Insecurity is a crucial challenge confronting the Nigerian nation in recent time with dire consequences of deaths, vandalisms and reversals of developmental strides. This had left many homeless, traumatized and several communities deserted in search of safer habitations. Residential buildings being homes that hold valuables of people and cocoons offering shelter had been targets of perpetrators of insecurity which often takes the forms of stealing, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, terrorism and militancy. The various reports on insecurity suggested that there is a correlation between the architecture of buildings and safety of its occupants when they are confronted with security challenge. This spurs the study to explore how best architectural strategies can be deployed to enhance safety of building occupants. The study area was Lokoja, a city in North central Nigeria where many had suffered insecurity in their homes. A total of 122 questionnaires were circulated among different categories of home-users to obtain data for analyses which provided answers to the various research questions of the study. Finally, SPSS statistical tool was used for the descriptive statistical survey conducted to reveal the study’s findings such as the need for additional security measures by respondents and a proof of significant association between the nature of security challenge and knowledge of building design.In conclusion, the study showed that insecurity will continued to be a trendychallenge among the home owners in the light proliferation of firearms and high rate of unemployment in the country.
The release of pollutants due to mining activities, especially tailings, has negative consequences on soil and affects agricultural productivity. This study details the assessment of metals (Ni, Mn, Pb, Cd and Fe), physicochemical parameters of the soil and how they affect metal bioavailability and biotoxicity. Metal concentrations were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AA-6800 Shimadzu). The results of the analysis show that the mean pH varied from a minimum of 7.12±0.36 to a maximum of 7.60±0.28 across all the study area and sampling points. The percent organic matter had an average minimum value of 0.13±0.08% and a maximum value of 0.82±0.32% in the study area. The heavy metal analysis result shows that concentrations in all the soil and sediments of the study area were all below the maximum permissible limit.
The levels of elements with genotoxic potentials; As, Cd, Cr and Co in herbal medicines obtained from stem barks of Boswellia serrata, Prosopis africana, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Sclerocarya birrea were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis and compared to WHO/EU (2007) permissible values in herbal products. The results of standard material IAEA 1515 (apple leaves) were not significantly different from the certificate values. Arsenic in the samples ranged from ND to 0.037 mg/kg. The maximum value (0.037mg/kg) was obtained in Boswellia serrata which was ten times and two times the value in Sclerocarya birrea and Anogeissus leiocarpus respectively. This maximum was below WHO/EU (2007) values. Arsenic was not detected in Prosopis africana herbal medicine. Cadmium in all the samples was below detection limit except in Anogeissus leiocarpus herbal medicine where the concentration was 0.0012mg/kg his was below WHO/EU (2007) values. Chromium in the samples ranged from ND to 0.06 mg/kg, the maximum was in Anogeissus leiocarpus herbal medicine; this concentration was slightly above EU (2007) values of 0.050 mg/kg but, below WHO (2007) value of 2.0 mg/kg. Cobalt was detected in all the samples, the concentrations ranged from 0.01mg/kg to 0.16 mg/kg with the highest concentration in Sclerocarya birrea herbal medicine, this concentration was about two and half times the concentration in Boswellia serrata . The Co concentration in Anogeissus leiocarpus herbal medicine was about five times lower than the concentration in Boswellia serrata. The concentrations of Co in the herbal medicines were in the order, Sclerocarya birrea > Boswellia serrata > Prosopis africana > Anogeissus leiocarpus. WHO/EU (2007) have not set Co permissible limits in food and drinking water. Although, most of the genotoxicants were below WHO/EU (2007) values none the less, these herbal medicines should be investigated further for other toxic and genotoxic compounds as a means of quality control because, genotoxicants have no threshold limit to cause cancer therefore, quality assurance measures should always be taken in the produc ion and use of these substances.Keywords: Elements, genotoxic, herbal medicines, instrumental neutron activation analysis, Zaria
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