Maize grain is the second most vital food after wheat to humans and forms an important part of a human diet due to its nutrients. In Kenya, it is estimated that one out of every two acres of land put to crop production is under maize crop. Maize can also be fed whole to livestock (grazed or chopped and ensiled). Due to increased demand and the need for higher productivity, farmers have adopted modern farming methods which include use of fertilizers, pesticides, compost manure, and irrigation. Uses of these products elevate amounts of heavy metals in the soil. Such heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium when taken up by plants accumulate in the plants becoming toxic at high levels. It is essential to monitor these levels in grains and leaves to ensure they do not exceed the WHO permissible limits. This study aimed at monitoring the levels of heavy metals uptake in maize (Zea mays) grains and leaves is within permissible levels. Level of heavy metals in maize grains from different ecological zones in UG County had mean concentration of Zn 0.122, Cd 0.03, Cu 0.111, Co 0.04, and Pb 0.33 mg/kg. These results were below WHO standards except for Cadmium, Co, and Pb which were slightly higher than recommended standard. The study also found that maize leaves had mean concentration of Zn 0.115, Cd 0.04, Cu 0.117, Co. 0.041 and Pb 0.323 mg/kg. The results were below WHO standards except Co and Pb which had slightly higher levels than the recommended WHO standards. The analytical results from this study provided important baseline statistics on the concentration of selected heavy metals in maize grains and leaves besides being an important assessment of environmental pollution in rural areas where maize farming is predominant.

Access to safe and clean drinking water is a major challenge to the people living around Ahero Irrigation Scheme (AIS). Water sources in the area are constantly and increasingly polluted by agrochemical like pesticides from rice farming. 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is an herbicide extensively used in AIS. The neurotoxic, immunosuppressive, cytotoxic and hepatoxic effects of (2,4-D) have been well documented. Residues of (2,4-D) have been documented in ponds, rivers, lakes and irrigation canals. Therefore this study surveyed agrochemicals used in AIS, the drinking water source for the residents and finally water treatment option for the obtained water in the year 2013. The study established that (52.8%) of the farmers used hand-weeding and 20.8% of them use (2,4-D) for the weeds control. Results indicated that the most preferred water source was lined improved well (47.2%) followed by irrigation canal (22.2%), the least preferred was rain water with (2.8%). The most used method of water treatment was chlorination (45.8%). Spearman’s coefficient of correlation ( ) revealed that there was positive correlation between the two variables ( =0.145, 72, p=0.224>0.05). As  is positive, it implies that the type of treatment given to water depend on its source of the water. Despite the use of chlorinate with almost half of the residents, some of them (22.2%) do not treat their water at all, which may pose a risk of getting water related diseases. Furthermore, despite a proportional number of residents obtaining their water from irrigation canal, all of them do not have appropriate method/s for treating water contaminated with organic pollutants such as herbicides. There is a need to promote water appropriate drinking water treatment method/s in the study area to prevent water related diseases at the family level. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2020-01-01-02 Full Text: PDF

Intensified agricultural activities in Kenya over the past few years has led to an increased and persistent use of fertilizers, pesticides, manure, use of machinery in order to increase yield for economic development and achieve the goals of vision 2030. Large quantities of agrochemicals are regularly added to soils in intensive farming systems to provide adequate nutrients for plant growth. The compounds used to supply these elements contain trace amounts of heavy metals (e.g., Cd and Pb) as impurities, which, after continued fertilizer application may significantly increase their content in the soil. There is need to study impact of intensive use of use of agrochemicals in the farms. Therefore, this study set out to determine the concentrations of the different heavy metals in the soil from agricultural farms of Homa Hills, Homa Bay County. The soil samples were obtained from two agro-ecological zones LM 3 (Lower Midland3) and LM 4 (Lower Midland 4) zone, around the areas of intense maize farming. Six farms in each zone were randomly selected to obtain soil samples. Sampling was done twice; for the dry and wet seasons. Different samples were also collected at two different sampling depths (0-10cm and 11-20cm) for each sampling point. The concentrations of selected heavy metals for each sample were determined using Inductive couple plasma. Data was presented using tables and figures. T-test was used to compare the variation of heavy metal concentration in the different agro-ecological zones and the different sampling depths. The results obtained showed that the mean concentration of Pb,

The general objective of this study was to assess the effects of parasitism on the production and productivity of caged Oreochromis niloticus in Winam Gulf of L. Victoria. With the need to increase food production through fish products amid overfishing and pollution stress in the lake, cage farming is seen to have the potential to bridge the fish supply and demand gap continues to widen. Cage culture is a new technology in the offing that needs to be explored to justify its potential. Fish parasites are always a threat in an enclosed culture system and because of this, it is necessary to assess their effects on fish condition factors before recommendation. It is because of this reason that a total of 480 caged Oreochromis niloticus were purchased and examined for parasites using the recommended procedures for parasitological analysis. The class Trematoda which included seven taxa were found to be the most common and prevalent parasites in cages of the Winam Gulf. This was attributed to the presence of piscivorous birds which are definitive hosts seen more often around the culture systems and also overstocking observed and reported during the study period which increases the spread and transmission of parasites from one fish to another. Despite the prevalence, infestation did not affect the fish condition factor in all the study areas as the majority of infected fish recorded between good and excellent body condition factors. This was due to low mean intensities recorded and a shorter period of exposure to parasitic infestation as most farmers were barely 3 years into the system. In conclusion, for the government to explore the blue economy and achieve the Vision 2030 and SDGs on food security and poverty reduction by 2030, efforts to promote commercial cage culture enterprises in the Winam Gulf must be bolstered, provided that cages are located in deep waters with low concentrations in specific areas and low stocking densities to avoid compromising the environment.