Assessment of Municipal Waste Disposal Methods: A Case Study of Ibadan, Nigeria.

In order to prevent health hazards that can occur as a result of inappropriate waste disposal, this study was carried out to identify the various municipal waste disposal methods practiced, and present the methods that are mostly adopted in the South Sahara region. It also analyzed the effects of these methods practiced on individuals and environment, and proffered solutions to the problems facing the populace as a result of these inappropriate methods of waste disposal. The third largest city of Africa located in Nigeria, called Ibadan was used as a case study. Questionnaires of population size 5000 were administered to households in all Local Government Areas of Ibadan. 4500 questionnaires were completely filled and returned. The rating results derived from the survey revealed that the most practiced municipal waste disposal method is open burning. Keywords: Environmental Assessment, Health, Waste Disposal, Open Burning

Toxicological evaluation of the effect of phenol-contaminated water on the liver of albino rats

Phenol is a constituent of coal tar and is formed during the natural decomposition of organic materials. The effect of phenol-contaminated water on the liver of rats was investigated. Activities of some liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were determined alongside some serum indices of liver function such as serum bilirubin, albumin, globulin and serum enzymes. The total bilirubin of rats treated with phenol-contaminated water was observed to be 8.4 ± 0.8 g/l while that of control rats was 5.6 ± 0.5 g/l. Serum albumin of test rats was found to be 15 ± 2 g/l while that of control rats was 7 ± 3 g/l. Activity of all the enzymes studied reduced significantly in the liver of test rats compared with the control (P < 0.05). However, serum enzymes activity, with the exception of serum aspartate transaminase, of test rats increased significantly (P < 0.05) relative to that of test rats. It is viewed that phenol-contaminated water is hazardous to health as it may be responsible for the leakage of enzymes into the serum and may impair liver function as portrayed by reduced serum globulin and albumin