Evaluation of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) accumulation and translocation by Albizia lebbeck from industrial soil

Field samples of Albizia lebbeck, deciduous tree with drought tolerant properties, growing on industrial soil (Challawa Industrial Estate) were collected and separated into leaves, stems, roots and associated ground soil to assess the accumulation and translocation of Six Potentially Toxic Metals (PTMs) (Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni ) from the soil. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used to assess their levels. The bioaccumulation/ transfer of metals from roots to shoots and from soil to roots were evaluated in terms of translocation and bioconcentration factor. TF values of 1.22 , 1.41, 3.57 and 1.86 for Cu , Cd , Pb and Ni respectively indicate that A. lebbeck was efficient in translocation of PTMs from roots to shoots and follows the trend Cu > Zn > Ni > Cr respectively. This depicts the plant as a likely candidate for phytoextraction of Zn, Cu, Cr and Ni. BCF values of Zn (0.94), Cu (0.85), Cd (1.37), Cr (1.25), Pb (2.3) and Ni (1.66) were noted for the PTMs. This reveals that A. lebbeck may be suitable for phytostabilization of Zn and Cr in the contaminated soils as it retains high concentration of these PTMs in its roots in the study area

Accumulation and Translocation of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) from Industrial Soil by a Woody Drought Tolerant Tree, Eucalyptus citridora

Field samples of Eucalyptus citridora, a drought tolerant tree, growing in an industrial area with high anthropogenic activities (Challawa) were collected and were separated into leaves, stems and roots. The aim was to assess the levels of accumulation and translocation of six Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) (Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni) from the soil media. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used to assess the concentrations. The bioaccumulation/ transfer of metals from roots to shoots and from soil to roots were evaluated in terms of translocation (TF) and bioconcentration factors (BCF). TF values of 1.58, 1.98 , 1.07, and 1.26 for Zn , Cu , Cr and Ni respectively indicated that Eucalyptus citridora was efficient in translocation of PTEs from roots to shoots and follows the trend Cu>Zn > Ni > Cr. This is an indication that the plant is therefore suitable for phytoextraction of Zn, Cu, Cr and Ni. BCF values of Zn (0.94), Cu (0.85), Cd (1.37), Cr (1.25), Pb (2.3) and Ni(1.66)were recorded for the elements under investigation. This show that Eucalyptus citridora may be a suitable candidate for phytostabilization of Cd and Pb in the contaminated soils as it retains high concentration of these metals in its roots as seen in the study area

Viability of a Stable West African Monetary Union

There is apparently non-sychronization of business cycles in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This may likely threaten the effectiveness of the monetary union. This study investigated the viability of a stable West African monetary union in the ECOWAS region. The study used the Ghosh-Wolf output loss function after de-trending the annual growth rates of real GDP from 1975 to 2015, using Baxter-King filter approach. The results indicate that smaller economies in the region (Cape Verde, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Mali) will compromise the stability of the union because their cost of pursuing a common stabilization policy will be very high, while larger economies (Nigeria and Ghana) will incur relatively low cost compared to the other groups. Also, the output losses of WAEMU economies fall within a particular range and are relatively lower compared to that of smaller economies in the region probably because they pursue a common stabilization policy. The implication of these findings is that the stability of the envisaged West African monetary union is likely to be compromised since smaller economies in the region will be worse-off than larger economies. Thus, in order not to compromise the stability, smaller  economies should not be admitted at the initial stage of the union until they satisfy all the criteria

Determination of zinc and lead in surrounding water and gills of Tilapia zilli from ´farfazai´ pond in Kano City, Nigeria

This study highlighted the issue of heavy metal (ions) in ‘Farfazai’ pond in Kano city, Nigeria. Samples were collected on weekly basis from the study sites for nine (9) months (July 2015-March 2016). Laboratory analyses were carried out to determine the concentration of Zinc (Zn) and Lead (Pb) ions in pond water and gill samples of Tilapia zilli. These were achieved using water and fish sampling procedures as well as heavy metal determination using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results revealed that the pond water contained 4.35mg/l of Zinc and 2.61 mg/l of Lead ions while the gill of Tilapia zilli contained 9.11mg/l of Zinc and 3.39 mg/l of Lead ions respectively. An analysis of variance at P<0.05 revealed a significant difference between the Pond water and gills of sampled Tilapia zilli. It is therefore concluded that the gills of Tilapia zilli contained higher concentrations of Lead and Zinc ions than what was obtained in the pond water samples. The pond should be regularly monitored to ensure that the level of heavy metals and other pollutants do not go beyond limits that could cause unbearable health consequences. There is also the need to manage and preserve the pond as it serve as ecological “laboratory” for scientific research.Keywords: Heavy metals, Pond, Concentration, Pollutants, Public health, Implicatio

A 5 year review of the prevalence and feto-maternal outcome of eclampsia at Aminu Kano teaching hospital.

Background: Eclampsia remains a serious obstetric disorder in tropical obstetric practice. Provision of quality antenatal care is essential in reducing its incidence.Objective: To determine the prevalence and socio demographic characteristics of patients with eclampsia and also the feto-maternal outcome.Study Design: A 5-year retrospective study on eclampsia in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.Results: There were a total of 13,750 deliveries and 240 eclamptic patients during the study period, giving a prevalence of 1.75%. About 49.28% of the eclamptic patients were adolescents compared with 7.25% in the control group and 59.42% of them were primigravidas compared with 12.56% in the control group. About 91.30% of the cases were Hausas and 77.77% were from Kano metropolis. Also 82.9% of the cases were unbooked and 51.29% of them were delivered via caesarean section compared with 10.63% in the control group. Maternal mortality occurred in 12.08% of the cases compared with 0.97% in the control group. Perinatal mortality occurred in 22.71% of the cases compared with 3.86% in the control group.Conclusion: Eclampsia is one of the serious emergencies seen in Sub-Saharan Africa and is associated with increased perinatal morbidities and mortalities. Providing good quality antenatal care coupled with improving emergency capability of hospitals and establishg an intensive care unit for the care of eclamptic patients are essential in reducing maternal and perinatal morbidities and mortalities from the disease.Keywords: Eclampsia, Feto-maternal outcome, AKTH Kano

Socio-Economic Impact of Informal Financial Sector and Inclusive Growth: Empirical Evidence from North Central-Nigeria

The paper examines the socio-economic impact of informal financial sector and inclusive growth in north central –Nigeria. The notion behind inclusive growth entails analysis how employment opportunities arise and change with growth process with time. Economic growth can be accompanied by an increase in informal sector employment. Informal financial sector may support growth by reducing cost of borrowing, collateral, bureaucratic process and improving competitiveness. However, a well-functioning and regulated informal financial economy will be a critical prerequisite to achieve sustainable growth in north central-Nigeria. And also, a widespread informal financial sector with regard to employment, enterprise, and productive activities is frequently perceived as a barrier to full participation in the economy and as a hindrance to long-run economic development and poverty alleviation in this region. This is because the link between, informal financial sector, growth and inclusiveness is not fully understood. Inclusive growth has been defined as growth that takes place in a context in which economic opportunities-including employment opportunities expand, the poor’s access to these opportunities improves, and inequalities are reduced. This paper seeks to investigate the socio-economic impact of informal financial sector activities, inclusiveness’ and economic growth in north central - Nigeria. A systematic random sampling method was used to collect data from 500 informal financial sector operators in Abuja, kogi and Niger states. A multivariate panel logit model statistic was used to analyze the data in order to identify the perception of socio-economic impact of Informal financial sectors on economic growth in north central- Nigeria. The findings revealed that informal sector operators has a positive and significant impact on  growth in the region; while poverty-mentality, illiteracy, high inflation, low infrastructure, access to credit, social safety nets and information dissemination are the major problems encountered by these institutions. The paper recommends among other things the education of the rural poor to embark on viable projects, infrastructural development and favorable government policies so as to regulate the sector becomes relevan

Measurement of Radon Concentration in Water Sources around Ririwai Artisanal Tin Mine Kano State, Nigeria

In this work liquid scintillation analysis was used to measure the concentration of 222Rn in three sources of water around Ririwai Artisanal Tin mine. The annual effective dose due to 222Rn concentration in surface water source and Domestic water were also determined. The result shows that the tailing bearing water has the highest 222Rn concentration of 3.04±0.14 Bq/L followed by surface water source with 222Rn concentration of 2.51±0.13 Bq/L while the Domestic water has the lowest 222Rn concentration of 2.23±0.11 Bq/L. The results also indicated that the annual effective dose due to the 222Rn concentration is higher in surface water with 13.05±0.55 mSv/year than in Domestic water with 11.11 ± 0.44mSv/year. The mean 222Rn concentration obtained in this work is lower than 10.00Bq/L recommended by WHO and UNSCEAR. Also in this study the annual effective dose obtained is lower than the maximum permissible of 0.1mSv/year recommended by UNSCEAR. Keywords: Radionuclide, activity concentration and annual effective dos

Energy Consumption and Economic Growth: Evidence from Developed and Emerging Markets

This research analyzed the effect of energy consumption on economic growth using neo-classical one-sector aggregate production function with panel data from Emerging Markets and Developed countries over the period 2000–2013. This study has applied dynamic panel method in the form of two-step panel Generalized Method of Moments (both difference and system) GMM. The findings of this research exposed that both gross fixed capital formation and energy consumption have significant and positive effect on economic growth in both Developed and Emerging Market countries. In addition, labour force has been found to influence positively on economic growth in the group of Developed Market countries. However, labour force established the significant as well as negative effect on economic growth in the Frontier Market countries. Since the findings revealed that all the sampled countries are energy dependent, therefore, their policy makers should continue to promote the development of energy infrastructure with the aim to gain higher economic growth by making effective energy policies. This can be achieved through the allocation of more resources to the development of new sources of energy and ensure sustainability of energy use