Deparment Of Environmental Management and Toxicology
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- ItemMarkers of Environmental Health: Nickel and Chromium Levels in Soil and Vegetation around a Steel Recycling Facility in Southwest Nigeria(SCIENCEDOMAIN international, 2014-01-02) Salami, Olalekan O.; Awotoye, Olusegun O.; Owoade, Oyediran K.Aim: To mark the environmental health status in the vicinity of a steel recycling facility in southwestern Nigeria using Nickel and Chromium levels in the topsoil and leaves of Chromolaena odorata. Methodology: Conventional methods were used to determine some soil parameters (pH and electrical conductivity in 1:1 soil: deionized water; percentage organic carbon using chromic acid oxidation method and particle size analysis using hydrometer method). The metal content in the soil and plant samples were analysed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer after digestion and extraction. Results: The results of the soil within the factory showed pH values of 7.50 – 8.80 and reduced organic matter content indicating alkaline conditions. Electrical conductivity values were comparatively higher for soils within the factory (423 – 1550 µs/m) than soils outside the factory (146 – 226 µs/m) showing presence of some soluble salts in the soil. The levels of Ni and Cr in the soil were higher within the factory than outside of the factory. Nickel concentrations of the soil increased with increasing distance from the factory up to 200 m. Similar trends occurred for Cr in the eastern side of the factory where the detectable concentrations (2.29±0.05 – 33.26±0.02 mgkg–1) was observed. The Ni content in the soil around the factory ranged from: North (0.76±0.01 – 1.46±0.06 mgkg–1); East (0.19±0.05 – 2.68±0.04 mgkg–1); West (0.21 ± 0.01 – 1.46±0.07 mgkg–1) and South (0.22±0.02 – 1.89±0.01 mgkg–1). Within the factory however, the scrap yard contained high concentration of Cr 24.15±0.04 mgkg–1 while the soils from the dumpsite for sorted wastes contained elevated concentrations of Ni (73.17±0.02 mgkg–1). Nickel and chromium content in the plant leaves in this study ranged from 1.40 – 3.60 mgkg–1 and 0.40 – 1.5 mgkg–1. Conclusion: Further increase in the Cr and Ni levels in the soil and plants of the study site poses a potential health hazard to animals that graze the area and man through consumption of forage and agronomic crops cultivated around the factory by peasant farmers.
- ItemEcological vulnerability: seasonal and spatial assessment of trace metals in soils and plants in the vicinity of a scrap metal recycling factory in Southwestern Nigeria(Springer International Publishing Switzerland, 2014-07-18) Oyediran K. Owoade; Olusegun Olufemi Awotoye; Olalekan Oluwatoyosi SalamiThe concentrations of selected heavy metals in the soil and vegetation in the immediate vicinity of a metal scrap recycling factory were determined in the dry and wet seasons using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that the soil pH in all the sites indicated slight acidity (from 5.07 to 6.13), high soil organic matter content (from 2.08 to 5.60 %), and a well-drained soil of sandy loam textural composition. Soil heavy metal content in the dry season were 0.84–3.12 mg/kg for Pb, 0.26–0.46 mg/kg for Cd, 9.19–24.70 mg/kg for Zn, and 1.46–1.97 mg/kg for Cu. These values were higher than those in the wet season which ranged from 0.62–0.69 mg/kg for Pb, 0.67–0.78 mg/kg for Cd, 0.84–1.00 mg/kg for Zn, and 1.26–1.45 mg/kg for Cu. Except for cadmium in the dry season, the highest concentrations occurred in the northern side of the factory for all the elements in both seasons. An increase in the concentrations of the elements up to 350 m in most directions was also observed. There was no specific pattern in the level of the metals in the leaves of the plant used for the study. However, slightly elevated values were observed in the wet season (Pb 0.53 mg/kg, Cd 0.59 mg/kg, Cu 0.88 mg/kg) compared with the dry season values (Pb 0.50 mg/kg, Cd 0.57 mg/kg, Cu 0.83 mg/kg). This study showed that the elevated concentrations of these metals might be associated with the activities from the recycling plant, providing the basis for heavy metal pollution monitoring and control of this locality that is primarily used for agricultural purposes.
- ItemBiodiversity Status of the Immediate Vicinity of an Iron and Steel Recycling Factory in Ile-Ife, South-Western Nigeria(Horticulture and Forestry Society from Transylvania, 2015) Agboola, Oludare O.; Salami, Olalekan O.; Oyedeji, StephenFloristic composition of vegetation communities of 27 plots established along a line transect in the four major directions was investigated in the vicinity of an Iron and Steel factory in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The aim of the study was to document the plant species composition (biodiversity) of the plant communities found within the 350 m perimeter of the facility in the study area, which will serve as a reference data, as there was no reported study for the area prior to the establishment of the factory. Plant species were identified to species level in a 10 x 10 m plot and the occurrence of each species was described in semi-quantitative terms. The vegetation is heterogeneous in nature having 31 species of tree saplings and climbers, 26 of shrubs, 15 of herbaceous plants and 4 of grasses. These 107 plant species belong to forty six (46) plant families. The dominant families included Apocynaceae and Papilionaceae (9 species), Sapindaceae (8 species), Euphorbiaceae (6 species), Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Malvaceae, Poaceae, Sterculiaceae and Verbenaceae (4 species). Among the diverse species recorded, Chromolaena odorata formed a ticket in almost all the plots. Other common species included Albizia zygia, Alchornea laxiflora, Aspilia africana, Cnestis ferruginea, Combretum sp., Icacina tricantha, Ipomoea involucrata, Momordica foetida, Panicum maximum, Paullinia pinnata, Simicrata welwitschii and Vigna gracilis. The index of similarity of the plots ranged from 6.1 to 71.8%. The potential and vulnerability of the species were highlighted. Adherence to and enforcement of environmental regulations was recommended for preservation of the native species.
- ItemHealth Problems Associated with Frequent Use of Cell Phone Among Students in University of Ibadan, Nigeria(2019) Adeolu, Adedotun T.; Adedokun, Victor A.; Salami, Olalekan O.; Ayoola, Elizabeth O.Mobile phones are no longer considered an accessory but have become a basic requirement of people’s lives. So many people especially the youths are dedicating a major part of their daily routine to using mobile phones. The popularity of the cell phones is often followed by an alarm towards the detrimental effects of cell phone radiations. This study seeks to identify health problems associated with frequent use of cell phone among undergraduate students of University of Ibadan, in southwestern Nigeria. The study was carried out among selected undergraduate students of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select three hundred and sixty-four (364) students from five halls of residence. A self administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on the socio-demographics, extent of cell phone usage, factors that influence the pattern of cell phone usage, perceived health concerns with frequent usage of cell phone. Data collected were subjected to percentage; mean, standard deviation, correlation and chi-square statistical analyses. Few (22.7%) of the students reported strong attachment to their phone and cannot do without it in a day and believed that the attachment could cause insomnia, migraine and even cancer. The findings revealed that few (15.0%) of respondents agreed that frequent phone usage could cause cancer, loss of concentration (51.7%) and anxiety (55.4%). The study showed that that there is a direct relationship with strong attachment to phone usage and insomnia, headaches and concentration which can affect the health and academic performance of students.
- ItemHealth Problems Associated with Frequent Use of Cell Phone Among Students in University of Ibadan, Nigeria(Trends in Applied Sciences Research, 2019) Adedotun Timothy Adeolu; Victor Adeyimika Adedokun; Olalekan Oluwatoyosi Salami; Elizabeth Olabisi AyoolaAbstract Background and Objectives: Mobile phones are no longer considered an accessory but have become a basic requirement of peopleʼs lives. So, many people especially the youth are dedicating a major part of their daily routine to using mobile phones. The popularity of the cell phones is often followed by an alarm towards the detrimental effects of cell phone radiations. This study aimed to identify the health problems related with frequent use of cell phone among undergraduate students of University of Ibadan, in southwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out among selected undergraduate students of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 364 students from five halls of residence. A self administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on the socio-demographics, extent of cell phone usage, factors that influence the pattern of cell phone usage, perceived health concerns with frequent usage of cell phone. Data collected were subjected to percentage; mean, standard deviation, correlation and chi-square statistical analyses. Results: Few (22.7%) of the students reported strong attachment to their phone and cannot do without it in a day and believed that the attachment could cause insomnia, migraine and even cancer. The findings revealed that few (37.7%) of respondents agreed that frequent phone usage could cause cancer, loss of concentration (51.7%) and anxiety (55.4%) Conclusion: The study concluded that there was a direct relationship with strong attachment to phone usage and insomnia, headaches and concentration which can affect the health and academic performance of students.
- ItemSoil Quality from Nigerian Alfisol Under Different Agricultural Land Use Types(Springer, 2023-06-28) Salami, Olalekan O.; Adesanwo, Olushola O.; Awotoye, Olusegun O.This study focuses on the evaluation of different chemical characteristics of humic acids (HA) from Nigeria Alfisol as surrogates of soil agroecological quality under different cultivation regimes in proximity. Conventional cassava farm, oil palm plantation, agroforestry and undisturbed sites were studied at two soil depths of 0 – 15 cm and 15 – 30 cm using elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The highest yield of HAs was recorded at the undisturbed site at the two soil depths (topsoil, 25% and subsoil, 15%). The per cent carbon of the humic acid extracted from the topsoil and subsoil clustered around 56%. Strong peaks attributed to structural vibrations of aromatic C=C and antisymmetrical stretching of COO– groups around 1630 cm–1 region was common to all the spectra. The topsoil of the oil palm plantation showed band peak at 1230 cm-1 which were attributed to C-O stretching and OH bending of COOH functional group. Cultivation type and soil depth had a great influence on the humic acid yield. Crops planted on the farms do not significantly influence the characteristics of humic acids which suggest high stability and resilience as shown in the FTIR spectra of HAs. However, notable differences in the intensity of some bands were observed depending on site characteristics and soil depth. A steady supply of plant residues in the tree-based agricultural systems significantly improved OM accumulation and quantity of humic acid.