Bioremediating Effect of Glomus Hoi and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa on the Organic Content and Heavy Metals of Soil Polluted with Oil Refinery Effluent using Amaranthus Cruentus as a Test Plant

This study analyzed the degrading effect of Glomus hoi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the organic content and heavy metals of oil refinery effluent polluted soil using Amaranthus cruentus as the test plant. This study was carried out to determine if agricultural activities can be improved using any or both of the micoorganisms. Eight different treatment layouts were used with three replicates for each level of pollution in the treatment layout. Ninety six (96) pots, each containing three kilograms of soil from both sterilized and unsterilized soil were used for the study. Fifty (50) grams of soil inoculum from propagated Arbuscular mycorrhiza was inoculated to a set of twenty four (24) experimental pots containing both sterilized and unsterilized soil before A. cruentus seedlings were transplanted to them. Another set of twenty four (24) pots containing both sterilized and unsterilized soil were injected with thirty (30) mL of P. aeruginosa inoculum solution before transplanting A. cruentus seedlings to them. The third set of twenty four (24) pots received dual inoculation of both fifty (50) grams of soil inoculum containing G. hoi and thirty (30) mL of P. aeruginosa inoculum solution before A. cruentus were transplanted to them. The residual twenty four (24) pots served as the control. Thereafter, pot preparation was arranged in the screenhouse in a randomized block design. The A. cruentus seedlings were raised in nursery for a period of two weeks before they were transplanted to the pots, seedlings were left for 3 days to overcome transplanting shock before contaminating the soil with refinery effluent at various concentrations of 0%, 2%, 4% and 6% v/w. The seedlings were allowed to grow for eight weeks before the termination of the experiment. The pre planting analysis of soil showed that heavy metals analyses (zinc and iron) of sterilized soil had a lower concentration to the unsterilized. The soil pH ranged from 6.3 to 6.8. It also revealed that organic matter and organic carbon content ranged from 0.8% to 1.3% and 0.4% to 1.7%. However, after the experiment, it was discovered in this study that treatments without any microorganism inoculation in sterilized and unsterilized soil had a higher level of % organic carbon and % organic matter content compared to the other treatments that were inoculated with one or two micro-organisms across all the levels of effluent concentration. Heavy metals of soil in all the soil samples were found to increase as the petrochemical effluent increased in concentration. The results obtained were analyzed using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) and other descriptive statistics. This study opined that the combined use of G. hoi and P. aeruginosa was more effective in improving the organic contentand the reduce heavy metals of oil refinery effluent polluted soil than when either is used singly

The Growth Enhancement Support Scheme: Productivity and Shortcomings among Rice Farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Increasing access to improved farm inputs at a subsidized rate has urgently become the focus of government programmes. This study therefore examined the effect and shortcomings of GES Scheme on rice farmers’ productivity. A cross-sectional data of 160 smallholder rice farming households was selected through multistage random sampling technique from three major rice-producing local government areas. The total number of communities randomly selected was six. The data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire and the objectives were analysed using descriptive statistics and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) index. The results revealed that the average age of the rice farmers in the study area was about 46 years. More male farmers (73.1%) were involved in the Scheme than their female counterparts. Among the registered rice farmers, 58.7 percent received telephone alerts for the subsidized inputs (fertilizer and seeds), but not all the farmers were able to gain access to the inputs due to cash constraint, missing names at the redemption centres, untimely supply, among others. The results from the TFP index showed that the participants were productive. They had an average of 10% net gain from the cost incurred in production. Using the TFP index, it was revealed that rice farmers in Gbonyin local government area are the most (80%) productive among others. It was therefore recommended that timely supply of inputs should be ensured and an efficient monitoring team should be in place to check inadequacies in this Scheme

Perceptions of Nigerian Women about Human Papilloma Virus, Cervical Cancer, and HPV Vaccine

Background. Cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) though preventable has claimed the lives of many women worldwide. This study was embarked upon to evaluate the general knowledge and perceptions of Nigerian women on HPV, cervical cancer, and HPV vaccine. Methods. Structured questionnaires were administered to a cross section of 737 women randomly selected from the general population in two southwestern States of Nigeria. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS computer software version 16. A value >0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. One hundred and seventy-six (23.9%) of the respondents had knowledge of HPV; 474 (64.3%) are aware of cervical cancer but only 136 (18.5%) know that HPV causes cervical cancer. 200 (27.1%) are aware that there is an HPV vaccine while 300 (40.7%) had knowledge of Pap smear test. Two hundred and sixty (35.3%) of the respondents know that early detection of HPV can prevent cervical cancer and in spite of this, only 110 (14.9%) have taken the Pap smear test before while 151 (20.5%) are not willing to go for the test at all. Conclusions. There is therefore the need to create proper awareness on the HPV and its possible consequence of cervical carcinoma

Assessing Human Health Risks in Asejire Lake: Implications for Water Resources in Industrialized Ibadan, Nigeria

The preliminary human health risk assessment of Asejire Lake water, Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria has been carried out. The industrialized Ibadan environs is thickly populated and this really has influence on the water resources in the area. Some selected toxic metals analyzed were subjected to evaluation using contamination indexes, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk parameters and also compared with WHO and NSDWQ (Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality) water quality standards. ICP-MS laboratory techniques were used for hydro-chemical analyses to give the concentrations of the selected metals. Average concentrations of the metals are less than prescribed standards except Al (0.39 ppm) and Fe (1.41 ppm). The contamination factors ranged from low contamination to very extremely high contamination factors with extremely high degree of contamination. Non-carcinogenic parameters values are generally <1 and average carcinogenic parameters values ranged within 10-6 and 10-4 (which makes the water carcinogenic health risk most especially to children). The sources of contaminations are both anthropogenic and geogenic. Hence, agricultural, industrial and domestic waste disposals must be checked and mining activities must not be allowed in the area. &nbsp

Hepatitis E virus infection in high-risk populations in Osun State, Nigeria

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging infection that is of major public health concern, especially in some vulnerable groups like immunosuppressed individuals, pregnant women and HBV-coinfected individuals. HEV is transmitted faecal/oral or zoonotically depending on the HEV-genotype. This study aimed at investigating HEV infections among different at-risk populations in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. A total of 720 serum samples were collected from animal handlers, pregnant women, people living with HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected individuals. Commercially available Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) were used for the detection of anti-HEV total and IgM antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out in the HEV seropositive samples and all the samples from individuals infected with HBV. Descriptive analysis and chi-square test of association were performed. The anti-HEV total antibody seroprevalence in HIV-positive individuals, animal handlers and pregnant women was 11.4% (n = 47/411), 7.9% (n = 7/89), and 6.3% (n = 10/160), respectively. Markers of acute HEV infection (anti-HEV IgM) were detected in 2.2% of HIV-positive individuals (n = 9/411) and 1.8% of animal handlers (n = 2/89), respectively, and in 0.6% of pregnant women (n = 1/160). However, all samples were HEV RNA negative. This study analysed the presence of markers of HEV infection among different at-risk populations without clinical symptoms of HEV infection. Our results showed that HEV is an underestimated threat to public health in Nigeria and underlines the need of an HEV surveillance system to understand the distribution and transmission of HEV infection in animals and/to humans.Peer Reviewe

Physico-chemical and bacteriological assessments of shallow well water samples during the dry and rainy seasons

There is need to study the impact of seasonal variations on well water quality especially in Ado – Ekiti metropolis as this will assist in creating awareness on groundwater quality for domestic consumption. The quality of groundwater obtained during dry and rainy seasons from 60 privately utilized hand-dug closed wells in Ado Ekiti metropolis were assessed. Physicochemical and bacteriological investigations were carried out according to required standards. The temperature, colour, turbidity, pH, total solids, chlorides, sulphate, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, and iron, which are physico-chemical parameters of the well water samples ranged from 24.7 to 25.6 OC, 4.1 to 7.3 HU, 3.7 to 6.9 NTU, 7.3 to 7.5, 95.7 to 211.1 mg/L, 38.6 to 74.6 mg/L, 34.3 to 64.9 mg/L, 24.3 to 49.4 mg/L, 48.1 to 89.0 mg/L, 0.4 to 0.8 mg/L and 0.05 to 1.0 mg/L respectively. Despite the fact that the parameters were within the acceptable ranges, bacteriological studies showed the presence of E. coli (ranged from 19.5 to 81.6 CFU) throughout the seasons, thus, individuals who rely on groundwater for their health are exposed to disease-causing organisms. Deductions from the correlation matrix equally, demonstrated the relative dependence of the parameters on one another as they variate according to the change in weather. Mostly during the rainy seasons, higher concentrations of the physicochemical and bacteriological parameters were observed than during the dry seasons, proving that the rainy seasons aid anthropogenic activities from the surface to transmit dissolved harmful waste materials to the subsurface which eventually finds its paths into the groundwater. Improper disposal of faeces, faulty soak-pits, latrines, dumpsites and burial grounds are part of the factors that contribute to bacteriological pollutants in the groundwater source

Human Health Risk Assessment Data of Selected Trace Elements’ Concentrations in Floodplain Water of Jebba-North, Central Nigeria

The consumption of the water from the floodplain of River-Niger by denizens of Jebba-North pose a significant health risk, as it is being exposed to waste from industries, agricultural facilities and households from the congested urban areas. The risk is more pronounced as people living near floodplain uses it for their domestic needs. The study uses ICP-MS method to analyse water from the samples’ area; and the exploratory analyses of the water for the following trace elements: "Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn" were carried out. The analyses showed that the mean daily intake by both adult and children, using the Hazard Index (HI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) of the elements, except Cr and Pb was >1; this is above the standard prescription of <1 for non-carcinogenic health risk. The standard limits for carcinogenic elements, Cr and Pb, are 10-6 and 10-4 respectively. The test results for both adult and children showed that their intake of Cr and Pb elements from the flood plain is higher than the limit. Conclusively the consumption of water from River- Niger floodplain at Jebba-North pose a health risk that are both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic in nature

Groundwater Quality Assessment in Iworoko-Ekiti Environs, South-Western Nigeria using Chemical Indices: Implications for Irrigation and Household Utilities

Groundwater quality of Iworoko-Ekiti and environs for irrigation and domestic purposes has partly been established using chemical indices. Groundwater quality assessment in the area is of great importance because of the influence of various activities in the area. The area is thickly populated by citizens and higher institution students across Nigeria. At the moment, sanitary conditions are very poor as the main occupations are trading and farming. Nineteen hand-dug wells were randomly sampled within the settlement. Flame photometry and spectrometry were used for cations and anions analyses respectively. Average values of pH, EC and TDS are 7.02, 342µS/cm and 230ppm. The average trend of major cations and anions concentrations is Ca2+>Na+>Mg2+>K+ and HCO3->Cl‑>SO42->CO32- respectively. Average values of Degree of Contamination and Revelle Index are 14 and 0.6 respectively. SAR, MAR, %Na, KI, TH, CIA-1 and CIA-2 has an average value of 0.7, 37.4, 24.8, 0.3, 162ppm, 0.4 and 0.9 respectively. Based on these values, the water is suitable for irrigation. In general, 31.6% of the hand-dug wells are slightly acidic and 10.5% have Revelle index >1 above recommended values respectively. 10.5% from the hand-dug wells have KI above one, 5.3% has MAR above recommendation making them unfit for irrigation purposes. Hence, majority of the wells are suitable for irrigation with exception of a few wells. However, the elevated Cl- concentrations in all the wells, make them unfit for human consumption. Weathering of migmatite and granite gneisses together with anthropogenic activities really contributed to the chemistry of the groundwater

Detection of Q129H Immune Escape Mutation in Apparently Healthy Hepatitis B Virus Carriers in Southwestern Nigeria

As the global effort to eradicate hepatitis B continues, immune escape mutations (IEMs) and drug resistance mutations (DRMs) affecting its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are compromising this goal. However, knowledge about the prevalence and circulation of these mutations in Nigeria is scarce. Serum samples (n = 199) from apparently healthy prospective blood donors, pregnant women, and individuals presenting with fever in southwestern Nigeria were analyzed for the presence of IEMs and DRMs by means of nested PCR in the HBV S (HBs) and HBV polymerase (Pol) genes, followed by phylogenetic and mutational analyses. In total, 25.1% (n = 50/199) of samples were positive for HBV, as measured by PCR. In 41 samples (20.6%), both fragments could be amplified, whereas the HBs gene and the Pol gene fragment alone were detected in 0.5% (n = 1/199) and 4% (n = 8/199) of samples, respectively. Sequences were successfully obtained for all 42 HBs gene fragments but for only 31/49 Pol gene fragments (totaling 73 sequences from 44 individuals). All sequences were identified as HBV genotype E. IEMs were present in 18.2% (n = 8/44) of the sequences of HBV-positive individuals with available sequences. IEM Q129H was detected in eight out of the 44 (18.2%) HBV isolates sequenced in this study; however, no DRMs were observed. This study confirms the circulation of HBV IEMs and reports the presence of Q129H IEM for the first time in Nigeria. Intensified research on the dynamics of IEM is necessary in order to enhance the elimination of HBV.Peer Reviewe

The Growth Enhancement Support Scheme: Productivity and Shortcomings among Rice Farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Increasing access to improved farm inputs at a subsidized rate has urgently become the focus of government programmes. This study therefore examined the effect and shortcomings of GES Scheme on rice farmers’ productivity. A cross-sectional data of 160 smallholder rice farming households was selected through multistage random sampling technique from three major riceproducing local government areas. The total number of communities randomly selected was six. The data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire and the objectives were analysed using descriptive statistics and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) index. The results revealed that the average age of the rice farmers in the study area was about 46 years. More male farmers (73.1%) were involved in the Scheme than their female counterparts. Among the registered rice farmers, 58.7 percent received telephone alerts for the subsidized inputs (fertilizer and seeds), but not all the farmers were able to gain access to the inputs due to cash constraint, missing names at the redemption centres, untimely supply, among others. The results from the TFP index showed that the participants were productive. They had an average of 10% net gain from the cost incurred in production. Using the TFP index, it was revealed that rice farmers in Gbonyin local government area are the most (80%) productive among others. It was therefore recommended that timely supply of inputs should be ensured and an efficient monitoring team should be in place to check inadequacies in this Scheme