Heavy metals health risk assessment for population via consumption of food crops and fruits in Owerri, South Eastern, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study assessed lead, cadmium, and nickel level in food crops, fruits and soil samples from Ohaji and Umuagwo and Owerri in South Eastern Nigeria and estimated the potential health risks of metals. Samples were washed, oven-dried at 70–80°C for 24 h and powdered. Samples were digested with perchloric acid and nitric acid. Metals were analysed with Unicam Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>The concentration of Pb, Cd, and Ni in Ohaji exceeded the maximum allowable concentrations for agricultural soil as recommended by EU. Lead, Cd, and Ni in the food crops were highest in Oryza sativa, Glycine max, and Pentabacta microfila respectively. Highest levels of Pb, Cd, and Ni, in fruits were detected in <it>Canarium schweinfurthii</it>, <it>Citrus reticulata</it>, <it>Ananas comosus</it> respectively. The true lead and cadmium intake for the rice based meal were 3.53 and 0.034 g/kg respectively. Whereas the true intake of lead and cadmium for the cassava based meal were 19.42 and 0.049 g/kg respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Local food stuff commonly available in South Eastern Nigeria villages may contribute to the body burden of heavy metal. This is of public health importance.</p

Technical Strategies to Improve Tissue Engineering of Cartilage-Carrier-Constructs

Technical aspects play an important role in tissue engineering. Especially an improved design of bioreactors is crucial for cultivation of artificial three-dimensional tissues in vitro. Here formation of cartilage-carrier- constructs is used to demonstrate that the quality of the tissue can be significantly improved by using optimized culture conditions (oxygen concentration, growth factor combination) as well as special bioreactor techniques to induce fluid-dynamic, hydrostatic or mechanical load during generation of cartilage. © 2009 Springer