Anxiolytic and explorative behavioral effects of low SAR microwave radiation exposures on Sprague Dawley rats

This paper reports the effects of low SAR MW exposures on explorative activities and anxiolytic behaviours Sprague Dawley rats. 30 rats of both sexes, 6-8 weeks old, weighing 90 -130 g were exposed to various values of SAR from MW generator model ER660E from Toshiba UK. Exploratory activity studies were carried out using white-painted wooden board with 4 elevated plus maze (EPM) holes 1 cm diameter and 2 cm depth. Anxiolytic studies were carried out using EPM and Y-maze models. The mean number of dips in the explorative study varied with time after exposure from a minimum of 1.1 in females exposed to 2.39 W.kg-1 6 days post-exposure to 15.4. 1 h post-exposure to SAR of 0.48 W kg-1, the number reduced from 15.6 ± 4.88 to 8.5 ± 0.58 in males and from 14.8 ± 1.51 to 8.3 ± 0.44 in females. In the anxiolytic activity studies, the variation in the percentage time spent at open end of maze models was from a minimum of 3.92 % with SAR of 2.39 W kg-1 in males 1 h post exposure, to 75.11 % in females after 15 days. 1 h after exposure, it reduced from 79.13 to 28.45 with females and increased gradually with time to attain the control value after 15 days. These results showed that MW exposures influence the anxiolytic and exploratory behavioural activities in rats

EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO 2.45 GHZ MICROWAVE RADIATION ON MALE RAT REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Purpose: To investigate the effects of 2.45 GHz Microwave (MW)radiation exposures on the reproductive functions in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Materials and methods: 36 rats obtained from the College of Medicine animal house, weighing between 0.100 and 0.120 kg, grouped into 6 and acclimatized for 2 weeks were used. Each group was exposed to specific absorption ratio (SAR) of 0.00 (control), 0.48, 0.95, 1.43, 1.91 and 2.39 W kg-1 respectively in the irradiation chamber. Variations in the bodyweights, organ weights, sperm gross motility, sperm morphology and sperm counts were determined for various values of applied SARs using standard methods. Results: MW exposures reduced the growth rates and organ weights in a proportion that depended on the applied SAR. Exposures reduced the sperm concentration, gross motility and increased abnormal sperm cells. The highest increases in body weight and the lowest sperm gross motility were observed in the youngest age group exposed to 0.48 W kg-1. This same trend was observed in sperm counts and changes in sperm morphology. The live to dead ratio from the semen analysis of smears showed that low SARs MW exposure caused death of sperm cells as demonstrated by cell membrane taking up the eosin-nigrosin vital stain. Conclusion: MW radiation exposures caused reduction in sperm counts and motility and increased the proportion of abnormal sperm cells and induced reduction in sperm count and motility while increasing the proportion of abnormal sperm cells

Genotoxic effects of low 2.45 GHz microwave radiation exposures on Sprague Dawley rats

This paper investigates the genotoxic effects of 2.45 GHz microwave (MW) radiation exposure at low specific absorption rates (SAR). 200 Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to SAR values between 0.48 and 4.30 W.kg-1 and the DNA of different tissues extracted, precipitated and quantified. Induced deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damages were assessed using the methods of DNA Direct Amplification of Length Polymorphisms (DALP) and the Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE). Densitometric gel analysis demonstrated distinctly altered band patterns within the range of 40 and 120 bp in exposed samples and in the tail DNA of the same animals before exposure compared with control. Results were re-affirmed with SCGE (comet assay) for the same cells. Different tissues had different sensitivities to exposures with the brains having the highest. DNA damages were sex-independent. There was statistically significant difference in the Olive moment and % DNA in the tail of the exposed tissues compared with control (p < 0.05). Observed effects were attributed to magnetic field interactions and production of reactive oxygen species. We conclude that low SAR 2.45 GHz MW radiation exposures can induce DNA single strand breaks and the direct genome analysis of DNA of various tissues demonstrated potential for genotoxicity

Low level microwave exposure decreases the number of male germ cells and affect vital organs of Sprague Dawley rats

The effects of 2.45 GHz microwave (MW) radiation on the vital tissues of Sprague Dawley rats were investigated. The various tissues assessed through histopathological assay were liver, kidney, heart, testis, ovary, fallopian tube, prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymis. The animals were exposed to various level of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) which were 0 (control), 0.48, 0.95, 1.43, 1.91 and 2.39 W/kg using the microwave generator, model ER660E, Serial No MX704CCR from Toshiba UK Ltd for maximum period of ten minutes. From the results it was observed that the kidney and ovary were the most affected tissues in the female animals exposed to 2.45 GHz MW radiation when compared to the control. Hyperchromasia was observed in the ovary of the animals exposed to MW radiation. Vascular/glomerular congestion, interstitial spaces hemorrhage and tubular cells cloudiness was observed in the kidney. In the male animals, the testis and liver were the most affected organs when compared with control. There was reduction in the number of germ cells and cell disorganization observed from the testis of exposed group. The degree of reduction in the number of the germ cells varies with SARs, highest reduction was observed in the group V exposed to 2.39 W/kg which suggest that MW radiation has the potential to affects male fertility adversely. Oodema, cloudiness, glomeruli congestion was observed in the liver. There is no significant proof that the microwave radiation at this study frequency produces pathologic effects on the tissue studied except for the decrease in the number of germ cells and modification of some organs

Software Development for Estimating the Cost of Injuries and Man-hour Downtime in Hydropower Plant, Nigeria a Case Study

This work understudied injuries/accidents in power generation plants in Nigeria. The work was based on the compilation of various hazards associated with individuals working in power plants, injuries/accidents exposed to and treatment given to the injured. The cost implication due to the accidents and man-hour lost were computed using the developed visual basic programming. Data regarding cases of injuries/accidents were collated for a given period in the power plants and used in the computation. It was discovered that a lot of financial losses were been incurred by the organizations due to injuries/accidents sustained by the workers in the process of carrying out their duties. The Visual Basic Programme developed was found to be versatile, easy to understand and suitable for the estimation of cost of injuries/accidents and man-hour losses in the power plants used as case studies. This programme can also be used to predict the cost of injuries/accidents in the sector even before they occur. Keywords: hydropower, injuries, accidents, man-hour, risks, visual basi

Trace metals and mineral composition of harmattan dust haze in Ilorin City, Kwara State, Nigeria

Trace metals and mineralogical composition of harmattan dust haze was carried out on samples collected at Ilorin (80 32'N, 40 34'E) a guinea  Savanna African City located at the central state of Nigeria. These dusts were gathered at different locations using clean Petri-dishes and plastic bowls of 10cm in diameter. These were analyzed using X-ray Florescence (XRF) and Particle Induce X-ray Emission (PIXE) machine. The average concentration of the metals was (13351.75±45) mg/kg and minerals  (7.22%).The mean soil content of the total size of particles for the harmattan season for the station was calculated to be1.79765 μg/m. In conclusion, it was observed that harmattan dusts that blow across Nigeria predominantly comprise quartz and high elements.Keywords: Harmattan, Ilorin, X-ray Fluorescence and Particle Induce X-ray Emissio

Elemental concentration of Harmattan dust sample in Iwo and Oyo Town, south west Nigeria

The period of Harmattan season in Nigeria occurs between the month November and March, this is characterized by dry and dusty north easterly trade wind which blows from the Sahara Desert over Nigeria. Samples of the dust were collected at Iwo (7º 63'N, 4º 19'E) and Oyo (8º 12'N, 3º 42'E). The samples were analysed using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy) machine located at Bowen University Iwo. It was observed that the sample of dust particle collected by the means of distilled water in Iwo town contains Ca (22.278ppm), Mg (8.904ppm), and Fe (2.133ppm), and the sample of dust particle collected by the means of the first rain water of the year under consideration contains Ca (5.494ppm), Mg (6.417ppm), and Fe (0.741ppm). For Oyo location, it was observed that the sample of dust particle which was collected by the means of distilled water contains Ca (17.701ppm), Mg (11.751ppm), and Fe (3.729ppm). More so, the sample of dust particle collected by the means of rain water for Oyo contains Ca (4.138ppm), Mg (4.074ppm), and Fe (0.412ppm). The results showed that there was less effect of harmattan dust on human health due to zero or no lead (Pb) content present in the same collected during the period.Keywords: Harmattan, Distilled Water, Sahara Desert, Iwo and Oy

Comparison Of Three Numerical Methods For Estimating Weibull Parameters Using Weibull Distribution Model In Nigeria

There is a crucial need in Nigeria to enhance the development of wind technology in order to boost our energy supply. Adequate knowledge about the wind speed distribution becomes very essential in the establishment of Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS). Weibull Probability Density Function (PDF) with two parameters is widely accepted and is commonly used for modelling, characterizing and predicting wind resource and wind power, as well as assessing optimum performance of WECS. Therefore, it is paramount to precisely estimate the scale and shape parameters for all regions or sites of interest. Here, wind data from year 2000 to 2010 for four different locations (Port Harcourt, Ikeja, Kano and Jos) were analysed and the Weibull parameters was determined. The three methods employed are Mean Standard Deviation Method (MSDM), Energy Pattern Factor Method (EPFM) and Method of Moments (MOM) for estimating Weibull parameters. The method that gave the most accurate estimation of the wind speed was MSDM method, while Energy Pattern Factor Method (EPFM) is the most reliable and consistent method for estimating probability density function of wind. Keywords: Weibull Distribution, Method of Moment, Mean Standard Deviation Method, Energy Pattern Metho