Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure among Formulators, Repackers and Store Workers in Nairobi, Kenya

Though it is widely believed that adverse health effects occur among farm workers who handle pesticides, few studies have been done to quantify the extent to which pesticide formulators, re-packers and store workers are affected. The present study assessed the prevalence of signs and symptoms of illness due to pesticide exposure among factory workers in Nairobi Kenya using a descriptive cross- sectional study design on consenting factory workers. A questionnaire was administered enquiring about their biodata, work practices and occurrence of signs and symptoms associated with pesticide poisoning. Data was coded, entered into MS Access database and analyzed using SPSS version 11.5. Test for significance was done using chi-square to identify key variables associated with pesticide poisoning. Workers who had been in employment for less than one year reported a higher prevalence of signs and symptoms associated to pesticide poisoning such as burning skin (P = 0.004) and dizziness (P = 0.006). Workers who handled organochlorine pesticide had higher prevalence of burning of skin (P = 0.002), convulsions (P = 0.003), twitching (P = 0.004), painful swallowing (P = 0.004), dermatitis (P = 0.019) and headache (P = 0.028) among other pesticide exposure related symptoms. Workers who had handled pesticides for a longer period of time appeared to have less signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning probably suggesting that long term exposure to pesticides either imparted some form of acquired immunity to pesticides or that their longer experience resulted in better risk perception and management. Keywords: pesticide, organochlorine, organophospate, formulator, poisoning

Insecticidal activities of the sisal plant, Agave sisalana, Agavaceae extracts against white termites, Teticulitermes flavipes (Koller) rhinotermitidae

No Abstract.Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology Vol. 10 (1) 2008: pp. 70-7

Traditional medicines among the Embu and Mbeere people of Kenya

Ethnobotanical information and traditional medicines were investigated and documented in Embu and Mbeere districts, Eastern Province of Kenya. Oral interviews were obtained from over 100 herbalists, both men and women aged between 40 and 80 years. All the herbalists interviewed were Christians and had little formal education. Non-Christian herbalists were purported to combine herbal medicines with witchcraft and were not interviewed. Of the 40 commonly used herbal plants 25 were used as multi-purpose medicinal plants (mpmp), while 15 were used to treat one disease type. There was a correlation between the outpatient morbidity data at the local District hospital, and the common incident diseases treated by the herbalists. Generally a decoction or infusion of the herb was recommended for the treatment of internal or external condition of the patients. Malaria and typhoid were treatable with a total of 15 and 12 plants respectively and were among the first two commonest diseases found in the study area. Terminalia brownii was found to be the most used medicinal plant either alone or in combination with other herbs. The second and third most utilized medicinal plants were Ovariodendron anisatum and Wurbugia ugadensis respectively. Keywords: Herbalists; Herbal medicine; Terminalia; Decoction The African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol. 4 (1) 2007: pp. 75-8

Impacts of land use changes around Olkaria Geothermal Stations

No Abstract.Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology Vol. 10 (1) 2008: pp. 106-11

Antiviral activity of the crude extracts and phytochemical fractions of Aloe secundiflora against Newcastle disease virus

Crude extract of Aloe secundiflora (Aloeaceae), and three phytochemical (HPLC) fractions containing the major phenolic compounds were investigated for their effects on Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in embryonated specific pathogen free (SPF) chicken eggs. The three fractions used contained the major peaks within which the main compounds had been identified as aloenin, aloin and an aloinoside derivatives. The crude Aloe extract at 400 mg/ml exhibited antiviral effects at 100%, While 200 mg/ml resulted to 30% reduction in viral multiplication. Fraction containing aloenin (4 mg/ml = 4000 ppm) also showed 100% reduction effects of viral multiplication on NDV in nineday old embryonated chicken eggs (ECE). Fraction containing aloin (4 mg/ml = 4000 ppm) exhibited 50% reduction of viral multiplication while the fraction containing aloinside showed 70% reduction effects. The results of the study provided a justification on the ethnoveterinary use of the exudate in the prophylaxis / control of Newcastle Disease Virus. Key words: Aloe secundiflora, Aloaceae Newcastle Disease Virus, Ethnoveterinary, anthraquinones, Aloenin, Aloin Journal of Tropical Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 1 (1) 2005: 10-1

Antimicrobial Activities of Skincare Preparations from Plant Extracts

In this study, Tithonia diversifolia Helms. (A Gray), Aloe secundiflora (Miller) and Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) plant extracts were used to make herbal soaps while Thevetia peruviana (Schum) seed oil was used to make a herbal lotion for skincare. The soaps were tested for the growth inhibition of Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The lotion was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and E.coli. Although Tithonia diversifolia soap exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on the test bacterial strains, it had the least inhibition against C. albicans. Results from this study indicated that the ‘Tithonia diversifolia’ soap would have superior skin protection against the tested bacteria but would offer the least skin protection against C. albicans. The herbal lotion inhibited S. aureus and E. coli in a concentration dependent manner, however, the inhibitory effect was more pronounced on S. aureus