Fresh leaves of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius were harvested from area gardens around Mayne Avenue in Calabar. Proximate composition, anti-nutrient content, vitamins content and antimicrobial activity of the extract were determined. The antimicrobial activity using the aqueous extract was also determined. The results of the proximate composition revealed the presence of moisture 86.40%, ash 6.50%, protein 4.38%, fat 1.20%, fibre 2.39% and carbohydrate 85.36%. The antinutrient components detected are within the acceptable limits with phytic acid 60.44mg/100g followed by total oxalate 40.30mg/g and therefore will not cause any adverse health problems. Toxic amino acid and chlorogenic acid were not detected in the plant extract. The vitamin contents range from 0.10mg/100g to 143.20mg/100g. The highest value was found in vitamin A and the least in niacin. The antimicrobial activities of the extract of this plant against the pathogenic test organisms showed zones of inhibition ranging from 20.5 mm for Salmonella typhi to 26 mm for Streptococcus pyogenes at 10 µg/ml. The highest zones of inhibition observed with
Background: This study was conducted in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria, to determine the public health implication of solid waste generated by households.
Methods: A cross sectional descriptive design was employed, using a semi-structured questionnaire together with an obser- vation checklist to elicit information from the respondents. Proportionate sampling was used to select 400 respondents of 18 years and above for the study area. Data collected were analysed using the Microsoft Excel 2007 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.
Results: Respondents knowledge concerning solid waste disposal was assessed and the results showed that majority of the respondents 193 (63.7%) had high level of knowledge of solid waste disposal, while 170 (42.5%) had average level of knowl- edge of solid waste disposal. Wastes produced by households in the study include vegetables (95.5%), ash (94%), clothing/ rag (94.2%), wood (95%), and animal waste (86.2%) had the highest abundance. Diseases associated with these wastes pro- duced by households include cholera (18.2%), malaria (47.2%), lassa fever (10.7%) and diarrhea (23.9%) with malaria been the most prevalence infection.
Conclusion: The result shows solid waste posed a serious health hazard and lead to the spread of infectious diseases. These issues can be addressed through health education and enlightenment of the people on waste disposal.
Keywords: Municipal waste; public health; infection; health hazard; environmental pollution.
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