at depths 1.00 – 2.00, 2.00 – 3.00 and 3.00 – 4.00, respectively. The result of the analysis indicates mean TPH 1341.00 mg/kg at topsoil of Station V. This study shows that water samples obtained from all the stations were contaminated with TPH. At depth 0 – 0.5m the mean TPH concentrations at Stations I, II, III, IV and V of water sample were 8186.67, 12110.00, 1351.67, 4137.00 and 9020.67 µg/L, respectively. Key words: Soil and water sample contamination, total petroleum hydrocarbon, associated health hazards

Urban Environmental Pollution 2010: Trace Metal Dispersion in Soil from Auto-Mechanic Village to Urban Residential Areas in Owerri, Nigeria

Due to poor waste management in mechanic villages (MVs), average metal concentration (mgkg-1) is Pb 1162±572; Mn 864±531; Cu 385±202; Fe 49259±4770; Cd 20±13; Zn 824±190; and Ni 40±35, causing ecological and public health risks in parts of Nigeria. Average metal dispersion (mgkg-1/m) from MVs to residential areas was estimated at 9.2 for Pb; 6.7 for Mn; 6.1 for Zn; 1.5 for Cu; 197 for Fe; 0.3 for Ni; and 0.04 for Cd. This represents a mobility order of Fe\u3ePb\u3eMn\u3eZn\u3eCu\u3eNi\u3eCd, and a pollution order of Pb\u3eNi\u3eMn\u3eZn\u3eFe\u3eCu\u3eCd. MV advantages as a capacity building, and in poverty alleviation notwithstanding, its practice must be environmentally friendly

Knowledge and utilization of preventive measures in the control of neonatal malaria in south-eastern Nigeria

Background: The burden of neonatal malaria remains a major public health problem in Nigeria receiving less attention. Knowledge and awareness of preventive measures of neonatal malaria is still very low. This study aimed at assessing the Knowledge and utilization of preventive measures in the control of neonatal malaria in South-eastern Nigeria.Methods: Structured pretested questionnaires were used to collect data from 230 consenting pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria. These women were followed up until delivery and blood samples were taken from their new born for malaria parasite tests. Using SPSS, qualitative variables were summarized with proportions and chi-square test was used to investigate associations between qualitative variables.Results: There was high level of awareness on the use of malaria preventive measures by pregnant women in the control of neonatal malaria. A significant relationship between the use of malaria preventive measures and neonatal malaria was also shown. Over three-quarters (79.7%) of women had knowledge of malaria preventive measures during pregnancy. Use of anti-malarial prophylaxis (91.8%) followed by the use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) (49.5%) were practiced. ITNs were less (19.6%) used during pregnancy.  Most of them (57.8%) received single dose of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) using sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine during pregnancy, while 37% received two doses of IPT.Conclusion: More effort need to be made and support provided to women during pregnancy to encourage usage of preventive measures. There is also need to develop a health promotion package to eliminate factors discouraging the use of specific preventive measures like IPTp and ITNs

Level of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in Fish Samples Smoked with Different Combustible Materials

The determination of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in smoked fish samples were studied using six combustible materials, such as tyres, lubricating oil, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastics, iroko (chlorophoraexcelsa) wood and black velvet (dialiumguineense) wood.  The result of the analysis indicates high TPH of mean value 0.8172g for fish sample smoked with tyre. The low TPH of mean value 0.0679g was obtained from fish sample smoked with iroko wood. This study established the formation of TPH during incomplete combustion of combustible materials used during smoking of fish samples. The associated health hazard of smoked fish were examined. Keywords: Fish samples, Total petroleum hydrocarbon, Combustible materials, Toxicity. DOI: 10.7176/JEES/9-2-0

Inhibition effect of Vernonia amygdalina extract on the corrosion of mild steel reinforcement in concrete in 0.2 M H2SO4 Environment

Inhibition effect of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) extract on the corrosion behaviour of embedded mild steel rebar in concrete immersed in 0.2% H2SO4 solution was investigated by potential measurement, pH and gravimetric methods using the extracts concentrations of 25, 50, 75, and 100%. The results were further analysed using the two-factor ANOVA test. Potential measurement was performed using a digital voltmeter and a copper/copper sulphate reference electrode. Compressive strength of each block sample was determined after the experiments. Weight loss values were obtained from the gravimetric method, and the inhibitor efficiency was computed from the corrosion rate of each of the tested samples. Results showed that varied concentration of V. amygdalina and the test exposure time significantly affect both the corrosion potential of embedded steel rebar in concrete and the pH of the medium. The extracts gave appreciable corrosion inhibition performance of the embedded steel rebar at 25 and 50% concentrations with the weight loss of 500 (0.5 g) and 400 mg (0.4 g) and corrosion rates values of 0.000240 and 0.000180 mm/ yr, respectively. The highest inhibition efficiency (60.68%) was achieved at 50 and 39.94% at 25% concentrations, respectively. The 100 and 75% concentrations gave negative inhibitor values of �51.52 and �20.11%. The ANOVA test confirmed the results at 95% confidence, and further showed that concentration of V. amygdalina had greater effect on potential and pH measurement

Opportunities and challenges in the use of coal fly ash for soil improvements – a review

Coal fly ash (CFA), a by-product of coal combustion has been regarded as a problematic solid waste, mainly due to its potentially toxic trace elements, PTEs (e.g. Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb) and organic compounds (e.g. PCBs, PAHs) content. However, CFA is a useful source of essential plant nutrients (e.g. Ca, Mg, K, P, S, B, Fe, Cu and Zn). Uncontrolled land disposal of CFA is likely to cause undesirable changes in soil conditions, including contamination with PTEs, PAHs and PCBs. Prudent CFA land application offers considerable opportunities, particularly for nutrient supplementation, pH correction and ameliorating soil physical conditions (soil compaction, water retention and drainage). Since CFA contains little or no N and organic carbon, and CFA-borne P is not readily plant available, a mixture of CFA and manure or sewage sludge (SS) is better suited than CFA alone. Additionally, land application of such a mixture can mitigate the mobility of SS-borne PTEs, which is known to increase following cessation of SS application. Research analysis further shows that application of alkaline CFA with or without other amendments can help remediate at least marginally metal contaminated soils by immobilisation of mobile metal forms. CFA land application with SS or other source of organic carbon, N and P can help effectively reclaim/restore mining-affected lands. Given the variability in the nature and composition of CFA (pH, macro- and micro-nutrients) and that of soil (pH, texture and fertility), the choice of CFA (acidic or alkaline and its application rate) needs to consider the properties and problems of the soil. CFA can also be used as a low cost sorbent for the removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from wastewater streams; the disposal of spent CFA however can pose further challenges. Problems in CFA use as a soil amendment occur when it results in undesirable change in soil pH, imbalance in nutrient supply, boron toxicity in plants, excess supply of sulphate and PTEs. These problems, however, are usually associated with excess or inappropriate CFA applications. The levels of PAHs and PCBs in CFA are generally low; their effects on soil biota, uptake by plants and soil persistence, however, need to be assessed. In spite of this, co-application of CFA with manure or SS to land enhances its effectiveness in soil improvements

Anti sickling potential of Aloe vera extract IV: Effects of acidic, basic and neutral metabolites on the gelling and sickling of human HBSS erythrocytes

The effects of acidic, basic and neutral metabolites from A. vera extract on the sickling and gelling time of human HbSS erythrocytes were investigated. The study showed that the various metabolites inhibited sickling in vitro and increased gelling time of HbSS blood samples. Moreover, a significant increase in the number of unsickled erythrocytes was observed for the acidic metabolites. The abilities of the metabolites to revert already sickled erythrocytes to their normal morphology was highest for the acidic metabolites, but non–existent for the neutral metabolites, which appeared to be toxic to the HbSS blood cells. Therefore, it was concluded that the reversal of the sickling phenomenon could be achieved, almost quantitatively, by the consumption of acidic metabolites by sickle cell patients.Keywords: Sickle cell disease, fractionated A. vera extract, gelling time International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(2): 155-160, 201

Analytical and Geophysical Assessments of Heavy Metals Dispersion from an Automobile Mechanic Village and its Pollution Prevention

This paper assesses metal dispersion from Nekede mechanic village (MV) in the lower Imo River basin Nigeria, to introduce the concept of environmentally friendly MV. Analysis of composite soil samples derived from three replicates collected at each measurement point using atomic absorption spectrophotometer was carried out. Mean values (mg kg-1) above the background, 0-200m from the MV are Pb, 853±572; Mn, 604±531; Cu, 137.3±202; Fe, 17713±4770; Cd, 3.4±12.8; Zn, 444±190, and Ni, 29.4±35.2 measured in the direction of drainage. The dispersion rates (mgkg-1/m) are Fe, 197; Pb, 12.9; Mn, 6.7; Zn, 4.9; Cu, 1.5; Ni, 0.3; and Cd, 0.04. Concentration and dispersion rates were confirmed by metal depth ratio (MDR), and metal distance ratio (MDsR). Electrical resistivity profiling showed metal dispersion to 350 m from the MV, representing a safe distance for farming in the direction of drainage. Both uphole refraction seismic and vertical electric sounding (VES) showed a weathered base (WB) average 18m, consisting of sand and gravel bed (GB). Water table (WT) at 16-21m fluctuates below and above the WB, showing that shallow wells located in areas where WT is above WB, and overlain by GB may easily be polluted by heavy metals. As a result, safe depth of shallow wells is: WT+48m were WB is above WT, and WT+66m were WB is below WT. Relatively higher elevation and slope (1:20) of the MV indicates greater metal dispersion dynamics. Pollution prevention model designs of infiltration basin and shallow water well are presented