The suitability of waste glass as an eco-friendly adsorbent for the removal of crystal violet (CV) dye, Pb2+ and Cd2+ heavy metal ions in waste water samples was investigated in batch mode. Waste glass sample was pulverized and characterized by SEM/EDX, XRD, BET and FTIR. Effects of variation in temperature, pH, contact time and recyclability of the adsorbent were studied. FTIR spectra revealed major peaks around 491.53 and 3444.12 cm-1 corresponding to the bending vibrations of Si-O-Si and -OH groups respectively. SEM/EDX analysis showed a dense, coarse, porous morphology with predominantly silica component. The effective surface area and size of the adsorbent were 557.912 m2/g and 2.099 nm respectively. Increase in temperature, dosage, contact time resulted in increase in adsorption efficiency. Optimum adsorption efficiency of 94%, 97.5% and 89.1% was attained for Pb2+ , Cd2+ ions and CV dye respectively at 70?C. Adsorption process followed more accurately pseudo-first order model and isotherm fitted perfectly into Freundlich model indicating a multilayer adsorption mechanism for CV dye and the heavy metals. 89.87% reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) level of wastewater was reported upon treatment with waste glass adsorbent affirming its efficiency for dye and heavy metal pollutants removal.

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The soil is a key component of natural ecosystems because environmental sustainability depends largely on a sustainable soil ecosystem. The objective of this study was to predict the impact of selected toxic compounds from dumpsite or contaminated soils on human health at the molecular level of biological processes. The in silico methods that were used include toxicokinetics and target gene prediction, molecular docking, and gene expressing network analysis. The result showed bisphenol A (BPA), 2,20-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane (DDD), 2,20-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-trichloroethane (DDT), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), nonylphenol (NP) and tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) as the active toxic compounds that can modulate biological system and are considered as potential cause of several diseases including cancer. The principal target genes include substance-P receptor (also known as Neurokinin 1 receptor), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor, human serotonin transporter; estrogen receptor alpha; and aryl hydrocarbon receptor. These genes implicated SUZ12, STAT3, and TRIM28 as the major transcription factors while mitogen-activated protein kinases and cyclin-dependent kinases were the major kinases from the protein-protein interaction. All the six toxicants investigated showed good free binding energies (ΔG) which were below - 5.0 kcal.mol−1. These toxic compounds showed ligand efficiency greater than 0.25 kcal.mol−1. HA and would possibly cause fatal damage on human health. The order of in silico predicted toxicity of these compounds were BPA > DDD = DDT > TCDD > NP > DEHP. Our results identified potential threats, which the selected toxicants can pose to public health. More importantly, it provides basis for investigation of super bugs (microorganisms) that can remediate these toxicants in our environment. Environmental monitoring and modern wastes management system should be implemented and enforced in the affected countries in order to safeguard the health of the citizenry.

Melanin is s most widely distributed pigment and is found in bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. Melanogenesis is under complex regulatory control by multiple agents interacting through pathways activated by hormonal and receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms. There are about 20 genes that are involved in the biochemical pathway of melanogenesis and its regulation, which include: tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, melanocortin1 receptor, adenylate cyclase, protein kinase A. Human melanogenesis regulatory proteins such as MAPK1, CREB3, and CREBP, have binary interaction with the protein of herpesvirus, hepatitis C virus, Human immunodeficiency virus type 1, Simian virus 40, and Human adenovirus A and C. Melanin is a double-edged sword in host-pathogen interaction (e.g., human-bacteria and/or fungi interaction). The inducers of upregulation of melanogenesis include fluvoxamine, famotidine, terbutaline, heliotrine, sirolimus, dicoumarol, Prestwick-860, carbimazole, (-)-MK-801, rilmenidine, hydrastine hydrochloride, haloperidol, scopolamine N-oxide, raubasine, and dihydroergocristine. In melanogenesis, GSK3B, CSNK2A, MAPK1, MAPK3, MAPK14, ERK1, and HIPK2 were the major kinases, while RUNX1, GATA1, and REST, SUN12, and RCOR1 were the major transcription factors. This study has reviewed the melanogenesis pathway, its regulations as well as applications to viral infection. The antiviral activity of melanin and its complex in the presence of antibacterial and antifungal compounds should be investigated to further provide insight for biomedical, biotechnological, and pharmacological applications.

Local chickens sold in the central markets of Ado-Ekiti, Akure and Owena were randomly sampled and slaughtered. Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) in their blood and selected organs (intestine, heart, liver and gizzard) were isolated using wet digestion and their concentrations determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Apart from the blood of chickens from Ado-Ekiti and Owena where Pb was not detected, its concentrations in the blood and organs of the chickens obtained from the three towns ranged from 2.00 to 7.33 mg/kg, exceeding the maximum tolerance levels (0.1 mg/kg) in internal organs of poultry birdsset by EU, ANZFA and FAO/WHO. With the exception of intestine of chickens from the three towns, Cd was only detected in the heart, blood and gizzard of chickens from Akure as well as liver and gizzard of chickens from Owena, covering a range of 0.11 to 0.67 mg/kg. The upper limit exceeded the maximum limits (0.5 mg/kg) according to FAO/WHO. Zn was detected in all selected parts of chickens from the three towns ranging 5.67 to 183.17 mg/kg. Its concentrations were within the permissible limit(10-50 mg/kg) by EU and FAO/WHO in certain selected parts of some chickens while it exceededthe permissible limit (150 mg/kg) by ANZFA especially in the liver of chicken from Ado-Ekiti. Some organs and blood of local chickens sold in the central markets at Ado-Ekiti, Akure and Owena may pose health risks.