Assessment of Water Quality and Degradation in Relation to Anthropogenic Activities: A Case Study of River Benue, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

¹Friday Adejoh Ogwu & ²Amina Ibrahim Turaki

¹Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola

²Department of Natural and Environmental Sciences, American University of Nigeria, Yola

Email: fridayogwu@mautech.edu.ng, fridayogwu@hotmail.com

 Corresponding author: Friday Adejoh Ogwu

ABSTRACT

The paper assesses the water quality of the River Benue in Jimeta and in relation to human activities. The study assesses three different stations and conducted several interviews, observations and laboratory procedures to assess physiochemical properties of the water. Assessing water quality involved collecting water samples from each of the three sampling units. Laboratory test were further conducted which included PH and coliform tests. Secondary data was used to investigate the concentration of heavy metals and other physiochemical properties. Activities were observed and recorded in each of the units; interviews were also carried out to attain general data on the activities in each of the units. Water quality in each of the three sections was assessed successfully. None of the three sampling units had water sample that is permissible for drinking or any related process that involves ingestion of the water. To be more specific, results showed that although water sample from Jimeta dumpsite was neutral, it exhibits the property of high concentration of metals and coliforms. The paper concludes that water sample from Jimeta dumpsite has the highest level of contamination. Nevertheless, activities were more intense at the Jimeta Bridge compared to the other two sites. However, it is recommended that the Adamawa State Government and related organizations should integrate quality management with the quantity of water within a comprehensive, decentralized and participatory management system and also conduct a risk assessment in order to advance possible solutions to associated risks.

Keywords: Assessment, water quality and degradation, anthropogenic, River Benue

Oil and Gas Pipelines versus Environmental Health and Safety in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Friday A. Ogwu

School of Environmental Sciences

Department of Urban and Regional Planning

Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, NigeriaEmail:fridayogwu@mautech.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

This paper analyses the impact of oil and gas pipelines on the environment and settlements from the perspective of environmental health and safety, using a case study of the oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The paper mobilises theories of environmental justice to support an in-depth empirical analysis of the development and management of oil and gas pipelines in the region.The empirical evidence equally suggests that the lack of community involvement and appropriate recognition of some groups of stakeholders in the management of the oil and gas pipeline project is strongly related to the incidence of pipeline impacts on the communities. The paper advocates a new approach, based on the core principles of environmental justice that promotes inclusion of the necessary stakeholders, including the physical planners, and would incorporate local knowledge and experience into the environmental management of the region in a way to protect the environment and people from the impacts of the pipeline.

Keywords: environmental justice, planning, oil and gas pipelines, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Prevalence of Malnutrition among Under Five Years Children at Pediatric Unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria from January 2011 -December 2014

¹Mfuh Anita L, ²C. S. Lukong & ³Agbam G

¹Department of Nursing Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

²Department of Pediatric Surgery, Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto

³Department of Nursing, Delta State University

Email: lukonganita@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The study aimed at identifying the prevalence of malnutrition among under five years children at Pediatric Unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika Zaria from January 2011-December 2014. This was a retrospective study using case notes, admission and mortality registers retrieved from the hospital`s medical record department. A total of 342 children aged between 0-59 months who were admitted into the hospital on account of Protein energy malnutrition during the period of study served as the sample. 192 were males while 150 were females. The data revealed a decreasing trend in malnutrition. Unclassified type of malnutrition was the highest prevalent (34.2%) followed by marasmus (28.8%). Male children were mostly affected (56.1%). Outcome of treatment revealed that most (88.3%) of the children were discharged while a few died. It was therefore recommended that infant feeding practices should be strengthened and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for children for the first six months of life emphasized to mothers, also increased caloric intake with vitamins and electrolyte supplements.

Keywords: Malnutrition, Prevalence, Under Five Years

Development of an In-Situ Technique to Dynamically Monitor the Release of Copper from Copper Water Pipe

    Katuzu Musa Ibrahim¹, Ibrahim. A. Hodi¹, Mohammed Bukar² & Yagana Abba sidi²

Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Yobe¹

  Shehu Sule of College Nursing and midwifery, Damaturu²

Corresponding author: Katuzu Musa IbrahimEmail:musaibrahimkatuzu@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The effect of long-term stagnation of water in copper pipe plumbing systems released various concentration of copper to the water. The analysis of stagnation time of water in copper pipe for the concentration of copper using ultrapure water, spring water and tap water were carryout in the laboratory using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The analysis deals with water quality modification during its stagnation time in copper pipe cause electrochemical processes. Several variables were investigated, varying water composition in tap water, spring water, and ultrapure water from instrumentation laboratory for the stagnation time in the copper pipe for the different concentrations of copper metal released into the water, using different time of stagnation of 7 hours. For the experimental conditions used during stagnation time of water in the copper pipe in this work, the total concentration of copper released by the copper pipe into the water increases during the first four (4) hours of stagnation, which shows the oxidation of metallic copper which increase the concentration of the copper into the water when the release of copper is control by scale formation, the concentration of copper decreases steadily for the remaining hours in both the water sample been analyzed. The concentration of copper released from copper water pipe increases and decreases steadily due to the oxidation of cuprite (Cu₂O) and the solubility of malachite (CuCO₃Cu (OH₂)) in the tested water (spring water, ultrapure water and tap water), vary from 1 hour, 2 hours 3 hours, 4 hours and 7 hours respectively due to order of magnitude depending on the stagnation time. Indeed copper released into the drinking water by copper pipe became the major source of copper pollution into our system which contributes significantly to the dietary intake of copper through copper in drinking water. The acceptable limit of copper in drinking water is 2 mg/L (J. Dartmann et al., 2010) if drinking water exceeds this limit, the water can be treated.

Keywords: Stagnation, copper pipe, concentration, water, ultrapure.

Histological Evaluation of Ethanoic Extract of Watermelon Seed on the kidney of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rat

Okafor I. J & Elemuo C. O

Department of Anatomy

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Uli, Anambra State

Corresponding Author: Okafor I. J

ABSTRACT

The effect of ethanoic extract of watermelon seed was studied in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, lifelong condition that affects the body’s ability to use energy found in food. This led to the study of its effect on the kidney. Twenty adult female wistar rats 150g to 250g were assigned to four groups (A, B, C, and D) consisting of five rat each. Group A was the negative group induced with diabetes with no treatment. Group B was the high dose induced with diabetes and was given 0.8ml of the extract. Group C was the low dose induced with diabetes and was given a low dose of extract 0.3ml. Group D is the control fed with food and water. Alloxan was injected at three dose interval; the blood sample was collected to determine the glucose level in all the experimental groups. At three days interval blood was collected from the different group to determine their glucose level. At the end of the fifth week the animals were sacrificed. The kidney were collected and processed for histological studies using H and E technique. Biochemical result of this study revealed increase in urea and creatinine level in the negative group, there is no significant different across the group P< 0.5. Histological result interstitial congestion in the negative group, with unremarkable glomeruli in the group treated with watermelon extract. In conclusion, these results showed that citrullus lanatus has hypoglycaemic properties and can therefore be employed in the treatment of diabetics.

Keyword: Citrullus lanatus, Alloxan, Diabetes, Kidney