The study discusses the socioeconomic characteristics of household heads, types of waste generated and methods of disposal by household heads in Lafia. The study area was divided into three high, medium and low densities in terms of development. This was largely based on the data gathered through administration of questionnaire using systematic sampling methods. 270 copies of questionnaire were administered to household heads in the three areas selected, where high density area has 98; medium density area has 90 while low density area has 82 respectively. It was deduced that all the major types of municipal solid waste are generated in all the areas, and majority of household heads in the three areas use either plastic or metal buckets to collect and disposed their waste and also that the socioeconomic characteristics varied in all the three areas at 5% probability level as 0.842<2.78<4.60. Furthermore, at 5% level of significance where 9.21>5.99, this shows that solid waste is more of a problem in the high density area than in the medium and low density areas.
Risks and hazards are two important issues currently threatening humanity and the environment. Flood has claimed many lives and destroyed properties in Malaysia and Africa and Nigeria. It is global catastrophe. The application of geospatial science is, therefore, very important advantages that it offers solutions to flood. This stud uses of Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Digital Elevation Model (ASTER-DEM), and the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in visualizing floods disaster risk. The whole catchment area of Terengganu has been delineated. The 25 sub-basins have been identified and the flood risk zones have been modeled. The complete watersheds are characterized by different sub-basins and Hydrologic Respond Units (HRUs) which can be viewed in 3D environment.
Charcoal is no longer a source of energy to only rural households but also a demanded commodity in urban areas around the world which has resulted in the commercialization of its production, particularly rural dwellers of developing countries such as Nigeria. Given the observed growing significance of charcoal in rural and urban livelihoods in Nasarawa State, this paper examined the relationship between commercial charcoal production and socioeconomic characteristics of the people involved in the activity. The study employed descriptive survey using both qualitative and quantitative data drawn from primary and secondary sources. Questionnaire was administered to 450 respondents randomly sampled from commercial charcoal producers drawn from 6 communities and 3 LGAs of Nasarawa State. Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were also conducted and the data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 23). Results showed that commercial charcoal producers in the study area were mostly between 21 and 50 years with dominance of those between 31 and 40 (30.9%) while those above 50 years were least represented (6. 9%).There was slight dominance of women (52.4%) among the producers and the they were mostly primary (44%) and secondary (35.6%) school certificate. Majority (48.2%) had household size of 4 – 6 and more than half (52.9%) were married and earned 20,000 naira and below on monthly basis (46.4%). There is strong relationship between the socioeconomic status of the respondents and commercial charcoal production in the study area. Their socioeconomic status proved to have served significant motivation to their rising involvement in the activity. Also alternative economic activities that guarantees quick monetary rewards and is all age and gender engaging as well as requires no special skill and huge capitals for a start, should be planned for and introduced in the study area by the State Government.
Water quality index and heavy metal contents of underground water sources in Doma Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria was assessed to ascertain the suitability of the water for domestic purpose. Physicochemical parameters; temperature, turbidity, TDS, TSS, pH, EC, total hardness, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate and sulphates in the water samples were determined using standard methods of analysis. The water quality index (WQI) was also evaluated using known standard method. The heavy metal contents were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The results of the physicochemical analyses shows that in borehole and hand dug well water, the respective mean values were temperature (27.11±0.45 and 27.41±0.55 °C), turbidity (1.51±0.54 and 2.56±1.04 NTU), TDS (230.00±87.75 and 358.67±91.46 mg/dm3), TSS (3.64±1.25 and 4.17±4.17 mg/dm3), pH (5.63±0.69 and 6.60±0.95), EC 277.16 and 296.29±26.52 µS/cm), total hardness (90.00±15.55 and 125.13±16.33 mg/dm3), alkalinity (8.87±.083 and 9.24±1.08 mg/dm3), chloride (20.59±14.62 and 21.22±10.13 mg/dm3, nitrate (0.024±0.04 and 0.01±0.01 mg/dm3) and sulphates (1.05±0.74 and 2.09±0.45 mg/dm3). It was revealed that all the physicochemical parameters for both borehole and hand dug well water had values that were within the standard permissible values recommended by regulatory bodies, NSDWQ and WHO except for the pH of the borehole water which was not within the recommended range and which showed the water to be slightly acidic and which could attributable to the nature of the host rocks. WQI for borehole and hand dug well water were 29.65 and 27.38 respectively with the implication that both water sources presented good water quality for drinking based on the water quality index and water quality status. The results of the heavy metal analyses shows that in borehole and hand dug well water, the respective mean values were Cd (0.003±0.002 and 0.010±0.002 mg/dm3), Cr (0.187±0.075 and 0.19±0.070 mg/dm3), Cu (0.040±0.010 and 0.804±0.805 mg/dm3), Fe (0.500±0.330 and 0.916±0.543 mg/dm3), Pb (0.010±0.010 and 0.015±0.007 mg/dm3) and Zn (0.290±0.120 and 0.072±0.072 mg/dm3). The results shows that Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn for both borehole and hand dug well water had mean values that were within the standard permissible values recommended by NSDWQ and WHO while Cr and Fe had mean values that were higher and which can be attributed to anthropogenic activities close to the water sources. It is recommended the groundwater in these selected communities be monitored regularly and that there is the need for the water to be treated before use because of those parameters that are off the standards to avoid associated health risks.
Anthropogenic activity especially coal mining contributes immensely to environmental pollution within coalmine and the host community especially if not well managed. This study is on the assessment of air quality in and around Maiganga coalmine, with the objectives of finding out the ambient concentration levels of criteria air pollutants within the coalmine, the Maiganga community and the four control sites 2km north, south, east and west of the coalmine, as well as compare the findings with the concentration levels of pollutants recommended as acceptable safety limits set by Federal Ministry of Environment, FMEnv. Six sampling locations were selected for detail assessment, with one point in each of the sites mentioned. Measurement of concentrations of criteria air pollutants; sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), and ozone (O3) were taken in-situ using Personal Toxic Gas Monitor (Tango TXI single gas monitor). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), coarse particulate matter (PM10), were collected using a Portable Counter HT – 9601 (PM2.5 and PM10) personal dust meter high volume gravity sampler. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were also measured using a Portable Hand Held Gas Detector (Porcheck+). The study was done during the dry season and the results revealed that, coarse paticulate matter (PM10) was above the stipulated safety limit of 250µg/m3 set by the FMEnv for the coal mine area and Maiganga community but all other parameters were within the safety limits of the FMEnv. CO, NO2, SO2, and NH3 in coalmine area had concentrations lower than in that in control areas because of other anthropogenic activities like burning, heating, waste disposal, agricultural practices and a host of others taking place in the control area and which are not available in the coalmine area. However, the concentrations of the aforementioned parameters were higher in Maiganga community than in the control areas due to higher rate of anthropogenic activities in the community than in the control areas. The hypothesis were tested using student t – test, and the alternative hypothesis was accepted which showed there was no significant variations in the values of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), coarse particulate matter (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), and ozone (O3) obtain from the coalmine, Maiganga community and the Control (N.S.E.W) with safety limits set by FMEnv. It is however, recommended that the Federal Ministry of Environment and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) should ensure strict compliance with safety and environmental standards agreed upon during Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
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