Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Haematological and Oxidative Stress Levels in Commercial Photocopier Operators In Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Human exposure to hazardous substances in the environment has been known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of some diseases. Photocopying machines have become a cheap source of self-employment in Nigeria. For obvious reasons the highest level of patronage is encountered in the campuses of educational institutions. However, the persons who operate the machines are always exposed to possible hazards associated with the job without protective devices.Objective: This study investigated the levels of oxidative stress, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and haematological parameters in blood samples of photocopier operators.Methods: The experimental procedure involved 50 consented subjects selected based on some criteria. The haematological parameters, oxidative stress and PAH levels were determined using standard methods.Results: The results showed no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) in the haematological parameters between the test subjects and the controls. However, there were duration on the job (yrs) dependent significant decrease in the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) of the photocopier operators compared with the controls (> 5 years p≤ 0.0001; 4-5 years p≤0.001). The level of reduced glutathione (GSH) was significantly decreased across all lengths of duration on the job compared with the controls.Conclusion: The findings in this study revealed increased level of oxidative stress in photocopier operators with no significant change in haematological parameters. The health implication of operating photocopiers call for quick health education and intervention tailored to monitoring and guiding the photocopier operators. This will help to prevent or manage continuous exposure to the hazards of photocopying machines.Keywords: Photocopier operators, oxidative stress, PAH, haematology, Nigeria

The influence of topography on some engineering and geological characteristics of two sandstone – derived lateritic soils from Ishara, Southwestern Nigeria

Clay mineralogy, major oxides geochemistry and some geotechnical properties of two sandstone-derived lateritic soils taken from two topographically contrasting sites in Ishara, Southwestern Nigeria were investigated. The higher amounts of kaolinite and ferric oxide obtained for soil samples taken from gentle slopes than in those from flat terrains indicates that the soils along the gentle slope are better drained and more laterised than those from the flat site. This phenomenon is responsible for the higher amount of gravel-size particles, lower amount of sand-size particles, lower plasticity and higher strength characteristics exhibited by soil samples along the gentle slope than those in the flat site. It is thus reasonable to win soils required for construction work from gently slopy terrains since such soils are likely to possess better geotechnical characteristics than those from flat sites. Journal of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology Vol. 3(1) 2003: 1-

Engineering Geological Evaluation Of A Proposed Landfill Site At Aba-Kulodi, Near Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

Evaluation of a location at Aba-Kulodi adjacent to kilometre 8 along the Ibadan / Ile-Ife expressway, Southwestern Nigeria was carried out to determine its suitability or otherwise as a landfill site. Two Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) 30.00m apart were executed to obtain subsurface information on depth to bedrock and possibly the water table. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from each of the two trial pits established at vertical interval of 0.50m up to a depth of 3.00m. The disturbed samples were subjected to grain size distribution and consistency limits tests while consolidation and permeability tests were carried out on undisturbed samples. The VES results revealed 3 geo-electric layers with depths to bedrock of between 14.30m and 17.60m at VES 1 and VES 2 respectively. The depths to water table measured from an existing nearby well were 8.10m and 7.00m during the dry and rainy seasons respectively, suggesting that the water table lies within the second geo-electric layer. The soil samples taken from the depth of 3.00m in the two pits are generally well-graded non-plastic sandy clayey silt, a possible indication of no compressibility. The coefficients of permeability obtained for samples from pits 1 and 2 ranges from 1.85 x 10–4mm/s to 3.91 x 10-6mm/s and 1.91 x 10-4mm/s to 2.91 x10-6mm/s respectively. The coefficient of permeability obtained for samples taken from the 3.00m depth in the two pits are significantly higher than the minimum value of 10-6mm/s recommended for soil that should form the base of landfills. The coefficient of volume compressibility at the sampling pits 1 and 2 range from 1.83 to 7.69 x10-3 m2/KN but generally increases with applied pressure (31.2 - 498.9 KN/m2) and decrease with depth (0.5 to 3.0m). Statistical treatment of the values of the coefficient of compressibility of soil samples from the depth of 3.00m in the two test pits shows no significant variation, an indication that there is no likelihood of differential settlement if the site is used for disposal of solid wastes. If in-situ compaction and lining are done, the location can be used as a landfill site. KEY WORDS: Landfill, Plasticity, Compressibility, Permeability, Compaction. Global Journal of Geological Sciences Vol.3(1) 2005: 25-3

Some geotechnical properties of a cement-stabilized granite-gneiss-derived lateritic soil from Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria

Samples of granite-gneiss-derived lateritic soil from Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria were stabilized with between 0 and 20% by weight of cement. This was with a view to determining the influence of cement on some engineering properties of the soil. Strong negative correlations of –0.97 and –0.96 were established between the percentage cement and the linear shrinkage and the plasticity index respectively. Positive correlations of 0.22 and 0.89 were established between the maximum Dry Density and the percentage cement of the samples compacted at the West African and Modified American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) levels respectively. Negative correlations of -0.49 and -0.79 were found between the optimum moisture content and the percentage cement of the samples compacted at the West African and modified AASHTO levels respectively. The influence of cement on the compaction characteristic of the soil thus increases with the energy of compaction. The influence of cement stabilization on the unconfined compressive strengths of the soil was found to be strong upon compaction at both the West African and the modified AASHTO levels. However, soil samples compacted at the modified AASHTO level without adding cement exhibited much higher strengths than those stabilized with cement and compacted at the West African level. Journal of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology Vol. 3(2) 2003: 8-1

Comparative study of the influence of cement and lime stabilization on geotechnical properties of lateritic soil derived from pegmatite in Ago-Iwoye area, southwestern Nigeria

No Abstract.Journal of Mining and Geology Vol. 44 (1) 2008: pp. 95-10

Anxiety and Depression Symptomatology in Migraine: Retrospective Review of 257 Cases from Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms/disorders among patients with migraine attending the outpatient clinic of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, KadunaMethods: This is a retrospective study. Case files of all patients who presented with 'headache syndrome' from January, 2000 to December, 2009 were reviewed applying the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria to identify those who met the criteria for migraine. These were further reviewed to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms/disorders using the ICD-10 and DSM-IV diagnostic criteria.Results: During the 10 year period, 257 of 604 patients who presented with 'headache syndrome' met the IHS criteria for migraine. Analysis of these 257 patients revealed the following; mean age of subjects 31.3 (SD 11.1) years, mean duration of illness 53.3 (SD 50.6) months, mean duration of a migraine attack 26.5 (SD15.4) hours and mean frequency of migraine attack in 3 months 1.5 (SD 0.8) times. Sixty-three (24.5%) and 36 (14.0%) of the patients had depressive and anxiety symptoms/disordersrespectively. Presence of aura (OR 3.392, P value 0.030, 95%CI 1.129 - 10.196 ) predicted depressive symptoms /disorders while presence of aura (OR 4.008, P value <0.001, 95%CI 3.201-7.520) and psychosocial stressors (OR 5.099, P value 0.024, 95%CI 1.244-20.892) were predictors of anxiety symptoms/ disorders.Conclusion : Migraineis associated with increased risk of psychiatric morbidities. Presence of aura and psychosocial stressors are the predictive factors.Keywords: Anxiety, depression, migraine, Nigeri

Toxicological Assessment Of Veronia amygdaliana Leaf Meal In Nutrition Of Starter Broiler Chicks

In a 6-week feeding trial, Vernonia amygdaliana leaf meat (VaLM) was tested as a dietary ingredient in broiler starter diets. The diets comprised VaLM included at Og (diet 1), 50g per kg basal diet (incorporated at the expense of groundnut cake and wheat offals - diets 2 and 3 respectively) and 100g per kg basal diet (incorporated at the expense of groundnut cake - diet 4). During the study, parameters such as characteristics, blood parameters, histopathology of some organs (liver, kidney, lungs, heat, gizzard and pancreas) and carcass characteristics were investigated. Birds fed on VaLM - based diets performed poorly, the effects of the diet being more pronounced on those fed diet 4. Addition of VaLM to poultry feed significantly (P<0.05) reduced feed intake and weight gain of experimental birds. Blood cellular constituents decreased significantly (P<0.05) in birds fed VaLM - based diets and there were serious histopathological changes within the liver, kidney, lungs, heart, gizzard and pancreas.Keywords: Vernonia amygdaliana leaf meal, starter broiler performance, histopatholog