Effluents Characteristics of Some Selected Food Processing Industries in Enugu and Anambra States of Nigeria

There is an increasing awareness on the problems of environmental pollution not only in developing countries like Nigeria but worldwide. Among the sources of this problem is effluent discharge from industries, particularly food processing industries. To determine the extent of this problem in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria, some industries were purposively selected and their effluent characteristics studied. The industries include Premier Breweries and Life Breweries Plc, all in Onitsha, Anambra State, Anambra Vegetable Oil Production Company (AVOP) Plc, Nnachi, Enugu State, Diamond Breweries Ltd., 9th Mile Corner, Enugu State and Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plc, Ngwo, Enugu State. The effluents were collected and analyzed for solids, organics, nitrogen, pH and total coliform using standard procedure. The results showed that total solids (TS) varied 440 to 703 mg/L, total suspended solids (TSS) from 0 to 230 mg/L and total volatile solids (TVS) from 223 to 514 mg/L. The pH of the effluents varied from 6 to 8, the COD from 684 to 3,192 mg/L, the TKN from 5.6 to 33.6 mg/L and the total coliform from 43 to 150 MPN/100 mL of effluent sample. Compared to the effluent limitation guidelines given by Nigerian Federal Environmental Protection Agency, the TSS, and COD for most of the industries are well above the limits while the TKN, pH and coliform count are within the acceptable limit. Keywords: Food processing waste, Effluents, Waste characteristics, Environmental pollutio

An Appraisal of the Environmental Impacts of Food Processing Industrial Waste in Nigeria

The food industry is now facing increasing pressure to ensure that their company's activities are environmentally sensitive, but there is also increased internal pressure to maintain or increase profitability in the face of fierce competition. In this study the environmental impacts of food processing industrial wastes and its remedy were examined. The study adopted a desk review of existing literatures on industrial waste in Nigeria. It was concluded that the food processing industries do have positive and negative impacts on the environment For all the identified negative environmental impacts, it is recommended that utilization of the best available technology; payment of optimal liability compensation to local communities and institutionalization of adequate abatement measures be adopted. The manufacturing processes should be designed to maximize recycling potential and minimize the generation of residuals. Key words: Industrial wastes, Environmental impacts, Food processing, Positive and Negative impacts,

Prevalence of sexual harassment/victimization of female students in Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, southeast Nigeria

Objective: To assess the prevalence, types and consequences of sexual harassment/victimization of female students in the University. Methodology: This was a cross sectional descriptive study. Using a cluster sampling method, 295 female students resident in the four campuses of the university were recruited and interviewed with a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: One hundred and eight (36.7%) of the respondents had experienced sexual harassment/victimization at least once on campus. Out of this, 35 (32.4%) were forced sexual intercourse while 73 (67.6%) were other forms of unwanted sexual contact including indecent touch, romance and kisses. Majority 53 (49.1%) of the perpetrators were fellow students. Similarly, majority 55 (50.9%) of the harassment/victimization took place in the student's residence, 27 (25.0%) took place at staff offices while 26 (24%) took place in other venues including hotels. The most common adverse consequence of the sexual harassment/victimization was psychosocial distress (89.8%) followed by poor academic performance (56.5%) and sexually transmitted infection (6.5%). However, 12 (11%) of the victims claimed that the harassment resulted to an improved academic performance. Being older (= 30 years) and being married were significantly more associated with being victimized. Conclusions: About a third of female students in Ebonyi State University had been sexually victimized or harassed. Fellow students were responsible for most of the incidents followed by academic staff and other university employees. Most incidents occurred in the students' hostels or residences and older students and those who were married had higher risk of being harassedJournal of Community Medicine & Primary Health vol 23 (1-2) 201

Living with vesico-vaginal fistula: experiences of women awaiting repairs in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

 Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) is one of maternal health problems confronting public health workers in Nigeria today. Information on how women suffering from this condition cope is important in that it can inform the design and delivery of programmes and interventions to address the challenges that face victims of VVF. The objective of this study was to highlight how women living with VVF cope with the health problem in Ebonyi state, Nigeria.  In-depth interviews were conducted with ten women awaiting repairs at the National Fistula Centre at Abakaliki in Nigeria. Six of the women have lived with the health problem for more than ten years. Findings show that nearly all the women attributed their health problem to supernatural causes. The women stated that they go through a lot of physical and emotional problems. Some of the ways they have devised of physically coping with the problem include bathing regularly and use of strips of old wrappers as pads. Many of them cope emotionally and financially by attending religious gatherings and having some form of income yielding business. The study recommends the need for repairs to go hand in hand with vocational training so that they will have some income yielding business after repairs. 

EFFECT OF GROUND INSULATION AND FEED STOCK ON PERFORMANCE OF FIXED DOME BIOGAS DIGESTER

The aim of the study is to determine the effect of ground insulation and feedstock on performance of fixed dome biogas digester. To achieve this, six identical fixed dome biogas digesters with volume of 32 liters were designed, constructed and used to carryout anaerobic digestion of three feedstocks namely cow abdominal waste, poultry droppings and 1:1 mixture of cow abdominal waste and poultry droppings. Three digesters were buried underground for insulation while the remaining three kept on the surface uninsulated. The ANOVA result showed that there were significant differences in the slurry temperature, volume of biogas produced and slurry pH respectively at 5% significant levels. The range of pH, Volume of biogas and slurry temperature (ST) in all the digesters with the three feedstocks were 6.987-7.045, 2.342-3.460 liters and 27.975-28.717oC, respectively. The range of values for measured physicochemical parameters  {(Ground insulated digester): (Uninsulated digesters)}  were:  TS{(4.55-5.56: (3.23-4.14)%}, VS{(3.79-4.87): (2.51-3.38)%}, BOD5 {(42.7-60.3): (36.8-54.4)mg/l}, TVC{(6.78E+05-1.09E+06): (5.44E+05-9.82E+05)cfu/ml}, Protein {(1.92-2.26): (1.64-1.86)%}, Ash{( 0.1-0.4): ( 0.1-0.3)%}, Moisture {(93.8-94.62): (95.7-95.91)%}, Fibre {(0.2-0.6): (0.2-0.5)%}, Fat {(0.45-0.8): (0.35-0.65)%},  Carbon {(3.07-4.79): (2.85-4.20)%}, COD {(160 -234.4): (149.6 -213.6)mg/l}, P{(0.22-0.28): (0.18-0.25)%} , K{(0.26-0.32): (0.24-0.29)%}, and Calorific Value {(13860-18552): (12004-17120)kJ/kg}. The total solid, volatile solid, protein contents, crude fat, BOD5, Carbon Content, COD, Phosphorus, Potassium, Total Viable Count and Calorific Value of ground insulated digester were higher than that of uninsulated surface digesters for the three different feedstocks at the end of the 30 days digestion. GC analysis of biogas showed that the percentage compositions of methane produced were 68.39%, 64.33%, 66.41%, 61.79%, 57.74%, and 59.24% for underground with cow abdominal waste, underground with poultry droppings, underground with1:1 mixture of cow abdominal waste and poultry droppings, uninsulated with cow abdominal waste, uninsulated with poultry droppings, and   uninsulated with1:1 mixture of cow abdominal waste and poultry droppings, respectively. The underground insulated biogas digester produced more methane than their counterpart uninsulated digesters containing the same feedstock signifying the importance of temperature regulation through insulation. In terms of the feedstock, the cow abdominal waste performed better than the poultry droppings in both the underground and uninsulated digesters. They mixture of 1:1 Cow abdominal waste to poultry dropping also showed better performance in methane production than the single anaerobic digestion of poultry dropping alone indicating efficiency and importance of co-digestion of feedstocks

Improving Surgical Skills of OBGYN Residents through Partnership with Rural Hospitals: Experience from Southeast Nigeria

Background: surgical burden of disease is enormous in sub-Saharan Africa where conditions amenable to surgery also contribute to high maternal mortality ratio in the region. Training of specialists in Obstetrics and Gynaecology must include acquisition of requisite surgical skills. Aim: To evaluate the impact of clinical rotations at rural hospitals on the clinical knowledge, and surgical and administrative skills of residents in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using mixed methods involving resident doctors in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria who had undergone rural postings. Information was obtained from consented residents (June 2013 to February 2015) using a questionnaire and focused group discussion. Data was analyzed using Epi info (CDC, Atlanta USA). Results: Thirty-four questionnaires (89.5%) were analyzed; 70.6% were junior residents. Junior residents had a 900% and 460% rise in the rates of emergency and elective caesarean sections they performed, and had similar increases with regard to gynaecological procedures. Senior residents had a 100% and 80% rise in performance of total abdominal hysterectomy and myomectomy respectively. Seventy-five percent of all the residents believed that their surgical skills improved tremendously while 87.5% of the senior residents believed their administrative skills greatly improved also. Conclusion: Residents in Obstertics and Gynaecology at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki believed that supervised clinical rotations in rural hospitals offered them an opportunity to improve on their clinical knowledge and surgical skills. We advocate an objective assessment of the skills and knowledge of the residents against the claimed subjective improvement.Keywords: Clinical and surgical skills, Rural posting, Resident

GIS-BASED SYSTEM ANALYSIS FOR WASTE BIN LOCATION IN ENUGU MUNICIPALITY

Waste collection in Enugu has been a major challenge requiring urgent attention. The aim of the work therefore was to study with GIS the management of the existing bin distribution and collection system in order to determine the optimal frequency for waste collection. The methods adopted include questionnaires, oral interviews and field observations to determine the state of waste collection. Waste collection points both legal and illegal dumpsites were identified using handheld GPS and the points were incorporated into a map using Arc GIS 10.2 software. A total of 177 dumpsite locations were discovered during the study. Illegal dumpsites were 35 in number sand legal dumpsites instituted by ESWAMA were 142. Out of the 142 authorized dumpsites, 55 dumpsites were clean and well managed while 87 sites were dirty and overflowing with waste. Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) Manual (2000) was used in determining the optimum location of bins. A total of 635 dumpsites were proposed with two 1 m3 waste bins at each point to accommodate daily waste generation in the municipality.Factors considered in recommending the frequency of optimum waste discharge include waste generation rate, population density, volume of dumpster and socioeconomic factors

DETERMINATION OF THE CALORIFIC VALUE OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN ENUGU, NIGERIA AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION

The work aimed at determination of calorific value of  municipal solid waste in Enugu, Nigeria and its potential for electricity generation. Random truck sampling was used according to American Society of Test and Material (ASTM)  in the collection of samples at Ugwuaji landfill site, Enugu, Nigeria and calorific value was determined using oxygen bomb calorimeter. Enugu has a present  population of 882,178 and the amount of municipal solid waste  generated in Enugu was  estimated to be 420 tonnes daily and this resulted in waste generation rate of   0.48kg/capita/day. The average composition of the municipal solid waste  was 39% putrescible, 11% paper, 21% plastics, 5% textile, and 2% metal, 3% glass and 19% others. The average moisture content Volatile matter content, Ash content and Fixed Carbon Content  of  the waste stream were 38.28%, 47.48%, 2.58% and 13.25% respectively.  The gross calorific value was obtained   as 5655837600kJ/day which is equivalent to 1571066kWh/day .This energy is equivalent to about 2.16% of the total annual Electricity used in Enugu and would result in an annual saving of US$ 560 Thousand in case of utilization, giving an alternative to the unsteady supply of electricity and ensuring a hygienic, clean and aesthetically friendly environment. The results of this research show that energy recovery is a feasible option as part of an integrated solid waste management plan in Enugu, Nigeria. However, it is recommended to perform a detailed economic analysis before making a decision on such option

Phytoremediation of emulsion paint wastewater using Azolla Pinnata, Eichhornia Crassipes and Lemna Minor

The use of three macrophytes namely Azolla pinnata, Eichhornia crassipes and Lemna minor for the phytoremediation of emulsion paint wastewater was investigated. Samples of the paint wastewater and test plants were collected and analyzed for physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal concentrations before and after phytoremediation for six weeks. The TDS of the treated wastewater was reduced by over 80.0% by each of the test plants while the TSS increased as a result of debris from withered test plants. Dissolved oxygen reduction ranged from 12.5% to 50.0%, COD from 49.5% to 57.1%, BOD from 46.7% to 54.7, heavy metals from 11.0 to 92.5%. A. pinnata appears to have performed significantly better (P < 0.05) than the other plants followed by E. crassipies and L. minor. It can be concluded that the test plants (especially A. pinnata) can be effectively used for the preliminary treatment of paint wastewater

Comparative study of the use of natural and artificial coagulants for the treatment of sullage (domestic wastewater)

This work presented a comparative study of the effectiveness of natural coagulant (Moringa oleifera and hydrolyzed cassava) extracts and artificial coagulant (alum) as primary coagulants for sullage from homes and cafeteria at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Stock solutions of these coagulants were prepared, and jar test of their varying mixing ratios used to obtain optimum dosages of 200, 30 and 1,000 mg/l for Moringa, alum and cassava respectively. The effects of these optimum dosages were tested against turbidity, pH, BOD, nutrients, hardness and coli form. All tested parameters were significantly sensitive to concentrations of used stock solutions. 100% Moringa seed extract resulted in all the treated parameters (except turbidity) being within tolerable limits. The stock solution of 100% Alum also showed all tested parameters (except pH) to be within the standards for drinking water. The combination of Moringa and alum stock solutions at 50% each (A50M50) showed the overall best result with the resultant water fit for drinking. The result of the comparative test showed that alum with its residual and health implications can be successfully replaced, partially or wholly, with natural coagulants