4 research outputs found
PEER REVIEWED ARTICLE No 4 - VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF HOUSEHOLDS IN SELECTED AREAS OF THE OLD RIVERS STATE IN NIGERIA
The vegetable consumption pattern of households in selected areas in
the old Rivers State (now Rivers and Bayelsa States) in Nigeria was
investigated. Areas studied were Port Harcourt the State capital,
Igwuruta, Ahoada and Kaiama. Results showed that mothers consumed 59
± 0.45g to 130 ± 2.04g/person/day of vegetables between the
months of May and July, the peak season of vegetable production.
Factors that influenced vegetable consumption were found to be chiefly
season and culture. Other factors were availability/price for 43.8% of
households in Kaiama, a riverine community, while taste and nutrition
knowledge wielded minor influences. Leafy vegetables were consumed at
least four times per week in Igwuruta and Port Harcourt, while
households in Ahoada and Kaiama, where culture had strong influence,
consumed them only occasionally. Vegetables consumed were mainly
pumpkin leaves (Telfairia occidentialis ) and okro
(Abelmoschus esculentus ) in areas where season played a strong
role. In areas where culture had a strong influence, bitterleaf, a
leafy vegetable that undergoes rigorous process of squeezing and
washing and is only scantly used in soups, was the vegetable of choice.
Other vegetables less frequently consumed were Amaranthus hybridus,
Pterocarpus spp., Gnetum africanum and Piper
guineense leaves. These were used chiefly in various soup
dishes eaten as accompaniments with the starchy staples. Other dishes
in which leafy vegetables were consumed were pottage in those areas of
high vegetable consumption, and occasionally in stew by all households
investigated. Household size of 5 to 8 persons consumed their soup
dishes between two and four days, while larger households of nine and
above ate their soups in one day. However, households with deep freezer
facilities stored their soup dishes for up to seven days. In spite of
the reasonable consumption of vegetables during the peak season of
production, reports of micronutrient deficiencies in Nigeria are rife,
indicating a need for intervention. Possible reasons for the high
prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies are seasonal variations in
vegetable production, inadequate processing and preservation of
vegetables for all year distribution and culture which may limit
adequate consumption of leafy vegetables even when they are in
abundance. This situation underscores the need for nutrition education,
coupled with a program on dietary diversification to create awareness,
increase production, processing, preservation and consumption of
vegetables
PEER REVIEWED ARTICLE No 2 - CONCENTRATIONS OF TRACE METALS (LEAD, IRON, COPPER AND ZINC) IN CROPS HARVESTED IN SOME OIL PROSPECTING LOCATIONS IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA
Concentrations of the trace metals lead, iron, copper and zinc were
estimated in crops harvested in some oil prospecting locations in
Rivers State, Nigeria. The locations were; Agbada-Aluu (AA), Ebocha
(EB), Idu Ekpeye (IE), Obagi (OB) and Trans Amadi Layout (TA), with the
Teaching and Research Farm of Rivers State University of Science and
Technology, Port Harcourt as control. Crops investigated were cassava
(Manihotesculenta ), cocoyam (Colocasiaesculenta ),
okra (Hibiscusesculentus ), pumpkin leaves
(Telfairiaoccidentalis ) and waterleaf (Talinumtraingulare
). Results of the mean lead concentrations were from
1.1μg/g in cocoyam to 9.1 μg/g in okro, showing higher trends
in the industrialized areas. While cocoyam had the lowest lead
concentration, the concentration rest of the crops did not differ
significantly from one another. Crops from locations TA, OB, IE and EB
had significantly higher concentrations of lead, although IE, AA and TF
were not significantly different from one another. Mean concentrations
of iron were between 40 μg/g in cassava from TF, and 651 μg/g
in pumpkin leaves from TA - the industrial base of Rivers State -
reflecting a high level of pollution from the various industries in
that location. Differences in concentration of iron in crops showed
pumpkin leaves to have the highest level of iron, followed by the other
green vegetables - waterleaf and okra although no significant
differences occurred between okra, cocoyam and cassava. Copper
concentrations were between 4.4 μg/g in cocoyam from locations TF
and 23 μg/g in pumpkin leaves from TA. Pumpkin leaves had the
highest concentrations of copper, followed by okra, then waterleaf,
with cocoyam and cassava having the least significant levels. Zinc
concentrations in crops were between 29 μg/g in cocoyam from TF to
240 μg/g in pumpkin leaves from EB. Pumpkin leaves and okra
contained the highest levels of the metal, followed by waterleaf, then
cassava and finally cocoyam. In terms of location, TA, OB and EB had
the highest concentrations in crops, the least occurring in TF and AA.
These results reflect higher concentrations of metals in crops from the
industrialized locations, with the green vegetables, particularly
pumpkin leaves, having the highest uptake, while cocoyam invariably had
the least. These findings give cause for concern, particularly as heavy
metals are bio-accumulative in the system and portend a serious health
risk to man and animals