The popularity of Nanoparticles (NPs) have led to their wide production, applications and subsequently released into the aquatic environment in some instances. In the aquatic ecosystem, these NPs affect different populations of photosynthesizing organisms, such as cyanobacteria. The effect of Microcystis aeruginosa exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs, 48 mg l− 1), in combination of low and high concentrations of urea (0.04 mM) and nitrate (9 Mm) was assessed. Microcystins (MCs) production and release were monitored in the cyanobacterium. Results showed that high urea (9 mM), combined with TiO2-NPs, inhibited the growth, pigment and malondialdehyde (MDA) content by 82%, 63% and 47% respectively. But 40.7% and 67.7% increase in the concentration of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was observed in M. aeruginosa respectively. Similarly, low nitrate (0.04 mM) combined with TiO2-NPs inhibited growth by 40.3% and GST activity by 36.3%, but stimulated pigment production and ROS concentration in M. aeruginosa. A response suggests that the high urea combined with TiO2 –NPs and high nitrate combined with TiO2 –NPs exposure induced oxidative stress in the cyanobacterium. The peroxidase (POD) activity of M. aeruginosa decreased by 17.7% with increasing urea concentrations. Our findings suggest TiO2-NPs and nutrients (urea and nitrate) concentration may adversely impact cyanobacterial development and antioxidant defense enzymes. Although the effect of nitrate concentration on M. aeruginosa was observed to be subsidiary.
Aim: To investigate the Pesticide Residues (PRs) contamination of some cereals and determine their health risks in the food chain of Taraba North Geo-political region. Study Design: Maize, Millet, Rice and Sorghum, and their soils were randomly collected from farmers’ field in three (3) LGAs of Taraba North. Place and Duration of Study: The samples were collected from Ardo-kola, Karim-lamido and Zing LGAs of Taraba State. They are processed at Laboratories of Biological Sciences Department of Taraba State University and Analyzed at the Department of Chemistry, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Yobe State, between September, 2021 – March, 2022. Methodology: Soils and ripe cereals stalks were collected applying the principles of randomization. These samples were processed, pulverized into powdered form, and analyzed for pesticide residues (PR) using the Gas Chromatograph - Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). Results: Ten (10) pesticide residues in different concentrations were recorded, with some of them occurring above the permissible limits. Isopropylamine accounted for 21% of total contaminants' concentrations, followed by carbofuran (14%), dichlorvos (12%), t-nonachlor (11%), heptachlor (10%), HCB and g-chlordane all at 9%, DDT (7%), Endosulfan (6%), and Aldrin at 1%. Health implications showed that some of the cereals are unsafe for consumption. In Ardo-Kola and Zing, only millet had a Hazard Index (HI) of less than 1, while in Karim-Lamido, millet and sorghum recorded HI ≤ 1. In Ardo-Kola trend in HI values in adullts was rice (53.32) ˃ sorghum (24.35), ˃ maize (10.99), ˃ millet (0.82), while in children, the trend was rice (64.50), ˃ sorghum (24.71), ˃ maize (10.65), ˃ millet (0.90). In Karim-Lamido, HI values in adults were in the following order: rice (54.64) ˃ maize (38.44), ˃ millet (0.62), ˃ sorghum (0.35). At the same time, HI in children followed the order; rice (66.10) ˃ maize (46.50), ˃ sorghum (0.74), ˃ millet (0.73). In Zing, HI values were in descending order of rice (32.20) ˃ sorghum (12.27) ˃ maize (8.27) ˃ millet (0.47), in adults, and rice (38.97) ˃ sorghum (14.86) ˃ maize (9.99) ˃ millet (0.55), in children. Overall, children are at a higher risk of toxicity than adults. Conclusion: It was deduced at the end of the study that pesticides residue are bioaccumulating in the food chain due to excessive use in many agricultural phases. Hence we recommended intensified efforts in check-mating these products in our agricultural systems.
One of the parasitic infection faced by school age children in developing countries is intestinal parasitic infection. This study was designed to determine risk factors associated with gastrointestinal helminthic infections among school age children. A total of 600 stool samples were randomly examined by direct smear method under microscope and formol-ether concentration technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-noneconomic status of the children’s parents and other variables. Of this, (n=252; 42%) were found to be infected with gastrointestinal helminths infections given a breakdown of male (n=148; 24.7%) and female (n=104; 17.3%). However, there was no significant difference in prevalence among the socio-economic status. Parent whose occupation was farmer (n=169; 28%) also recorded high rate of infection, the lowest prevalence was seen among civil servants (n=19; 3%). Parents with little or no knowledge of intestinal helminths were found to be statistically significant (n=199; 33.1%, p<0.02; α =0.02) The highest rate of infection was recorded among children who had dirty finger nails (n=232; 38.6%), followed by those who walked barefooted(28.2%),then open defecation (n=147; 24.6%), hand washing after defecation (n=195; 30,7%,), habit of eating raw/roasted meat (n=136; 22.3%), hand washing before meal (n=102; 17.02%) and keeping of dirty clothes and bed linens (n=180; 30%) . Such a relatively high prevalence rate of helminthic infection in the study area could be used as a base line for the concern bodies to launch de-worming intervention campaigns.
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