Heavy metals are elements that contaminate seafood and make them harmful to human health when present in quantities that are higher than the permissible limit. This study was conducted to determine some heavy metals such as lead and mercury contained in dried crayfish gotten from three different locations (Oron, Ataba and Nembe town in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa State respectively) and sold in the Creek Road Market, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The dried crayfish samples were purchased randomly from marketers in the market. 5g of the dried crayfish samples with its different organs (Gills, muscle tissues) were ground into powdered form and digested with HNO3 using standard procedures and analysed for lead and mercury using the micro plasma atomic emission spectrophotometric analyser. The results showed that Lead content in the dried crayfish from Oron, Ataba and Nembe were 0.140 ± 0.014 mg/kg, 0.040 ± 0.014 mg/kg and 0.016 ± 0.002 mg/kg respectively while for Mercury content, Oron crayfish contained 5.136 ± 0.017 mg/kg, Ataba 3.744 ± 0.017 mg/kg and Nembe 3.948 ± 0.023mg/kg. The mean values in the three different crayfish samples were significantly different (p<0.05). This result shows that the lead content present in the dried crayfish are within the permissible limit of 1 mg/kg as indicated by FAO hence safe for consumption purposes with no expected form of toxicity and health implication to consumers whereas for mercury content, the level was found to be above the permissible limit.
Action bitters has been seen not to have nephro-toxic effects on the kidney. However, this study evaluated the effects of sachet packaged action bitters on the kidney of apparently healthy subjects. Blood sample was collected from 20 subjects. Basal blood sample and the blood samples collected after 2 hours of intake of action bitters by subjects were analyzed. The parameters analyzed include sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine using the colorimetric method of analysis and results subjected further to statistical analysis using the GraphPad Prism Version 8.02.Basal results of the renal indices obtained showed the values to be; 144.16 ± 8.89 mmol/L, 3.81 ± 0.57 mmol/L, 25.70 ± 5.66 mg/dL and 1.05 ± 0.38 mg/dL for sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine respectively while the results obtained from the subjects two(2) hours after the intake of action bitters were; 128.18 ± 11.05 mmol/L, 2.93 ± 0.57 mmol/L, 25.34 ± 4.74 mg/dL and 1.51 ± 0.75 mg/dL for sodium. potassium, urea and creatinine values respectively. The comparison of the basal and treated sample showed significant differences in the values of sodium, potassium and creatinine (P=0.05) while the urea value was not significantly different. The mean value for sodium and potassium in the treated subjects were significantly decreased when compared to the value gotten at the basal state where the action bitter has not been consumed by the subject whereas the creatinine value was significantly increased in the sample of the treated subjects compared to the value of the basal sample. This implies that exposure to a higher dose of action bitters might be detrimental to renal function in the body hence, the dose of bitters and its consumption by humans should be monitored in order to protect against any adverse effect, and subsequent malfunctioning of the kidney.
Acetaminophen, used for antipyretic and analgesic purposes has been known to exhibit toxic effects on the organs because of its ability to generate free radicals, causing varieties of diseases. This study investigated the impact of the combined formed of Garcinia kola seed and Vitamin E pretreatment exposure on hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by acetaminophen in Albino Rats. Five groups of animals were used for this study. Group 1 as the control received distilled water orally only, group 2 as toxicity control intoxicated with 800 mg acetaminophen intraperitoneally. The other three groups were pretreated with various doses of either Garcinia kola seed extract or vitamin E or a combined form respectively by oral gavage method for 7 days before induction with acetaminophen intraperitoneally on the 8th day and sacrificed under chloroform anaethesia. Acetaminophen induction significantly rise (p<0.05) the hepatic enzyme levels (ALT, AST, and ALP) and a marked reduction of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPX) in group 2 animals when compared with the control. There was also a significant rise (p<0.05) in the MDA levels. Meanwhile the combined form of Garcinia kola seed extract and Vitamin E pretreatment exposure on the organs showed no synergetic ameliorative potentials as compared with the single pretreatment exposure with Garcinia kola and Vitamin E respectively. The morphology of the tissue cells pretreated with these combined formed exhibited features showing signs of cell damages and slow recovery from the toxicity. Therefore combining Garcinia kola and Vitamin E may lost its ameliorative and protective effect as seen in this induced acetaminophen albino rats implying that Garcinia kola seed and Vitamin E should not be taken in a combined form.
Arsenic, a naturally occurring element seen in the environment and cycled by water has been seen to be a pollutant in soil, water and air. The inorganic form of arsenic is associated with major health problems and cancer mainly arising due to its anthropogenic activities. The content of arsenic was assayed in six rice brands sold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The rice samples were ground to powdered forms and subjected to acid digestion before analysis. The Agilent Micro Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrophotometer (MP-AES) was used to analyze the digested samples. Results showed mean arsenic concentration in Vico Rice, the highest as 1.0073. This Waribo et al.; EJNFS, 9(4): 437-443, 2019; Article no.EJNFS.2019.061 438 was followed by Local Rice 0.9420, Marori Benz 0.9140, Golden Stallion Rice 0.861 and the Cap Rice 0.8077 while the least mean concentration of arsenic was recorded in African Princess Rice 0.6417, all in mg/kg. The mean concentration was significantly different in the six brands of rice (P<0.05). The arsenic content in the different rice brand was within the tolerable concentration of 1.4 mg/kg as in cereals and vegetables. This concentration did not exceed the Maximum Permissible Limit of 1 mg/kg hence considered safe for consumption except Vico rice with a higher concentration above 1 mg/kg. This shows that rice brands sold in Port Harcourt pose no health risk for consumers with respect to arsenic content. Short Research Article
AIM: This study investigated the concentration of heavy metal (Arsenic), taken up by waterleaf plant cultivated in three contaminated soil type namely; sandy, loamy and clay. The health risk associated in exposing the waterleaf plants was accessed from the different soil types at different treatment levels of 40mg/kg (low) and 80mg/kg (high) of arsenic. Methods: Three soil types namely; sandy, loamy and clay were spiked with 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg of arsenic. The waterleaf plant was grown on the spiked soil samples for the period of 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. Each soil sample was taken before the spiking of the soil to serve as the basal control soil sample. This will determine the content of arsenic in the soil. After the stipulated growth period, the soil sample was collected into a clean sample bottle likewise the waterleaf plant which was harvested, washed, oven dried and ground into a powdered form which was acid digested. The heavy metal content in both the plant and soils were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: The results of arsenic concentration in waterleaf from loamy soil at 40 mg/kg were 0.118 mg/kg, 0.189 mg/kg, 0.295 mg/kg, and 0.332 mg/kg at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 respectively. At 80 mg/kg, arsenic concentrations in loamy soil were 0.200 mg/kg, 0.388 mg/kg, 0.612 mg/kg and 0.693 mg/kg respectively. For sandy soil, the concentration of arsenic in the waterleaf plant treated at 40 mg/kg were 0.083 mg/kg, 0.219 mg/kg, 0.279 mg/kg, and 0.310 mg/kg for weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8 respectively and 0.159 mg/kg, 0.400mg/kg, 0.572 mg/kg, 0.632 mg/kg at 80 mg/kg respectively while in clay soil, the arsenic concentration was 0.079 mg/kg and 0.167 mg/kg for weeks 2 and 4 at 40 mg/kg and 0.190 mg/kg and 0.320mg/kg for 80 mg/kg for weeks 2 and 4 respectively. No growth was recorded in weeks 6 and 8. The mean values of the arsenic concentration in the plant spiked with 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg respectively were significantly different (p<0.05)from each other but that for the loamy soil at 40 mg/kg was not significantly different (p>0.05).The Estimated Daily Intake for arsenic was <1, Target Hazard Quotient was < 1 and the Health Risk Index for adults that would be exposed to arsenic was <1 except for the loamy soil which was ≥ 1 at week 4 and 6 for treatment level 80 mg/kg. Conclusion: Arsenic concentration increases in the plant with increasing period of growth, while in the soil, the reverse occurs. The result shows that the waterleaf plant absorbed heavy metal (Arsenic) from the contaminated soils but at concentrations that do not pose any health risk within the experimental period of exposure. However, it is possible that with extended duration of exposure, consumption of plants exposed to contaminated soils with heavy metals could be hazardous.
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