Inorganic Fertilzer, Vermicompost and Water Quality Effect on Vegetable Farming Along The River Banks.

Inorganic fertilizer , vermicompost and water are a  usual application on vegetable  farming  along river banks in order to boost its  production , issues however arising of interest from these three are highlighted in this work on river Benue river bank vegetable farming . Vermicompost a  heterogeneous mixture of decomposing  materials in a dust bin ( vegetables , Tea  bags , grains , bread, crackers ,  cereals  , eggshells , Leaves and grass clippings )   composting using various worms developed within it from flies  showed  that in 30 days at 20% concentration of vermicompost plot of Red pepper  (Capsicum annuum)   a  plant height of average 16.6cm was recorded  while that of chemical fertilizer showed the same  plant a height of 14.8cm . Control plot (without any application)  showed 10.9cm height . At 60 days the inorganic fertilizer applied  at 20% dose showed  29.2cm plant height and in vermicompost applied plots at the same concentration dose, 33.4cm of plant height, was the result.  Applying these products on vegetable farms using water  along the river banks of River Benue directly and indirectly  brings to attention the uncontrollable habit of settlers along river  banks especially in the refuse discharge and defeacation  which compromises the water and  the quality of products of  the farms .  Work carried out  in Delhi University in 2009 showed that the amount of fecal matter in river water  increased exponentially  as  Central Pollution Control Board CPCB  came out with its findings. The amount of Fecal coliform (FC) – bacteria (anaerobic , nonsporulating, rod-shaped bacteria that produce acid and gas from the fermentation of lactose sugar: e.g., Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Klebsiella pneumoniae ) available in human and animal feaces – has grown by as much as 30 times as compared to CPCB values. Vegetables grown on Yamuna bed in east and south Delhi are already known to have high FC . The work done on river Benue at intake in the greater water works  project showed the value of coliform bacteria as high as 1800  Beetseh and Adulugba (2013) .  Many millions of microorganisms ( though most are harmless  in the human intestinal tract)  are likely to carry pathogenic microbes. Coliforms are used as indicators of sewage pollution; a high coliform count usually indicates recent sewage pollution. implicating the vegetable production on the river bank  which on consumption  can bring one down with severe intestinal problems like  blood infections, stomach upsets and kidney dysfunction .The application of modern farming system innovations in the study area by the farmers will be difficult since majority of them are illiterates  Dam, P. D. ( 2012  ) especially in the use of proper toilet systems . According to the same Delhi University 2009 report mentioned earlier the probable partial solution is to allow for the growth of   water hyacinth, which  absorbs contaminants and vegetables to be repeatedly washed and  cooked. Raw vegetables on these river banks should be avoided . Keywords Vegetables , Fertilizer , River bank Vermicompost and Farming

Analysis of Lead, Zinc, Chromium, and Iron in the major dumpsite on North Bank Mechanic Village in Makurdi Metropolis Benue State

Dumpsites soil samples in North Bank Auto- mechanic workshop locations in Makurdi, the Benue State capital located on7°43?50?N 8°32?10?E? in a valley in north central Nigeria were analyzed. This location is chosen for investigation; being the major mechanic workshops sites in Makurdi. Workshop wastes are made up of metal pieces, wasted and used oils, paints, carbide byproducts ,used batteries, acid waste ,domestic and other industrial wastes. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (UnicamSolaar32 model) was used for analyzing the digested soil samples for heavy metal content. Mean concentrations of the selected heavy metals in the dumpsite soil at North bank  were 114.02 mg/Kg, 37.46 mg/Kg, 53.74 mg/Kg, and 48.28 mg/Kg for Pb, Zn, Cr and Fe respectively .The results were higher than their controls indicating a clear case of pollution. Heavy metals from the wastes were suspected to be the feeding source in the soils. Such a situation could be regarded as "unsafe" as these metals are eventually taken up by plants and subsequently get into the food chain. Ground. and surface water quality is also threatened as these heavy metals get leached and washed into them, making the water unfit for human consumption. Advocacy of waste disposal and its effects with legislation are recommended. This study is important to the host communities of the auto-mechanic locations as a source of awareness of the environmental effects of refuse dumpsite soils. It will also form a baseline of the environmental effects of indiscriminate dumping of refuse. Keywords concentration , consumption, automobiles, metals and pollution

Presence of Volatile Organic Compounds in Fine Coat Paint Used in House Decoration in Benue State Nigeria.

Chemical assessment of  liquid state green colored samples of Emulsion Fine-Coat paint ,Texture fine-coat Paint and Oil-fine coat paint collectively referred to as fine-coat Paint normally produced and used in Nigeria for house painting was carried out by first detecting alcohols . To 2cm3 of the paint sample in a test tube was added 2cm3 of  ethanoic acid, and a few drops of conc. H2S04. This was boiled with care for 2  minutes ,  an ester was formed with a characteristic pleasant fruity smell. This indicated the presence of an alcohol. To a further 2cm3 of sample in a test tube was added a small amount of sodium metal (with care).   There was a vigorous effervescence with the evolution of an odourless colourless gas  with no effect on litmus paper. This confirmed the presence of an alcohol .  2 drops of sample was added to 2ml of 95% ethanol and 3ml of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine reagent. It was shaken vigorously, and allowed to stand for 15 minutes. Formation of a precipitate was a positive test for ketones . To 2cm3 of AgNo3 solution, was added 1 drop of dilute NaoH,  and 1 cm3 of a little amount of  paint sample and warmed on a water bath.  Silver mirror was formed on the wall of the test tube confirming the presence of  an aldelyde   The quantity of these compounds was assessed by the use of a small hand held monitor the  RI  VOC Meter extremely sensitive and capable of detecting contamination at 0.1ppm levels .  The   maximum values of  0,65ppm Formaldehyde  0.60ppm Acetone  and  0.75ppm   alcohol were obtained  .  VOCs  are  dangerous to human health and can cause harm to the environment especially indoors . Considering  the results obtained above and viewed against  international standards they are  not acutely toxic, but instead have compounding long-term health effects, because the concentrations are  usually low and the symptoms slow to develop . Keywords:  Dangerous  Paints  Hazards  Contaminants and Ventilatio

Comparative Study of Oxidative Spoilage Effect on Margarine and Palm Oil Sold in Makurdi Benue State Nigeria

Palm oil and Margarine are consumed in substantive quantities in various communities of Benue State Nigeria and so require attention especially in the areas of their handling and preservation . Palm oil is one of the few highly saturated vegetable fats and is semi-solid at room temperature. Like most plant-based products, palm oil contains very little cholesterol. Margarine is a manufactured, vegetable-oil-based substitute for butter made through a multi-step process whereby vegetable oils are extracted from corn, cottonseed, soybeans or safflower seeds. Their exposure to atmospheric conditions makes their wholesomeness a thing of concern especially their taste and colour.According toR. MacRae, R.K. Robinson, and M.J. Sadler (1993) as soon as a food, feed, or ingredient is manufactured, it begins to undergo a variety of chemical and physical changes. Oxidation of lipids is one common and frequently undesirable chemical change that may impact flavor, aroma, nutritional quality .Margarine also become rancid when exposed to air , heat , light and in some cases even the oxidized fats which interact with proteins and carbohydrates causing changes in texture.The peroxide value PV test is a usual test that measures the stability of various foods and so in 45 days margarine and palm oil were kept in a laboratory exposed atmosphere at an average temperature of 30oC and the measured peroxide value PV of margarine was an average of 0.346 meq/kg , while that of palm oil 0.186 meq/kg showing slower tendency of oxidative reactivity of palm oil and its stability on exposure compared to margarine . Keywords: Oils, Volatiles, Peroxides, Saturation, Manufactured

Quality Appraisal of Old and New ( Greater ) Water Works in Makurdi . Benue State Nigeria

The increase in the level of pollution of river Benue due to   human activity has necessitated the analysis and the evaluation of treated water at the greater water works in  Makurdi    to  know if   the water is really free from hazardous or dangerous chemical pollutants  , to prevent water users from infection and water borne diseases  and to see if water quality standards are adhered to . The new water works  commissioned recently in Makurdi Benue State  christened GREATER WATER WORKS is  estimated to be …50,000m3/ day capacity and 3x more than the former old water works which was18,000m3 /day . The quality of water was done on the raw water from the intake which is River Benue,  the old  and greater water works .  Considering the statistics already existing of the quality of water in the old water works , the following were assessed.  Turbidity was  assesed from an average value of 450.33 treated to 1.45 FTU  in the old water works  and 0.28 FTU in the greater water works respectively .   Color was treated from an average value of 224  to 2.33 TCU in the old water works and 0. 0 in the greater water works  respectively. Among the mineral elements , calcium  was treated from an average value of 60mg/l  to 20mg/l  in both old and greater water works respectively, magnesium was treated from the average of 26.7 to 20mg/l while nitrates were treated from an average value of 38.4 to 8mg/l in old water works and 7mg/l in greater water works respectively.  Bacterial  load of  1800  in raw water was  treated  to 1.0 in the old water works and 0.0 in the greater water works. The treatment chemicals were not altered in this new scheme apart from increase in application due to expansion in capacity . Introduction of hrodrocyclone removes sand and gravel while filtration is carried out after aeration in order to remove the iron in water through coagulation . This was not the case in the old water works , these essentials were absent . Keywords Analysis  , Equipment  , Filtration  ,Greater  , Wate

A Study Of Distinctive Characteristics Of Soaps Made Of Saw Dust Ash (Lye ) With Palm And Olive Oils And Their Oil Blends In Benue State Nigeria.

In Benue  State  Nigeria  saw dust is dumped in large quantities  as waste while in other parts of the country it is used in producing ceiling boards and plywood . In order to further explore its use, palm oil and olive oil with saw dust ash as the source of alkali (lye) were used in the production of soap and the choice of traditional and modern laboratory methods was adapted. The characteristics of the soap products were determined and the average results  compared.  Blending of these oils with other oils to further study improvements or order wise in the quality of the soaps was also done .  Parameters assessed were Moisture Content, Hardness of Soap , Total Fatty Matter, Total Free Alkali, Lathering Power ,Free Caustic Alkali ,  Carbonate Alkali, pH and Cleansing Power.Comparative results  show that Total Fatty Matter was 69 and 82% for palm oil  and   olive oil respectively while the Total Free Alkali % , Free Caustic Alkali % and Free Carbonate Alkali % were7.8 and 6.9 , 3.71  and  2.6  ,4.09  and 4.3% respectively . The Lather Volume (ml) was 460 and 630 respectively while the Lathering Power of palm and olive oils  was  8 % and 10% respectively,  Cleansing Power of palm and olive oils was 42.66%  and  55.7 % respectively , pH of olive oil was 8.5 while that of  palm oil was 9.1 . Moisture and Hardness of soap samples from olive and palm oils showed  Moisture Content 3.5 %  for palm and  4.3%  for olive  and the  Hardness  showed palm olive soap soft while that from  palm oil was hard.   Blends  of oils were also used ,  between  olive oil  and castor oil in a ratio 3:1 gave a Lathering Power of  9.7  while the Clean sing Power  was 90.3%  . coconut oil  and olive oil blend  of ratio 2:1 gave the Lathering Power of 10.5 % and its Cleansing Power 88.1%.                                                                                                                                    The production of soap with olive oils and  its blends  stood out better than palm oil which in itself  has become a matter of international interest . Palm tree exploitation began to raise serious environmental issues on  land deforestation for palm tree cultivation  and an international organization known as   Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was created in 2004 following concerns raised by non-governmental organizations about environmental impact issues related to palm tree cultivation for oil production P. Gunasegaran, ( 2011) . This has further de emphasized  palm oil use in soap production and  increased efforts in research in other oils while the saw dust potentials remain untapped in Benue State Nigeria . KEY WORDS Lye,   Roundtable , molecular, Lathering and deforestation 

Pollution Due To Carbon Monoxide Co, Sulfur Dioxide So2, Nitrogen Oxide No2 Gases Released Into Makurdi Metropolitan Environment As A Result Of Different Out / Indoor Door Activities In Benue State Nigeria.

Gas monitors for carbon monoxide CO, sulfur dioxide SO2, nitrogen oxide NO2) and stop watches were used to assess the quantity of these gases released when various machines and engines were at work in Makurdi Metropolis. Data was taken after every fifteen minutes in the daytime ( 8hours ) on exhausts of take off vehicles at major and minor roads, markets, on electric generating and milling machines, in restaurants and domestic kitchens from five areas of the town , High-level roundabout labeled as zone A , Wurukum roundabout - zone B, Wadata market - zone C, Nyiman layout - zone D and Gyado villa - zone E. Average results from all the zones show the highest amount of Carbon monoxide CO in the atmosphere as 33.5 ppm in zone B , Sulfur dioxide SO2 as 1.2 ppm in A and Nitrogen dioxide NO2 as 0.28 ppm.in zone E. Going by the Environmental Protection Agency EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards NAAQS amended in 1990, Environmental Health Watch 2011 , National Guidelines on Environmental Health Practice in Nigeria and Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria 2007 . The six principal pollutants called "criteria" pollutants which include carbon monoxide , sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide , their limits to exposure is high.Key words Gases , Zones , Exhausts, Methodology , Inhale

Chemical Implications Of Metal Toxicity Of Meat Processed Through Tire Fire.

Abattoir roasts in two locations  Katsina ala and  Makurdi  Benue Nigeria (where tires were used as fuel) were  analysed with Buck Scientific Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) VGP 2110 and the presence among others were heavy metals specifically  Zinc average value of 0.0475mg/l, Copper   0.0323mg/l , lead    0.0267mg/l and Cadmium 0.0173mg/l. This is apart from releasing of   pollutants through its thick smoke into the the local rivers  of Katsina ala and  Benue -compromising the immediate atmosphere and water life.     Zinc  and Copper have values below the  WHO standards, Lead and Cadmium are toxic when they are above certain limits and can  implicate the meat products by direct absorption by the meat flesh and the food chain that leads to man.  Heavy metal poisoning  affects all the organs of the body leading to  various ailments like cough, dryness,  irritation of the nose and throat headache, dizziness, weakness, fever, chills, chest pain,  respiratory tract and kidney problems which can be sometimes fatal. Key Words: Complication , Toxic , Smoke , Roast and Analysis

Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (Hap) Emissions from Open Burning of Used (Scrap) Tires as Fuel for Dressing of Meat in Benue State Nigeria:A Serious Threat to Human Health

Emissions  from combustion of scrap tires used as fuel for meat dressing were detected with the use of hand held gas detector meter, the  RI  VOC Meter extremely sensitive and capable of detecting contamination at 0.1ppm levels..The   substances detected at weekly intervals for 3 weeks were carbon monoxide 15 minutes short term exposure limits STEL was a maximum of 100 ppm  sulfur dioxide15 minutes   STEL   7 ppm   styrene STEL exposure 130 ppm   butadiene 15 minutes   STEL exposure 12 ppm  furans 15 minutes l STEL exposure 8.1 ppm and other  waste materials that could not be detected and those usually often left on site. These can cause contamination directly and indirectly to the meat source,  to the river waters nearby as well as the land on which the tires are combusted . This scenario of cleaning of animals skins by roasting  preparatory for sales in abattoirs    is what is prevalent in Benue State  Nigeria and its environs  Emissions from an open tire fire can represent significant acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) health hazard  to those living   nearby depending on the length and degree of exposure, these health effects could include irritation of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, respiratory effects, central nervous system depression, and even cancer.. Keywords: Durability,  flexible , Bi-products ,Short-term , Emissions

Petroleum Products Spillage and Its Effect on Soil at Mbalim Gwer East Benue State Nigeria

Soil samples were studied  to provide information  on the level of damage ( if any) done as  petroleum products were spilled  from  vandalized pipelines 10 years after . Petroleum products are volatile and  evaporate in a short  time, it is very difficult to determine their presence on soil after some time , instead the soil  was analyzed in order to determine the quantity of essential elements still present in the  soil after the spill Therefore five (5) locations ( around  Mbalim- at the immediate point of spill, one kilometer north,  one kilometer South, one kilometer East and one kilometer West)  were chosen. Basic elements of soil fertility -   pH of the Soil ,   phosphorus ,   Nitrogen ,  Potassium , Organic Carbon and Manganese were determined   The soil samples were  heavy , hardly absorbed  water, displayed acidity of 6.26 , 3.8% nitrogen , 6.6%phosphorus ,5.2% potassium and the texture loamy and sandy. Agricultural use of this land was considered a hard task except the process of remediation is applied. Aeration of the  soil at the contaminated site was already sufficient , thermal remediation to raise subsurface temperatures  to volatize chemical contaminants out of the soil was equally going on as the site was exposed to enough sunlight. Bioremediation including landfarming, biostimulation and bioaugmentating soil biota is recommended. In areas of intensive farming like Benue State  where crops are harvested at least once a year and no animals browse the fields, human intervention in the form of  traditional  fertilizer, animal manure or muck, made from the straw bedding of cattle that has fermented  for a period is also recommended. Keywords Vandalization ,  Petroleum products, Spillage , Soil , Bioremediatio