Micro and Nano Plastics: A Consumer Perception Study on the Environment, Food Safety Threat and Control Systems

The ubiquitous nature and regular occurrence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the food chain and environment have made them topical subject for investigations. The subject is widely researched but a small group study focusing on ethnic black British is sparse. Thus the paper aimed to assess the consumers’ perception of the control system, environmental and food safety threats of micro- nanoplastics through a critical review and an online survey restricted to the mentioned demography. The review and focus group survey with 72 respondents, demonstrated a general awareness of the environmental detriments of plastics, microplastics and nanoplastics but not the food safety threat. Reduction of the use of plastics, especially single use plastics was overwhelmingly supported, with over 80% being in favour, In all cases, the standard deviation was low and the coefficient of variation is less than one (CV >= 1). Awareness studies remain key driver to consumer’s perception

Development of Indigenous Nigerian Tide Tables: The Challenge Before the Developing Nations

Tidal analysis and prediction have become subjects in which a number of institutions located in coastal nations are involved, either for the improvement of knowledge of the environment or for purely commercial purposes. This paper discusses the effort being made in some developing nations particularly in Nigeria, towards joining other nations in developing their own tide tables. It shows that a lack of awareness of the importance of tidal information by the policy makers and the difficulty of obtaining cooperation from the developed nations. It goes on to discuss the approach taken by the University of Nigeria to develop Indigenous Nigerian Tide Tables.El analisis y la prediccion de las mareas se han convertido en temas en los que estan implicadas un numero de instituciones que se encuentran en naciones costeras, ya sea para mejorar los conocimientos del media ambiente o a efectos puramente comerciales. Este articulo trata sabre el esfuerzo que se esta efectuando en algunas naciones en vias de desarrollo, particularmente en Nigeria, para unirse a otras naciones en el desarrollo de sus propias tablas de mareas. Muestra que existe una falta de conciencia de la importancia de la informacion sabre las mareas par parte de los responsables de tamar las decisiones y una dificultad en obtener cooperacion de las naciones desarrolladas. Continua para discutir el enfoque adoptado par la Universidad de Nigeria para desarrollar las Tablas de Mareas Nigerianas Nativas.L'analyse et la prediction des marees sont desormais des questions dont l'occupent un certain nombre d'instituts situes dans des pays cotiers, que ce soit pour ameliorer la connaissance de l'environnement ou bien a des fins purement commerciales. Cet article traite des efforts actuellement fournis, dans certains pays en developpement et notamment au Nigeria, dans le but de participer, avec d'autres pays, a l'elaboration de leurs propres tables des marees. Il montre le manque de conscience des responsables politiques face a l'importance des informations maregraphiques et la difficulte d'obtenir la cooperation des pays developpes. En outre, une discussion porte sur l'approche adoptee par l'universite du Nigeria pour developper des tables de marees nigerianes

Determination of vitamin C and total phenolic in fresh and freeze dried blueberries and the antioxidant capacity of their extracts

Berries are often tagged ‘super fruits’ and command premium prices due to their purported high concentration of antioxidants and vitamin C. This study sets out to support or dispute the above assertion through a comparative analysis of the total phenolic and vitamin C in cultivated fresh (variety; Draper, Duke and Brigatta) and freeze dried blueberry coupled with the determination of the antioxidant capacity of their extracts. DCPIP, Folin-Ciocalteu and DPPH assays were used. The total phenolic content ranged from 262.64 to 287.96 mgGAE/100 gms in the fresh berries and was 426.06 mgGAE/100 gms in the freeze dried samples. The amount phenolic content of the freeze dried blueberries is significantly higher than in the fresh blueberries. Thus the apparent antioxidant health benefit of the freeze dried berries outweighs that of the fresh berries. The fresh samples had an average measurement of 10.9 mg/100 gms of vitamin C with a small variance and the total antioxidant activity ranged from 28% to 49%

The Effects of Heavy Metals and Microbes on Extracellular Enzyme Activity at Liberty State Park

The overall goals of this research were to 1) understand the influence of microbes and heavy metals on extracellular enzyme activity in soil environments and 2) explore the possibility of using living organisms, such as microbes, to improve the enzyme activity of contaminated, poor-functioning soil—bioremediation. Microbes exude enzymes into the soil, which are vital in the cycling of nutrients in soil communities. Thus, measuring extracellular enzyme activity can be used to quantify the health of soil. In this experiment, phosphatase enzyme was measured as a proxy for enzyme activity. The study site is a closed-off section of Liberty State Park (LSP), located in Jersey City, NJ. LSP was previously a rail yard and industrial dumping ground, yet it sustains a robust forest. This thesis contains four individual chapters, each with a purpose and objective(s) that contribute to the overall goals: 1. Chapter 1 (Thesis Introduction) details the importance of this research and provides necessary background for the thesis. 2. Chapter 2 {Enzyme Activity and Metal Concentrations at LSP and HMF) provides preliminary research that quantified the metal concentration and enzyme activity at LSP, in comparison to a reference site, Hutcheson Memorial Forest (Franklin Township, NJ), with no history of heavy metal contamination. LSP has a higher concentration of heavy metals than HMF, as expected; but it also exhibits higher enzyme activity than HMF. 3. Chapter 3 (Extracellular Enzyme Activity at LSP during Bioremediation) contains two parts that contribute to the second goal of this thesis, using the microbes at LSP to improve the enzyme activity of contaminated poor-functioning soil. Both parts suggest that LSP’s microbes could be used to increase enzyme activity of poor functioning soil, and that the success of this was dependent on both the living and non-living contributors of soil environments. Finally, 4. Chapter 4 (The Effect o f Storage Conditions on Enzyme Activity) is a physical characterization study that determined that the optimum storage condition to minimize changes in enzyme activity over time was the fridge (20 °C) or the freezer (4 °C). This research will give insight into the extracellular enzyme activity of microbes that are able to survive in heavy metal contaminated sites, as well evaluate LSP\u27s potential as a source for these unique microbes used to increase the enzyme activity of contaminated soils in the field of bioremediation

An awareness survey on the presence and implications of acrylamide in West African foods and the extent of consumption of such foods

Acrylamide is a neurotoxic, genotoxic and potentially carcinogenic compound, found in a wide range of foods, particularly heat-treated carbohydrate-rich foods. Many such foods and food products of West African origin are very popular within the community and beyond but, there is hardly any data on the awareness of the presence and the potential adverse health effects of acrylamide in foods

Legislative control of quinoa in the United Kingdom and European Union

In this chapter food safety control in relation to quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) as food and food ingredient was discussed and evaluated through a critical examination of the current statutory provisions at United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) Levels. The risk if any, posed by quinoa seeds from production to consumption were identified and suggestions for compliance were made. Quinoa though novel in the UK and marketed loosely as superfood apparently does not warrant any specific (vertical) food safety control requirements and thus is not restricted by the Novel Food Regulation (EC) No. 258/97. This assertion is supported through the composition; the constituents are non-toxic, consumption of quinoa in South America dates to back to several centuries and there is no reported adverse food safety incident. However quinoa, like all foods must meet food safety requirements as stated in the Food Safety Act 1990 as amended and Regulation (EC) 178 /2002 on general food law

Development of real-time early gas kick detection model

Gas kicks occur during oil and gas drilling operations due to pressure imbalances between reservoir pressure and bottomhole pressure. Uncontrolled gas kick results in blowouts which has severe consequences including death of rig personnel. For deepwater, High Temperature High Pressure, and depleted wells, early gas kick detection may mean the difference between a successful drilling operation and a catastrophic drilling operation. Modeling the physics of gas kicks is therefore an important aspect of well control in order to detect kicks and raise appropriate alarms that demand remedial action from the rig team. Also important is the quantification of the amount of kick already in the annulus and an estimation of the kick front, all in real time. Various kick models have been developed over the years to model wellbore-reservoir interactions and aid early detection of gas kicks. Some of these models and simulators are numerical and analytical; others are based on extensive collection of well data of kick events to model drilling events signatures including kicks of various sizes. In general, for non-data driven models, the accuracy of models depends on the amount of simplification done and the validity of the assumptions made. Steady state, semi-steady state and transient models exist, but if accurate detection is to occur in real-time, it is crucial that transient models are used, that the assumptions are valid, and that oversimplification is avoided in order to reflect as closely as possible, the complex physics of wellbore-reservoir interactions. The important issues to consider include the type of fluid property model used, such as compositional or black oil models; the type of frictional model used, such as Power law or Bingham plastic model; the flow regime considered; slip velocity between the phases, and the extent to which first principles are applied to problem solving, as opposed to using correlations. Our study is on real-time estimation of gas kicks during drilling using a two-phase, fully implicit, transient flow model in a vertical wellbore. The wellbore and reservoir are coupled, and a pressure gradient is introduced at the bottomhole causing gas influx into the wellbore. The gas front is then monitored in real-time as it is transported in the circulating mud to the surface pits. The model equations are the mud and gas continuity equations, the momentum conservation equation as well as sub-models, consisting of state equations and two-phase flow correlations, where needed. Much of the complex physics of gas kick is modeled, and the outcome of this research provides a tool for gas kick prediction, detection and control, and also for the estimation of the volume of kick occurring at the bottomhole in real-time.Mechanical Engineerin

Underwater Acoustics and Depth Uncertainties In the Tropics

Acoustic velocity is known to vary with temperature, depth and salinity (TDS). Calibration of acoustic systems is required at the beginning and end (and sometimes midway) of each hydrographic operation, in order to correct for these velocity variations. Estuarine waters in the tropics were investigated employing wide combinations of temperature, depth and salinity to verify the relationships between these parameters and the acoustic velocity. A maximum error in depth of 0.2m was obtained. Consequently, in the absence of other sources of errors, acoustic systems may need to be calibrated only once in the cause of a full day bathymetric survey operation in the tropics.Se sabe que la velocidad acústica varía con la temperatura, la profundidad y la salinidad (TDS). Se requiere la calibración de los sistemas acústicos al principio y al final (y a veces a mitad de camino) de cada operación hidrográfica, para corregir estas variaciones de velocidad. Se estudia-ron las aguas de las zonas de estuarios de los trópicos, empleando amplias combinaciones de tem-peratura, profundidad y salinidad para comprobar las relaciones entre estos parámetros y la velo-cidad acústica. Se obtuvo un error máximo de 0,2 m en la profundidad. Por consiguiente, en au-sencia de otras fuentes de errores, los sistemas acústicos pueden necesitar ser calibrados sólo una vez a causa de una operación hidrográfica de un día entero de duración en los trópicos.L‘on sait que la vitesse des ondes acoustiques varie en fonction de la température, de la profondeur et de la salinité (TDS). L‘étalonnage de systèmes acoustiques est requise au début et à la fin (et parfois au milieu) de chaque opération hydrographique, afin de corriger ces variations de la vitesse. Les eaux d‘estuaires dans les zones tropicales ont été ont fait l‘objet d‘investigations à l‘aide d‘une large combinaison de températures, de profondeurs et de salinité afin de vérifier la relation entre ces paramètres et la vitesse des ondes acoustiques. Une erreur maximum de profon-deur de 0,2m a été obtenue. Par conséquent, en l‘absence d‘autres sources d‘erreurs, les systèmes acoustiques peuvent devoir être étalonnés une fois seulement pour la cause d‘une opération de levés bathymétriques d‘une journée entière dans les zones tropicales

Health Problems of the Under-Five Children in an Urban Slum in Enugu

Objective: To determine the health problems common among under-five children in a typical urban slum in Nigeria and assess the treatment patterns commonly offered to these children.Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in May-July 2010. A cluster sampling technique was used to select 245 children from 140 households and an interviewer-administered questionnaire were used on mothers of these children.Result: Majority of the mothers (89.2%) had primary/secondary education and 69.4% were traders. Most commonly reported symptoms among the children were fever, diarrhoe, cough and fast breathing (acute respiratory symptoms). Diarrhoeal (40%) and acute respiratory symptoms ( 37.6%) occuring singly or as a comorbidity were the most common illnesses while fever without any other appreciable symptoms was documented in 25.4% of the children. While 50.4% of the households visited only orthodox health facilities for treatment, 14.6% and 6.9% use only self-medication and traditional health practitioners respectively. As regards immunization, 22.7% of the children were not fully immunized. A total of 69 deaths mostly from febrile illness were reported from 58 households. There was a strong association between morbidity and some socio-demographic factors such as accommodation pattern and toilet facility. Childhood morbidity and mortality remains high in the slum in our environment.Keywords: Under-five morbidity, childhood mortality, diarrhoea, Slu

Mental health of adolescents who abuse psychoactive substances in Enugu, Nigeria - A cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Association between psychiatric morbidity and substance abuse among adolescent has been reported. However prevalence and pattern of such dysfunctions are unknown in our environment.</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>To determine the prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction and depressive symptoms among adolescents who abuse substance and also note the influence of socio-demographic factors and type of substance on the pattern of dysfuction.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was carried out among 900 adolescents selected from 29 secondary schools in Enugu metropolis. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the students. The student drug use questionnaire was used to screen respondents for substance abuse. Those who were abusing substance and matched controls (non substance abusers) were assessed for psychiatric symptoms using the 35-item Paediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) and the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Social classification was done using the parental educational attainment and occupation.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>A total of 290 students were current substance abusers. The substances most commonly abused were alcohol (31.6%), cola nitida (kola nut) (20.7%) and coffee (15.7%). Using the PSC scale, 70 (24.1%) subjects compared to 29 (10.7%) of the controls had scores in the morbidity range of ≥ 28 for psychosocial dysfuction. This was statistically significant (χ²= 17.57 p = 0.001). Fifty-four subjects (18.6%) had scores in the morbidity range of ≥ 50 for depressive symptoms using the Zung SDS compared to 21 (7.7%) of controls. This was statistically significant (χ²= 14.43, p = 0.001). Prevalence of dysfunction was not significantly related to age in both subjects and controls (χ²= 4.62, p = 0.010, χ²= 4.8, p = 0.10 respectively). Also using both scales, there was no significant relationship between psychosocial dysfunction and gender or social class in both subjects and control. The prevalence of dysfuction using both scales was significantly higher in multiple abusers compared to single abusers. Subjects abusing alcohol scored more on both scales compared to those abusing other substances.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction is higher in adolescents abusing substance compare to controls. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was not related to the age, gender or social classes in the study population.We advocate periodic screening of our adolescents for drug abuse regular evaluation of such group for possible psychopathology.</p