Scholarly Publication
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Now showing 1 - 5 of 45
- ItemFarmer’s Knowledge, Practices and Exposure with Pesticide Usage in Selected Farm Settlements in Kwara State, Nigeria(Afropolitan, 2023-07-17) Amuda-Kannike A; Adewoye S. O; Sawyer H. OThe study investigated farmer’s knowledge, practices and exposure with pesticide usage in selected farm settlements in Kwara state, Nigeria. Three hundred and sixty-three respondents were sampled from two senatorial districts and a local government each, whose residents were predominantly farmers were targeted. Data collected was analyzed using frequency count, percentage and Pearson correlation. It is revealed that, more male 278 (76.6%) respondent farmers participated in the study than their female 85 (23%) counterparts. High level of illiteracy 150 (41.3%) was discovered amongst the farmers who relied upon different sources of information about safe pesticide mixing, storage, and application with Pearson correlation coefficient that signifies a positive linear correlation at p < 0.01 and P < 0.05 level of significance (2-tailed). Since the results show a very high statistical significance of p < 0.05 (2-tails), the hypothesis test that there is no significant relationship between sources of information and pesticides usage by farmers is rejected. This simply means that the respondents did really rely on different sources of information on pesticide usage. The findings also revealed that, the farmers employ unhealthy and poor practices due to high level of illiteracy by not following the recommendations regarding the safe usage of pesticides which makes them susceptible to pesticides exposure. It is therefore concluded that, there is significant relationship between farmer’s practices in the usage of pesticides and their level of exposure to pesticides. It is recommended that farmers should be enlightened more about the toxic effects of pesticides exposure as well as self protective literacy on pesticide application in other to protect themselves from pesticide exposure associated degenerative diseases
- ItemSearching for What You Can’t See - Evaluation of Pesticide Residues in Grain Sold at Selected Markets of Southwest Nigeria(medRxiv, 2022-12-13) Modupe Abeke Oshatunberu; Adebayo Oladimeji; Sawyerr Olawale Henry; Morufu Olalekan RaimiBackground Studies on the use of pesticides in southwest Nigeria have revealed a substantial rise in a variety of pesticide-related illnesses, including mental impairment and reproductive problems. Those who work in agriculture and are regularly exposed to pesticidesare the most impacted. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that three million severe pesticide poisoning episodes occur globally each year, with at least 300.000 deaths and 99% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income nations. The effects of longer-term exposure to pesticides on health are not yet precisely estimated. Objectives To this end, the objective of this study is to assess the knowledge of pesticide residues and common pesticides in grain-based food (brown and white beans, yellow and white maize, brown millet and rice) about pesticide use in selected markets of Southwest Nigeria. The markets were Oja-titun (market) Ile-Ife, Osun; Alesinloye Market Ibadan, Oyo; Oja Oba, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti; and Oja Oba, Akure Ondo State. The identification and quantification of pesticide residues was done using a Varian 3800/4000 gas chromatograph mass spectrometer while 60 structured questionnaires were administered to respondents including food merchants, buyers/consumers as well as food vendors. Methods A total of 240 respondents were selected from four states (Ado-Ekiti, Ibadan, Osun and Ondo) with the aid of structured questionnaire and interview guide using purposive sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results Up to 50.4% never read instructions on pesticide application while a shared 24.8% read them always and occasionally. The number of respondents who never read the instructions were particularly high in Ekiti and Ondo, up to 52.5% of the respondents in Ekiti do not know whether or not they are exposed to pesticides during application. Also, majority of the respondents never attended any professional training on pesticide application, this amounted to 79.3%. Most people were not aware that unsafe pesticide application is harmful to human health. Similarly, a wide variety of symptoms were reported by respondents following pesticide application or consumption of grains, these included headaches and dizziness, itching and redness of the eyes, skin allergy, diarrhea, and stomach disorder, vomiting and loss of appetite, weakness of the body, asthma, permanent skin patches, shortness of breath, excessive sweating. Millet recorded the highest number of OCP residues while maize had the lowest. On the contrary, maize had the highest number of OPP and carbamate residues while millet had the lowest number of OPP residues. Meanwhile, maize, rice and beans had only one carbamate pesticide residue. Conclusions According to the study's conclusions, farmers who can only get information from agricultural extension officials should receive urgent and immediate attention for raising awareness. Additionally, extensive IPM training programs must be created with the intention of disseminating precautions for protecting human health and a healthy agro-ecosystem. In order to find more effective pest management methods that utilize less pesticides, it is crucial to reevaluate the pesticide residues and common pesticides found in grains in the targeted markets. To reduce farmers' exposure to pesticides, it is also required to establish personal protective measures, special educational initiatives, and legislation promoting the use of safer pesticides. Significance and novelty This study gives policymakers a comprehensive understanding of the ways that may be utilized to close the significant knowledge gap on pesticide residues in grains and provides an insight into the knowledge of pesticide residues and common pesticides in grains.
- ItemWater Quality Assessment of the Man-Made Jabi Lake, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria(JASEM, 2023-06-16) DANIEL, M; SAWYERR, HO; OPASOLA, OA; EKUNDAYO, DE; ATIMIWOAYE, AD; MUSA, O; SULE, RThe quality of the water needs to be evaluated in order to guarantee that everyone has access to clean water which is both sustainable and available. The objective of this research is to evaluate the water quality in-terms of physicochemical characteristics of the Man-made Jabi Lake in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria using standard methods. Water samples were collected from three sites along the lake, and their pH, alkalinity, conductivity, total hardness, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, phosphate, and nitrate concentrations were analyzed. The ANOVA results showed that there was no significant difference (0.089 p-value for physical parameters, 0.135 p-value for chemical parameters and 0.530 p-value for metals) in the physicochemical characteristics among the three sites. The Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a high positive correlation (r = 0.999) among the sample points, indicating that a change in the concentration of these parameters in one site would lead to a similar change in the other locations. These findings suggest that pollutants in one part of the lake may impact the entire ecosystem, and management strategies should consider the interconnectedness of the lake's water quality. The study concludes that the stream has a moderate level of pollution and is not suitable for direct consumption or use in the home.
- ItemNutritional content of food served to pupils in National School Feeding Programme (NSFP) in Kaura Local Government, Kaduna State Nigeria(ZEAL Scientific Publication, 2022-02-26) Mubarakat Iyabode Alabede; Olaniyi Afolabi Opasola; Henry Olawale Sawyerr; Solomon Olayinka AdewoyeNutritious food maintains good health, cognitive development, and academic performance in children, necessitating Nigeria's National School Food Programme (NSFP). Despite the economic growth observed in developing countries, malnutrition and particularly under nutrition is still highly prevalent. Therefore, assessing the food quality of the NSFP in terms of the nutritional content of food is essential at ensuring that the objective of improving access to education of the programme is achieved. This study assessed the nutritional content of food (proximate analysis) of food distributed to pupils by the NSFP in Bauchi local government, Bauchi state Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study and a simple random technique was used involving 17 schools and 5 different meals were sampled. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency tables and percentages. The result revealed that beans were mostly consumed. 0.04%-0.3%, 71.66%-75.56%, 0.02%. -0.6%, 6.2%-10.1%, and 15.7%-19.2 % in carbohydrate, protein, lipid, ash and moisture respectively while the nutritional content of white rice ranged from 73.6%-78.22%, 0.02%-0.7%, 0.2%. -0.7% ,7.2%-9.1% and 13.7%-17.5% in carbohydrate, protein, lipid, ash and moisture respectively. Also, the nutritional content of yam and stew served ranged from 70.71%-75.14%, 0.02%-0.4%, 0.12%.-0.56%, 7.7%-10.2% and 14.6%-18.9 % in carbohydrate, protein, lipid, ash and moisture respectively while the nutritional content of jollof rice ranged from 72.24%-74.13%, 0.05%-0.06%, 0.2%.-0.56% ,8.0%-9.3% and 16.2%-19.5% in carbohydrate, protein, lipid, ash and moisture respectively and nutritional content of yam and oil ranged from 71.0%-85.3%, 0.02%-0.8%, 0.03%.-1.2% ,1.63%-11.0% and 9.0%-17.0% in carbohydrate, protein, lipid, ash and moisture respectively. Most of the meals are high in carbohydrates and moisture with low protein. On the contrary, the quality, quantity and low in protein diets are of great health concern if the consumption of the foods were not complemented.
- ItemA COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DUMPSITES METAL LOADS AND ECOLOGICAL RISK IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN KWARA AND EKITI STATES, NIGERIA(medRxiv, 2022-12-27) T.T. Abolayo; H.O. Sawyerr; R.O Yusuf; T.S.Ajai; A.T. TowolawiThis study compared the presence of selected heavy metals in Gbagede dumpsite (GD) and Ilokun dumpsite (ID) dumpsite in Kwara and Ekiti State with the host communities Gbagede community (GC) and Ilokun community (IC). Ten soil samples were collected randomly at 10 cm depth, digested and analyzed for Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Zink (Zn) and iron (Fe) respectively. The results were compared with control and standard, and subjected to ecological risk indices: Enrichment factor (EF), Contamination factor (CF), and Index of geo-accumulation (Igeo). Metal concentrations were higher (p < 0.05 except Cu) than the control; ranged from 41.2 times (Mn in GD) to 7.08 times (Zn in ID), GD had highest metals except Cu. Metal concentrations at ID > IC (except Cu) and GD> GC. The standard Cu at GD and GC. The EF was significant (5≤EF<20) for Zn at GD and ID, and for Mn except at GD where there was a very high (20≤EF<40). Mn and Zn indicated high contamination (Cf≥6) at GD and ID while Cd and Fe indicated moderate contamination (1≤Cf<3) except at IC (Cf<1). Moderately polluted (1