The need to study the variations of climate change in Nigeria becomes necessary at a time the universe and Nigerians, in particular are passing through challenges due to climate change as a result of emissions. The atmospheric gases have a greater transparency for incoming solar radiation, while the outgoing are trapped and re-emitted back to the Earth. This study correlated between global solar radiation and greenhouse gases over Nigeria using neural network. The results showed that positive correlations exist between solar radiations: CO2 and CH4 respectively, while exhibiting negative correlations with tropospheric ozone and water vapour. Consequently, an increase in 0.1017, 0.1350 units of CO2 and CH4, respectively could enhance the trapping and transmission of solar radiation in the atmosphere, while an increase of 1.1234 and 0.1530 units of tropospheric ozone and water vapour could cause absorption of solar radiation. The trapped energy is re-radiated back to the Earth, this warms up the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth resulting to global warming. Coefficient of determination revealed that 18%, 30%, 20%, and 29%, of the variances of solar radiation being studied is explained by the variance of the water vapour, tropospheric O3, CO2, and CH4, respectively.
Heavy metals are elements, whose density is greater than water. They are generated from our environment. Rocks, sediments, plants, water and aerosol particles represent the carriers of heavy metals. An accumulated amount of heavy metal in the body, either by inhalation, food or drinking water, can cause an adverse health effect to human. The Benue river passed through the town of makurdi, was high population of the inhabitant of Benue State dwells. The industrial and agricultural activities carried out in this region, increase the concentration of heavy metals. This may result to adverse health effect on the inhabitant of Makurdi. The objectives of this work were to determine the heavy metal concentration and its site contaminations along the bank of river Benue, Makurdi. An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to determine the heavy metals concentration. The metals concentrations (Iron, Copper, Manganese, Lead, Zinc, Chromium, Arsenic, and Cadmium) of the three stations were found. This ranges from 3.55 -9454.0 mg/kg, 0.20 -8928.0 mg/kg and 2.80 -13,657 mg/kg for stations 1, 2 and 3. With Fe recorded as the highest concentration in the sediment, this value is compared with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Surface Rock Average (WSRA) standard. The assessment on contamination status of heavy metals in the riverbank, showed low degree of contamination in stations 1 and 2, and moderate degree in station 3. The degree of enrichment to heavy metals in all the stations is deficient to minimal. The evaluation of the results of pollution load index (PLI) from this present study indicated PLI < 1 for station 2, and PLI > 1 in stations 1 and 3. Hence stations 1 and 3 are polluted, while station 2 is not polluted with heavy metals.
This work measured and modeled Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation exposure of outdoor workers (Traders, Drivers/Commuters and Construction workers) within Makurdi Metropolis. Digital broad band meter was used to measure Irradiance across the three occupations under consideration. Polymer Polysolphone dosimeters were used to quantify the amount of solar UVR absorbed by workers of these occupations, UV/VIS-Spectrophotometer was used to measure both post and pre-absorbance while GPS was used to measure the coordinate of the Sampling sites. The Polymer Polysulphone dosimeters were fitted on vital solar radiation access areas on a plastic human shape and placed in the sun from 9:30am-4:00pm (6 hours 30 minutes). The result shows that head top had the highest values of 8.73 kJ/m 2 , 6.67 kJ/m 2 and 7.40 kJ/m 2 for drivers/commuters, construction workers and traders respectively while the dosimeters worn under clothe cover had the least values of 2.06kJ/m 2 , 2.56kJ/m 2 , 3.07 kJ/m 2 at the market square, car park and construction site respectively. Similarly, UV Irradiances at various intervals were measured and the cumulative exposures calculated to be 610.98kJ/m 2 , 1923.84kJ/m 2 and 3526.92 kJ/m 2 respectively. The work sets a reliable baseline data for solar UV radiation monitoring in Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria.
Fine particulate matter and eight heavy metals (Ni, Co, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn, and Zn) concentrations were determined in air samples collected from three industrial sites in northern Nigeria using a Handheld Portable Particle Counter for PM 2.5 and PM 10 with model number CW-HAT 200 and a High Volume Respirable Dust Sampler (APM 460 NL) in conjunction with an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Serial No. AA0904M046) Flame Test. The results of the fine particulates ranged from 11.0 -46.0 µg•m −3 for PM 2.5 and 22.0 -88 µg•m −3 for PM 10 across all the industrial sites investigated. Most of these results exceeded the WHO permissible levels of 25.0 µg•m −3 and 50.0 µg•m −3 for PM 2.5 and PM 10 and thus pose threats to people living and working close to these sites. The concentration of the heavy metals studied were found to be within WHO/EU set standards except for the concentrations of Ni, Pb, and Cd that exceeded the set standard by WHO/EU with toxicity potential >1 in the Terytex industry, Kano and Grand Cereals, Jos. Strong positive correlations were found between the fine particulates concentrations and heavy metals in all the studied sites suggesting that common anthropogenic sources contributed to the fine particulates and heavy metals recorded from the industrial areas. We suggested the installation of electrostatic precipitators to combat fine particulates emission from the stack and also recommended a proper legislative framework by the government to regulate and control industrial fugitive emissions to protect human health.
Radioactivity analysis of aerosols within the lower atmosphere of some selected towns in Plateau state, North central Nigeria was carried out using Respirable Dust sampler (APM 460NL) and Gamma Ray Spectroscopy technique to ascertain their radiological safety and radiation dose to the general public. The mean mass concentration of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) aerosols were found to be 234.4 and 390.6 (ug/m3) respectively for Pankshin; 381.3 and 312.5 (ug/m3) respectively for Shendam, and 208.3 and 250.0 (ug/m3) for Jos. The mean activity concentration of Potassium- 40, Radium-226 and Thorium-232 in the selected towns were found to be 510.82,52.16 and 29.76 Bq/kg respectively. Average values of the following radiological parameter Da, AEDE, HEX and AGED were 4.3439 nGy/yr, 0.0053MSv/yr,0.025Bq/kg, and 30.3470 mSv/yr respectively.The activity concentration of Potassium-40 was beyond the permissible limit at Shandan while that of Radium-226 was beyond the set limit in Jos and Pankshin. The concentration of Thorium-232 in the study areas was below permissible limit. Continuous exposure to these radionuclides and their progenies including their synergetic effects with trace metals in the aerosols may pose several risk to public health. This work is useful in regional environmental radiation monitoring and is part of efforts geared towards generating baseline data for environmental radioactivity levels within North Central Nigeria .
Ionizing Radiation emitted from radionuclide has an adverse effect on human health. A continuing population exposure to naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMS) found in our environment is one of the major scientific subjects that attract public attention. The assessment of radionuclide content of shore sediments of river Benue-North Central Nigeria was carried out using gamma-ray spectrometry. The activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 were found to have an average concentration of 1.17, 3.31 and 405.95 Bq•kg −1 respectively. The values gotten from present study were compared with the world average values. World average values of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 are 50 Bq•kg −1 , 50 Bq•kg −1 and 500 Bq•kg −1 respectively. The mean concentration of daughter radionuclides generated from U-238, Th-232 was 4. 32, 10.37, 5.24, 3.86, 11.87, respectively. The mean of the absorbed dose, Annual effective dose equivalent, for radium equivalent activity, and external hazard index, were evaluated to be 19.45 nGy•h −1 , 23.82 µSv•y −1 , 37.16 Bq•kg −1 , 0.10 mSv•y 1 , below the permissible limit of 57 nGy•h −1 , 70 μSv•y −1 , 370 Bq•kg −1 and 1 mSv•y −1 respectively. These shore sediments from river Benue are therefore, radiologically safe for construction and other domestic and industrial purposes.
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