Soil contamination by Spent Lubricating Oil (SLO) is a growing concern in many African

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Aims: Humans and animals are occasionally and unintentionally exposed to lethal and sub lethal doses of pesticides stemming from its various uses to control pests both in agriculture, homes, gardens and public health. The use of pyrethroid products has grown and continues to grow due to the suspension of some organophosphorus and organochloride products. This current study evaluated the toxic effects of lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) on hematological and histopathological changes in the liver and kidney organs of rats after sub chronic exposure. Study Design: Completely randomized design (CRD) with 5 treatments replicated 5 times. Place and Duration of Study: Methodology: Twenty-five 7-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups. The control (group 1) received distilled water, while experimental groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 received by Fadina et al.; ARRB, 13(6): 1-7, 2017; Article no.ARRB.31906 2 gavage 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively LCT over a period of five weeks. Hematological and histopathological studies were carried out on the blood and organs of interest, respectively on termination of the experiment. Results: There was a dose-related reduction of white blood cell count from 3.25±0.22 (control) to 3.00±0.62 (100 mg/kg), and severity in alteration of the micro anatomy of the liver and kidney with increase in LCT concentration in the treated animals. The results showed necrosis and vacuolar changes in the hepatocytes and congestion of interstitial blood vessels. Also observed was a significant change in the body weight of the wistar rats after the 5 th week of treatment with an average weight of 198 kg,196 kg, 194 kg, 186 kg, 160 kg for control, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg treatment respectively. Conclusion: lambda-cyhalothrin is highly toxic (even at the lowest dose in this experiment) and may cause cell damage, organ failure, anaemic conditions and reduce immunity. Original Research Article

Aims:This study evaluated potentials of aqueous extract of pod husk of Parkia biglobosa as a biopesticide in okra production. Study Design: The study employed a radomized complete block design with seven treatments (5, 10, 15 and 20% Parkia biglobosa aqueous pod husk extract (PPHE), 2.5 ml dimethoate + cypermethrin (D+C) -recommended, 5.0 ml (D+C), control -500 ml of water) and replicated three times. Place and Duration of Study: Crop Garden of Department of Crop Protection and EnvironmentalBiology, University of Ibadan (7° 34'N and 3° 54'E) between April and July 2016. Methodology: The leaves, seeds, pod husks and bark of Parkia biglobosa were collected, authenticated and analyzed for their phytochemical compositions using standard procedures. Fayinminnu et al.; JAERI, 12(1): 1-12, 2017; Article no.JAERI.32529 2 Aqueous extract of the pod husk of the plant (PPHE) was found to contain the highest phytochemicals qualitatively and quantitatively which formed the basis of using it as a biopesticide. A field study was conducted at the crop garden of Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, to assess the potency of the extract as a biopesticide and a synthetic insecticide -Dimethoate 14.5% + Cypermethrin 5.5% (D+C) on the management of flea beetles on NHAe-47-4 okra variety. The seven treatments (5, 10, 15 and 20% Parkia biglobosa aqueous pod husk extract (PPHE), 2.5 ml dimethoate + cypermethrin (D+C)recommended, 5.0 ml (D+C) (synthetic), control -500 ml of water) were applied weekly on okra plants from two Weeks After Sowing (WAS) till 12 WAS. Data were collected on growth and yield parameters, dry matter accumulation of A. esculentus and flea beetle populations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at P = 0.05. Results: Results revealed that treatment 20% PPHE had relatively higher values of growth parameters which compared favorably (p≤0.05) with 2.5 ml and 5 ml (D+C). Yield parameters; Number of fruits and fruit weights from 20%PPHE also compared favorably with 2.5 ml and 5 ml (D+C) with no significant difference (P >0 .05) and with the same trend in dry root weight. While the dry shoot weight of 2.5 ml (D+C) treatment (p≤0.05) was different from other treatments. The control treatment however, revealed significant differences (p<0.05) in having reduced growth and low yield when compared with the treated plots. Conclusion: This study showed the efficacy and potency of Parkia biglobosa aqueous pod husk extract (PPHE) in suppressing the flea beetles due to its highest quantities of phytochemicals. The 20% concentration also enhanced the growth and yield of okra and performed relatively well with the recommended dose (2.5 ml) of D+C. The aqueous pod husk extract, therefore could serve as a biopesticide for food sustainability and safety. Original Research Article

Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide is an important neurotoxic and tissue damage agent. It is one of the most heavily used pesticides in domestic and agricultural applications globally. Repeated doses of chlorpyrifos have been able to cause significant disturbances on the biochemical and physiological functions of the blood, and histological abnormalities in livers and kidneys exposed to this insecticide. The toxicities of sub lethal oral administration of chlorpyrifos daily for 28 days were assessed using a completely randomized design. Twenty five albino Wistar rats weighing between 150-200 g divided into five groups containing five rats each were housed in the Central Animal house of College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. Chlorpyrifos at 0 (control), 18.9, 25.9, 32.2 and 39.2 mg/kg were orally administered to male rats, respectively for four weeks, between the months of May and June, 2014. At the end of the experimental period, the toxicities of chlorpyrifos were assessed in rats using haematology, serum liver enzymes and histopathological assays. Results revealed significant reduction in body weights compared to control. The packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb) and lymphocytes (Lymp) also showed significant reduction at Original Research Article

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Using a completely randomized design experiment, the effect of different levels of diesel and spent engine oil contamination (0 mL/kg, 25 mL/kg, 50 mL/kg and 75 mL/kg of soil) on growth performance (seedling height, collar diameter, number of leaves and biomass accumulation) of Hildergardia barteri seedlings were assessed for twelve weeks. The concentration of Lead, Nickel, Copper and Zinc in the plant parts were also determined. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at P<0.05 level of significance. There were significant differences in the effects of diesel and spent engine oil on growth performance of seedlings based on contamination levels. Control treatment had the highest height (92.43±5.13 cm), collar diameter (16.23±0.98 mm), number of leaves (11.21±0.47) and total biomass (33.01±12.79 g). Seedlings exposed to 50 mL/kg treatments had the least height (diesel oil: 78.21±7.22 cm; spent engine oil: 79±6.24 cm); those exposed to 75 mL/kg contamination had the least collar diameter (diesel oil: 8.85±1.05 mm, spent engine oil: 12.02±1.01 mm), while seedlings treated with 50 mL/kg diesel oil (2.21±0.37) and 75 mL/kg spent engine oil (4.79±0.55) had the lowest number of leaves. Heavy metal bio-accumulation ranges were: Lead: 0.17-0.39 mg/kg, Nickel: 0.09–0.45 mg/kg, Copper: 0.54–1.08 mg/kg, Zinc: 0.88–1.58 mg/kg. The ability of the seedlings to survive and bio-accumulate heavy metals indicate the potential phytoremediation capabilities of Hildergardia barteri. Keywords: phytoextraction, hydrocarbon derivatives, growth inhibition, Hildergardia barteri

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