Assessment of the Impact of Industrial and Anthropogenic Activities on the Drinking Water Qualities of Borehole Water in Bundu – Ama Environs Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

The objective 0f this research was to investigate the drinking water qualities of borehole water used by inhabitants of Bundu-Ama environs; Port Harcourt, by comparing the chemical, physical and bacteriological qualities with WHO, NIS standards. Samples were collected in the dry season month of December, 2011 and analysed for pH, Turbidity, TDS, Conductivity, Total Hardness, Mineral Oil, BOD, COD, Chloride, Total Alkalinity, Nitrate, Phorsphate, Sulphate, Reactive Silica, Cyanide, Ammonium, Aluminum, Calcium Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Arsenic, Total Mercury, Selenium, Lead, Zinc, Total Iron, Copper, Manganese, Cadmium, Total Chromium, Total Coliform, Feacal Coliform, E-coli, Feacal Streptococci and Total Plate Count. Standard methods were adopted for field and laboratory studies. Results of the comparisons from the four sampled stations showed that the water was not acidic as the pH was within acceptable limits. The turbidity level was high in three of the sampled stations with the highest in Macoba (74.0 NTU). BOD exceeded the limits with the highest in Bundu water side (20.8mg/l). The metals were within the safe limits. The heavy metals investigated were within tolerable limits of WHO and NIS with the exception of Lead and Total Iron. Lead and Total Iron were detected in all the sampled stations but exceeded tolerable limits in Union Dicon industry. The Total Plate Count exceeded the tolerable limits for drinking water. However the hardness levels were within tolerable limits. These results showed that the borehole water from Bundu environs is contaminated with some pollutants entering the water table some distant from both the industries and sewage entering the boreholes. The borehole water should therefore be protected and treated before consumption. There is need for periodic monitoring of water samples from boreholes sources to ascertain their qualities. Keywords: Bundu – Ama, Borehole Water, Physicochemical, Bacteriologica

Alterations in the levels of ions in muscle and liver of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus exposed to paraquat dichloride.

Abstract: The electrolyte levels (Sodium and Potassium) were determined in the liver and muscle of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus exposed to various sub-lethal concentrations of paraquat dichloride (0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05 mg/L). Sodium (Na + ) decreased significantly (p<0.05) from the control as the concentration of paraquat increased, with the exception of the first experimental group (with lowest concentration of paraquat), where the liver Na + level was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control, while the muscle Na + level did not vary significantly (p>0.05) from the control. Thus, the variation of Na + tended to depend on the concentration of paraquat. On the other hand, potassium (K + ) did not show any district pattern, with significantly (p<0.05) higher values at the various concentrations of paraquat than the control. However, there was no significant (p>0.05) difference between the K + levels in both the liver and muscle of the control and those of the fifth experimental group, with the highest concentration of paraquat treatment. This pattern of variation exhibited by Na + and K + suggested that the fish adjusted effectively to stress within the limits of toxicant exposure used in this study

Effect of Diazinon on Acid and Alkaline Phosphatase Activities in Plasma and Organs of Clarias gariepinus

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the pesticide, diazinon, on phosphatases in the plasma and organs on Clarias gariepinus. Adult Clarias gariepinus were exposed in four replicates to varying sublethal concentrations diazinon (ranging from 1.00 to 10.0 mg/L) in 30-day semi-static bioassays. Alkaline phoshatase (ALP) and acid phosphate (ACP) were determined in plasma and other organs (gastrointestinal tract -GIT, kidney, muscle, gill and liver) of the fish after the experimental exposures. Dizinon did not cause any statistically significant difference on plasma ALP over the concentrations tested (p>0.05), but ACP showed significantly higher mean value at 10 mg/L compared to the control. ALP and ACP values in all the organs (GIT, intestinal tract, kidney, muscle, gill, liver) decreased with increasing concentration of diazion. This indicates an evidence of inhibition of these enzymes in the organs by the toxicant, and therefore alteration of biochemical processes in C. gariepinus which can be used as bio-indicators of the effects of diazinon in the Niger Delta environment

The Zooplankton Species Composition and Abundance in Sombreiro River, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract: The zooplankton species composition and abundance in Sombreiro River, in the Niger Delta of Nigeria was studied for a period of two years (August, 2007-July, 2009), using filtration technique. 25 :m mesh size plankton net was towed from a dugout boat at about 5-105 -1 for about a minute. The net content was washed out into a wide mouth plastic container and preserved in 10% formalin solution after proper labeling. A total of seventeen (17) species belonging to six (6) taxonomic groups were recorded from Sombreiro River. The groups Cladocera and Copepoda were represented by five species each consisting of 29.4% by composition. This was followed by three species of Protozoa (17.6%), two species of Rotifera (11.8%), Decapod crustacean (5.9%) and Euphasiacea (5.9%), one specie each. Copepoda was the highest, 46.5%. This was followed by Cladocera (23.3%). The others were Protozoa (11.2%), Euphasiacea (9.6%), Rotifera (7.9%) and Decapod Crustacean (1.5%). The low zooplankton diversity observed in this study is common in tropical waters. The dominance of cladocera and copepoda in the study area is common to River Nun, in the Niger Delta and Schelde estuary in Belgium. Sombreiro River zooplankton abundance is higher than that of River Nun but lower than that of Imo River in the Niger Delta. These differences are attributed to duration of sampling and natural conditions of the water bodies. The zooplankton abundance was well distributed in the stations except Mysis sp. (Decapod Crustacean) which showed spatial discontinuity in abundance

Effects of Water Pollution on the Condition Factor, Mortality, Exploitation Ratio and Catch per Unit Effort of Lagocephalus laevigatus in Koluama Area, Niger Delta Area, Nigeria

Abstract: Effects of water pollution on the condition factor, mortality, exploitation ratio and catch per unit effort of Lagocephalus laevigatus in Koluama Area, Niger Delta Area, Nigeria was investigated from April 2012 to May 2012; following an oil blow out in the area. To show the impact of the spill on the environment, catch rates are seasonally dependent and vary between 15-120 kg/day. About 120 wooden canoes were sighted in the communities studied. The canoes are basically in two categories namely, small sized boats of less than 5 m length and mediumsized ones ranging between 5 and 7 m long. There was no temporal variation in the condition of the fish with condition index value ranging from 0.86-1.00 and condition factor value of 0.98. The K value of 0.98 estimated from this study shows that Lagocephalus laevigatus from the study area was in extremely poor condition. Total mortality (Z) value was 1.5 yrG1. Natural Mortality (M) value was 0.97; Fishing mortality (F) value was 0.52. Value for the rate of exploitation was 0.35 with corresponding percentage value of 35%. The result shows that Lagocephalus laevigatus with an exploitation rate of 0.35 is below the optimal value for sustainable yield, for the exploitation of the fishery. These populations therefore stand the risk of under exploitation if urgent measures are not taken to develop the fishery

Efficacy and safety profile of artesunate in different genotype patients with P. falciparum malaria.

The efficacy and safety profile of anti- malaria, artesunate were studied in malaria patients of different genotype, AA, AS and SS. A total number of 124 volunteer patients were divided according to their genotype group. 90(73%) volunteer patients were of AA genotype, 26(21%) volunteer patients were AS genotype and 8(6%) volunteer patients were of SS genotype. Artesunate has greatest efficacy of 100% in SS genotype patients and 98.9% cure rate in AA genotype patients and the least was 92.3% cure as in AS genotype patients. The failure rate was Zero in SS(Sickle cell disease) patients, 1.1% in AA patients and 6.7% in AS patients respectively. Artesunate produced very minor adverse effects in this study therefore artesunate is recommended as a drug of choice for treating uncomplicated malaria in SS patients and AA patients. Keywords: Artesunate, Plasmodium Falciparium malaria, Genotype. Journal of Biomedical Investigation Vol. 3 (1) 2005: pp. 31-3

Metformin: A Possible Option in Cancer Chemotherapy

Metformin has been used for a long time as an antidiabetic medication for type 2 diabetes. It is used either as a monotherapy or in combination with other antidiabetic medications. The drug came into prominence in diabetes and other conditions with cardiovascular risk after the landmark study of 1995 by the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study which emphasized its importance. However, the drug has been used in experimental trials in various aspects of medicine and pharmacology such as in reproductive medicine, cancer chemotherapy, metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. It has been in use in the treatment of polycystic ovarian disease and obesity and is being considered in type 1 diabetes. This study seeks to evaluate the relevance of metformin in cancer management. Different mechanisms have been proposed for its antitumor action which involves the following: (a) the activation of adenosine monophosphate kinase, (b) modulation of adenosine A1 receptor (ADORA), (c) reduction in insulin/insulin growth factors, and (d) the role of metformin in the inhibition of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS); and its resultant damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule is another paramount antitumor mechanism