Assessment of heavy metals in urban highway runoff from Ikorodu expressway Lagos, Nigeria

The distribution of heavy metals in the urban high way run off from Ikorodu expressway of Lagos was studied between March to May, 2004.The heavy metals studied include Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn and Cd. The levels of these selected heavy metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Mscientific 200 Model). Trends in the heavy metal from the runoff showed significant variations between the months were values recorded in the month of April showed high values. Statistical analyses showed different mean levels of these heavy metals assessed at the five collecting points. The distribution shows Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd. Zn recorded the highest concentration levels between (53.4 ± 35.5 - 107.5 ± 80.4 μg/l), while Cd levels (ND - 6.00 μg/L) were the lowest. However, the results obtained falls within the permissible limits of FMENV effluents limits, FHWA and WHO standards of water for domestic use

The Properties of Soil Under the Canopy of the Locust Bean Tree (Parkia biglobosa), in Relation to Tree Biomass, in Farmland in Oyo Area, South Western Nigeria

The African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) is a multi-purpose tree that is commonly retained on small-holder farms in the savanna region of West Africa. Studies that examined the effects of the tree on soils underneath its crown did not examine the biomass parameters of the tree while those that studied the biomass parameters of the tree species did not consider the soil. This study examines the properties of soil under the locust bean tree canopy in farmland in the derived savanna of Oyo area, south-western Nigeria. It also quantitatively characterized the girth, height and crown diameter of locust bean trees in the peasant farms and correlated them with the properties of soils underneath the trees. The soil was sampled at two depths of 0- 10 and 10- 20 cm under and outside Parkia canopies. The t-test was used to compare the means of soil properties under and outside Parkia canopy in order to ascertain whether statistically significant differences exist between them. Organic matter was slightly higher (18- 19%) under Parkia canopy. Exchangeable magnesium, calcium and cation exchange capacity were significantly higher in soil under the tree canopy. This is due to the slightly higher organic matter, reduced leaching under the tree canopy as a result of rainfall interception, the trapping of dust and aerosols by tree crowns and the greater concentration of earthworm casts under Parkia canopy. The properties of the 0- 10 cm layer were more strongly correlated with Parkia biomass parameters than those of the 10- 20 cm layer. Tree height was strongly and positively correlated with soil clay (0.70), organic matter (0.73), total nitrogen (0.69) but negatively correlated with sand content (-0.80) of the 0-10 cm layer. The growth of Parkia trees and seedlings will be enhanced in the more clayey sites but would be retarded in areas with predominantly sandy soils and this should be taken into consideration in afforestation, community forestry and shelterbelt projects involving the establishment of Parkia trees. Keywords: Parkia biglobosa, tree canopy, tree biomass, soil physical properties, soil chemical properties, soil-plant correlatio

Fractionation and ecotoxicological implication of potentially toxic metals in sediments of three urban rivers and the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria, West Africa

The potential environmental impact of sediment-bound Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in three trans-urban rivers in Lagos state and in the Lagos Lagoon was assessed by use of the modified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction. The quality of the data was checked using BCR CRM 143R and BCR CRM 701. Good agreement was obtained between found and certified/indicative values. Of the rivers, the Odo-Iyaalaro, was generally the most contaminated and the Ibeshe the least. Higher concentrations of metals were generally found in the dry season compared to the wet season. Cadmium and Zn were released mostly in the acid exchangeable step of the sequential extraction, indicating that they have the greatest potential mobility and bioavailability of the analytes studied. Chromium and Cu were associated mainly with the reducible and oxidisable fractions, and Pb predominantly with the reducible and residual fractions. Sediments with the highest pseudototal analyte concentrations also released higher proportions of analytes earlier in the sequential extraction procedure. The study suggests that, during the dry season, potentially toxic metals (PTM) may accumulate in sediments in relatively labile forms that are released and can potentially be transported or bioaccumulate in the rainy season. Application of risk assessment codes and Hankanson potential risk indices indicated that Cd was the element of greatest concern in the Lagos Lagoon system. The study indicated that there is a need to strengthen environmental management and pollution control measures to reduce risk from PTM, but that even relatively simple strategies, such as seasonal restrictions on dredging and fishing, could be beneficial

Malaria Preventive Practices among Pregnant Women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Malaria remains a global health challenge especially in sub-Sahara Africa where the most dangerous species thrive. It is a popular belief that the best way of halting the spread of any communicable disease is to adopt health preventive practices. A cross-sectional survey was carried out to determined malaria preventive practices among pregnant women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Stratified sampling technique was used in selecting 504 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in 12 hospitals in the state. A face validated, self constructed questionnaire which was subjected to a reliability test using Cronbach Alpha method yielded a reliability value of 0.91. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean and inferential statistics of T-test and ANOVA. Results showed that pregnant women often (  = 1.70-3.05) adopted most of the malaria preventive practices. There was a significant difference in 9 out of 11 malaria preventive practices adpted by women who reside in urban and rural areas in favour of women who reside in the urban areas. Level of education significantly affected malaria preventive practices in favour of women with post secondary education. Intervention efforts should focus on rural pregnant women and formulated to accommodate the less educated members of this group. Keywords: Malaria, Preventive practices, Pregnant women, Ebonyi State, Nigeri

DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT ALGORITHM FOR THE ADOPTION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN BASIC EDUCATION USING CROSS-IMPACT METHOD

In many countries, the adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in basic education has been continuously linked to higher efficiency, productivity, and educational outcomes, including quality of cognitive, creative and innovative thinking. This paper focuses on the development of an impact assessment algorithm for evaluating the adoption of ICT in basic education using Cross-impact method. A questionnaire on adoption of ICT in basic education was designed based on Government Policy (GP), Teacher Competency (TC), Availability of ICT infrastructure (IF), Integration of ICT in school curriculum by Ministry of Education (MC), Student preparedness in adopting ICT in learning process (SC) and Perception of schools’ management in adoption of ICT in schools (MI), which are the six major events considered. The questionnaire was administered to experts in basic education within the selected South-Western states of Nigeria (Oyo, Lagos and Ekiti). Experts’ opinions from the administered questionnaires were quantitatively analysed using descriptive statistic in Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The results obtained from the analysis of questionnaires were used to derive the Initial Probability (InitProb) and generate the Conditional Probability Matrices (CondProbMatrices) for occurrence and non-occurrence of the six events under consideration. The impact assessment algorithm was developed such that its starting instructions would determine the consistence of the InitProb and the CondProbMatrices using the three fundamental laws of probability calculus (Normalization, Product and Addition rules). These are followed by sequential instructions which would determine the occurrence of each event in the CondProbMatrices. Then, through repetitive instructions, each event would be selected at random and its occurrence and non-occurrence would be determined using a random number generator. The last group of instructions would successively determine the impact of each event on other alternative events. Thus, the developed impact assessment algorithm could replace the existing user perspective method of evaluating the adoption of ICT in basic education

Multivariate analysis of the effects of age, particle size and landfill depth on heavy metals pollution content of closed and active landfill precursors

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Multivariate analysis of a heavy metal pollution survey of closed and active landfill precursors was carried out in order to compare environmental risk levels in relation to age, particle size and depth of the precursors. Landfill precursors (77) were collected and analyzed for 15 USEPA toxic heavy metals using ICP-MS. Heavy metals concentrations in closed landfill precursors were significantly higher than those in the active landfill for 11 of 15 heavy metals investigated (closed landfill order: Fe > Al > Mn > Cu > Pb > Ba> Co > Cr > Ni > Cd > As > Se > Ti). Cluster analysis and correlation studies indicated the distribution of the metals was more influenced by landfill precursor size than by depth of the sample. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that 10 of 15 of heavy metals of both landfill precursors were from similar anthropogenic sources. Heavy metals pollution indices (Igeo > 5, EF > 40 and CF > 7) of both active and closed landfill precursors exceeded limits in the order of Zn > Cd > Pb > Cu > Ag, indicating a major potential health risk influenced by age and particle size of precursor. Zn, Cd, Cu and Pb of both landfill precursors exceeded the USEPA set standard for assessment of human health risk for each of the metals (1×10 -4 to 1× 10-3). This study highlights the need for the integration of a clean-up process for precursors from both types of landfill to reduce possible environmental pollution during a reuse process

The prevalence of domestic violence among pregnant women in Nigeria: a systematic review.

To identify, appraise, and synthesize research evidence on the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) among pregnant women in Nigeria. We conducted a systematic review of all published studies between April 2004 and June 2016. Comprehensive searches were conducted on electronic databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Global Health, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Directory of Open Access Journals, Google Scholar, and electronic libraries of the authors' institution. Identified articles were screened in two stages against the inclusion criteria with titles and abstract screened first followed by full-text screening. Selected articles were assessed using the "guidelines for evaluating prevalence studies," and findings were synthesized narratively. Among 19 studies that met the inclusion criteria, two articles were excluded due to low methodological quality and 17 articles were included in the review. The prevalence of DV during pregnancy in Nigeria ranged between 2.3% and 44.6% with lifetime prevalence rates ranging between 33.1% and 63.2%. Physical, sexual, psychological, and verbal abuses were the most frequent types of DV reported in this review. The most common perpetrators were husbands, as reported in 11 of the 17 studies. Pregnant women between the ages of 20 and 30 years were the most common victims of DV. Our review suggests high prevalence of DV in pregnancy among women in Nigeria and higher lifetime prevalence. However, determining an overall, synthesized accurate prevalence rate of DV within this population based on existing evidence presents a challenge. The findings have important implications for stakeholders such as planners, policy makers, maternity care providers, and researchers in public health and social policy at national, regional, and international levels toward combating the issue. OBJECTIVE METHOD RESULTS CONCLUSIO

Comparative Analysis of Pre and Post-migration Livelihood Outcomes of Households with Absentee Heads in Osun State, Nigeria

Migration is often linked with a deleterious impact on rural area production and development. Although, the change of location for better opportunities also affect the lives and livelihoods of the migrant households’ in the rural communities. The study was a comparative analysis of the pre and post-migration living outcomes of absentee households’ heads in Osun State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure involving the simple random sampling was used to select 120 absentee household heads. Data collected with interview schedule was subjected to descriptive statistics, t-test and correlation analyses. Findings showed that more men (76.7%) migrated, leaving women to become the interim household heads. It was found that migrants have a higher average monthly income level (₦44,400). Prior to migration, most families were in the lower financial well-being category (83.3%), while only 55% remained in that category after migration. This follows the result of the t-test which revealed that a significant difference (t=0.00; p<0.05) exists between the well-being of migrant’s household before and after migration. Thus, it was concluded that unless the rural push factors are removed, rural-urban migration will continue at an increasing rate because benefits and opportunities acquired in the process influence the well-being of the rural households. The study recommends that enabling environment, facilities and opportunities should be created in the rural communities to transform livelihoods and improve the wellbeing of the people via interventions by national and international agencies