Proximate and Amino Acid Composition of Celosia argentea Leaves

The proximate, trace metals and amino acids composition of Celosia argentea were determined. The crude fat, fibre and protein contents were moderate with 1.10, 3.53 and 5.17% respectively while high in the ash content (22.43%). Results of the amino acid analysis revealed high contents of the essential amino acids with methionine as the limiting amino acid. Comparing its essential amino acids with the WHO recommended values, the vegetable is adequate in these acids

Cobalt and Zinc in Toenails of Some Kano Inhabitants

Quantitative determination of Co and Zn concentrations in toenails of 42 volunteers with a mean age of 25.01 ± 11.46 years and resident in Kano for at least six months were assayed by atomic absorption (AAS). .Significantly high levels of Co and Zn were present in the toenails of some individuals with a mean Co of 75.72 ± 24.67ìg/g and 108.51 ± 61.40 ìg/g for Co and Zn respectively. With respect to age there was increase relation in zinc concentrations with age with approximate average of 18% in its concentrations with each decade but no such uniform pattern for the cobalt concentrations

Analysis of Some Heavy Metals in Grass (Paspalum Orbiculare) and Soil Samples Along Major Highways in Kano.

The increased deposition of trace metals from vehicle exhausts on plants has raised concerns about the risks of the quality of food consumed by humans since the heavy metals emitted through the exhaust by vehicles can enter food chain through deposition on grass grazed by animals. Grass (Paspalum Orbiculare) and soil samples were collected from four major highways in Kano, at distance interval of 1,2,3,4 and 5 meters away from the edge of the road. The samples were analyzed for Cd, Fe and Pb using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The levels of Fe, Pb and Cd in grass were found to be 5.80±3.11 – 12.60±5.53μg/g, 8.60±4.16 – 12.00±8.19μg/g and 0.12±0.06 – 0.19±0.07μg/g dry weight respectively. The ranges of concentrations in soil were from 5.40±2.51 – 8.20±4.66μg/g, 7.80±3.96 – 13.80±4.60μg/g and 0.18±0.08.25±0.08μg/g dry weight for Fe, Pb and Cd respectively. Heavy metals in the four major roads were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those on the reference site. The results showed that the levels of Cd and Pb exceeded the limit levels (0.01 – 0.03μg/g for Cd, <7.00μg/g for Pb) and signifies that metal dynamics up the food chain is highly possible.Keywords: Food chain, Grass, Heavy metals, Paspalum orbiculare, Soil

Carbon Monoxide as Indoor Pollutant in Kano Metropolis

The level of carbon monoxide concentrations in three different residential areas of Kano municipality has been determined. Health effects of carbon monoxide are not only determined by its pollution level, but the time spent breathing polluted air. Samples of carbon monoxide gas in three different residential districts within the Kano Metropolis; the high (city), medium (Sabon gari) and low (Nassarawa) density residential districts were assessed. The frequency distribution pattern for the gas is skewed towards high frequency of low concentration with a mean and standard deviation of 4.93 ± 3.08ìg/m3. Evidence linking high level of indoor carbon monoxide tolow birth weight and increase in prenatal deaths necessitates the need to periodically check the levels of the gas within each house hold in the metropoli

Trace metal concentrations in leachates from open dumpsites in Lokoja, Kogi state, Nigeria

Leachates from selected dumpsites and control site in Lokoja municipal were analyzed for trace metal concentrations. These parameters were compared with control samples and established international standards (FEPA) and (WHO). Dumpsite leachates contained very high concentrationsof iron (73.60±0.58)mg/L, manganese (16.53±0.309)mg/L, copper 1.00±0.02mg/L, zinc 2.41±0.042mg/L, and lead 1.55±0.097mg/L. All the parameters except nickel and cadmium were above the control and exceed FEPA and WHO guidelines. The study revealed that the dumpsite is amajor polluting source in the surrounding environment. This underlines the need for appropriate government agency of Kogi State, Nigeria to initiate active remediation process such as phytoremediation in combination with physiochemical methods to recover the dumpsite from contaminants and reduce the level of pollution in the surrounding environment.Keywords: Leachates, dumpsite, remediation, phyto remediation, trace metals

Wealth, household heterogeneity and livelihood diversification of Fulani pastoralists in the Kachia Grazing Reserve, northern Nigeria, during a period of social transition

A mixed methods study was undertaken in the Kachia Grazing Reserve of northern Nigeria. Surveys in March, June and October 2011 included focus group discussions, key informant and in-depth household interviews, concerning livelihood practices, animal health, ownership, and productivity. In May 2011, 249 Fulani families fleeing post-election violence entered the reserve with their livestock, increasing the number of households by one third.Despite being settled within a grazing reserve, over half of households sent all their cattle away on seasonal transhumance and another third sent some away. Cattle accounted for 96% of total tropical livestock units (TLU), of which 26% were cattle kept permanently outside the reserve. While all households cited livestock as their main source of income, 90% grew crops and 55% derived income from off-farm activities. A multiple correspondence analysis showed that for each extra member of a household its TLU value increased by 2.0 [95% CI, 1.4-2.7], while for each additional marriage its TLU increased by 15.7 [95% CI, 7.1-24.3]. A strong association was also observed between small herds, small households with only one wife, alongside marked geographical wealth differences within the reserve. New immigrant families had larger household sizes (33) and livestock holdings (122 TLU) than old settlers (22 people and 67 TLU). Prior to the mass immigration, the distribution of TLU per person was unimodal: 41% of households were classified as 'poor' and 27% as 'medium', whereas post-immigration it was bi-modal, with 26% classified as 'very poor' and 28% as 'medium'.While cattle remain the principal source of Fulani income and wealth, the inhabitants of Kachia Grazing Reserve have diversified their livelihood strategies to respond to changing circumstances and stress, especially the limited availability of grazing within the reserve and political insecurity outside, resulting in continued transhumance, the maintenance of smaller livestock holdings and pushing households into poverty

Sampling And Analysis Of Carbonyl In Laboratory Atmospheres

A sampling and analytical method has been developed for carbonyl concentrations in different laboratory atmospheres at the faculty of Science Bayero University; Kano, Nigeria using cold oximation followed by titrimetric finish. The analysis was carried out between 008 and 1800 hrs from from October 2002 to June 2003. Samples of air were collected from each laboratory by bubbling through 6% hydroxylamine hydrochloride releasing hydrochloric acid equivalent to the carbonyl in the air. The collection was 100 percent in the range 2-50 ppb carbonyl and the trapping solution was stable for over 30days both before and after carbonyl collection. The carboynl concentrations in each laboratory are functions of the activities and type of chemicals stored or used in them. The mean carbonyl level in these laboratories was 14.63ppb with a coefficient of variations of 11.25%. KEY WORDS: Carbonyl, determination, laboratories Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. Global Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol.3(1&2) 2004: 45-4

Nickel and iron concentrations in hair and nail of some Kano inhabitants

Nickel and iron concentrations in hair and nail analysis were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean nickel concentration in hair and nail were 0.51±0.40μg/g and 0.79±0.41μg/g respectively while the mean iron concentration in hair and nail were 0.71 ±0.38 and 2.02 ± 1.07μg/g respectively. A progressive increase in nickel concentrations in hair and nails with age indicated no significant difference when their means were compared suggesting that nickel in hair and nails originate from a common source. Comparing the mean nickel concentrations in hair with that of nails, a significant difference was indicated in the two tissues (≤0.05). Human hair and nails are hence recording filaments that can reflect metabolic changes of many elements over long periods of time and hence furnish a print out of post nutritional event as dietary levels of some of the essential micro-elements. Keyword: Nickel, iron, hair, nail, determination, Kano, inhabitant