| 1 |
Author(s):
Ibrahim Alkali, AbdulRahman Abdul Audu, Khalimullah Saghir, Muhammad Suleiman Darma.
Page No : 1-11
|
Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals Using Spinach (Amarantus spinosa) Grown on Contaminated Soils
Abstract
This work was designed to assess the phytoremediation ability of Spinach (Amarantus spinosa) grown on two different soils (contaminated soil obtained from Chalawa Industrial Estate, Kano, and control soil obtained from Biological Garden of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina). Concentrations (mg/Kg) of Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Biological concentration factors (BCFs) and translocation factors (TFs) were calculated. The mean levels of metals obtained ranged widely from 0.23 mg/kg Ni to 1971.37 mg/kg Fe. Highest mean levels of Cr (97.74 mg/kg), Fe (1971.37 mg/kg), Mn (78.22 mg/kg), Zn (170.60 mg/kg) were contained in the leaf of the spinach samples, whereas Ni (1.98 mg/kg) and Pb (14.24 mg/kg) were contained in the root of the spinach samples. The results showed a significant level (p<0.05) of all the metals analysed in the spinach samples grown on the polluted soil compared with those grown on the control soils. Amongst the metals, Ni and Pb were found to have the lowest (0.50) and highest (7.57) BCF values respectively. The lowest and highest TF values were found to be on Cr (0.32) and Zn (1.17) respectively. Consequently, Higher BCF and TF values were found for Pb and Zn and this resulted in greater extraction ability of Pb and Zn. The spinach ability to extract Fe and Ni was found to be poor.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Aderinto Esther R..
Page No : 12-24
|
Urbanization and Environmental Unsustainability: An Ecological Footprint Analysis for Nigeria
Abstract
The earth’s limited natural resources and assimilation capacity, coupled with increased production and consumption activities of a rapidly growing population, has made the global environment unsustainable. This study therefore analyses the empirical relationship between urbanization and environmental unsustainability in Nigeria by employing the ecological deficit obtained from the ecological footprint as a measure of environmental unsustainability. The study contributes to empirical literature on the subject matter by employing the STIRPAT model as against the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) model employed by most studies for Nigeria. Secondly, the study differs from others that used carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) as a measure of sustainability (unsustainability) of the environment by employing the difference between biocapacity per capita and ecological footprint per capita, otherwise regarded as ecological surplus (deficit), as a measure of environmental sustainability (unsustainability). Time series data spanning from 1981 to 2019 was used and the STIRPAT framework was adopted. Autoregressive Distributed Lag Technique of estimation was employed for the long- and short-run estimates, while the results were validated with the Dynamic Ordinary Least Square Technique (DOLS) as well as the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square Technique (FMOLS). Short- and long-run results revealed that urbanization significantly has negative effects on environmental unsustainability. However, the working population has a positive effect on environmental unsustainability in the long run. In the short run, per capita income and the working population have positive effects on environmental unsustainability. The study therefore recommends responsible consumption and production activities that will improve environmental quality.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Ezeddine Hamida.
Page No : 25-33
|
Comparison Between, NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) of, Agricultural Soil Sample (tomato field treated with phosphate fertilizer) Relatively Close to an Oil Field, and Wastes Samples (scale and sludge) of the Same Oil Field
Abstract
This paper is an overview comparison of NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials). Soil sample was collected from a tomato field which was treated by phosphate fertilizers, and scale and sludge samples were collected from an oil field. The two fields are relatively close (less than 60 km).
| 4 |
Author(s):
Adewuyi Gbola Kehinde, Sanni Tawakalitu Bolanle.
Page No : 34-54
|
Geographical Locations of Secondary Schools and Effects on Students’ Distance Travelled from Home to School in Five Urban Local Government Areas of Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study presents the spatial location distribution of private and public secondary schools and assesses the effects of distance travelled from home to school in five urban local government areas of Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria. Field survey methods were adopted by obtaining the geographic coordinates of schools using a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS Garmin 78s) and a structured questionnaire consisting of fifteen (15) questions and interviews to assess the effect of distance travelled from home to school from selected private and public secondary schools and from selected students in the study areas. Data were processed using ArcGIS 10.4 (Arcmap 10.4) to show the spatial locations of schools, and IBM SPSS (statistics 20) to assess the effects of distance travelled from home to school on students. The result of geographic locations of schools showed a cluster spatial distribution pattern in the North-eastern part of Ibadan southwest, south-western part of Ibadan Northeast and North-western part of Ibadan Northwest and few schools are located in the south-western part of Ibadan Southeast and Ibadan Southwest local government areas. However, the result also showed that students’ distance travelled had significant effects on students' mental ability, academic participation and academic performance, communication between teachers and students’, students’ insecurity to and from, and stoppage along the travel route. The result of the correlation coefficient showed that there is a positive and negative association between questions and answers from the respondents.
| 5 |
Author(s):
Obiefule Peace Akudo.
Page No : 55-68
|
Microenvironmental Analysis of Housing Development and Biophysical Environment in Enugu Urban
Abstract
This research carried out an empirical analysis of housing development and microenvironment biophysical elements in Enugu Urban. An experimental and Survey Research design was adopted. The questionnaire was used to represent the survey research method while the area of the practical experiment was used by the researcher to represent the experimental research method. The population of this study comprises of the various housing developments in the three Local Governments Area that make up Enugu Urban – which is Enugu East, Enugu South, and Enugu North. These locations are geo-referenced given that these three local-government areas give the study a wider and more balanced coverage. Taro Yamane’s Statistical formula was applied to determine the sample size for the study which gave n (the desired Sample Size) as 380, which was rounded off to the nearest Hundredth, making n the desired sample size = 400. The major findings of the study were that on average, housing development contributes negatively and significantly to water quality in Enugu urban (p = .003< 0.05). The experimental results revealed the physic-chemical and elemental characteristics of the water sample for the selected respective estates. Secondly, it was also discovered that on average, housing development contributes significantly to soil quality deterioration in Enugu urban (p = .007 < 0.05). The experimental dimension revealed that total organic carbon, ph, organic matter, and fixed carbon yielded average values that confirmed that housing development adversely affects soil quality in Enugu Urban for the period under analysis. It is therefore the recommendation of this study that Wastes that are pushed into waters could be turned into wealth with some research on recycling. Secondly, water pollution is not easy to solve. It is necessary that all hands must be on deck to fight it. This means that aside from controlling housing development, both government and citizen’s cooperation are needed to reduce water pollution to the barest minimum. Since water contamination comes from many different sources and has many numerous effects, every aspect of water pollution needs to be addressed. To sustain and improve soil quality in Enugu state, there is also the need for supported active research into waste minimization strategies, waste avoidance technologies, cleaner production processes, and zero-emission concepts.
| 6 |
Author(s):
Nwakife C.N., Esther U., Musah M., Morah E.J., Inobeme A., Andrew A..
Page No : 69-81
|
Determination of the Physicochemical Properties and Some Heavy Metals in Soils Around Selected Automobile Workshops in Minna, Nigeria
Abstract
Automobile workshops generate wastes containing hazardous chemicals. Heavy metals present in these workshops are the major pollutants capable of seeping into the soil and further spread to other nearby environments during floods. Three different sampling points (A, B and C) were mapped out at a distance of 20 meters apart around each automobile workshop: Railway station (RW), Sabon gari (SBG) and Mypa school (MY). The soil samples were pretreated and digested with HNO3 and HClO4 (3:1). The heavy metals (Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd and Cu) concentrations were determined using the multiple plasma atomic emission spectrophotometerr (MP AES). The physiochemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon (OC), organic matter (OM), exchangeable cations, soil texture, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total exchangeable bases (TEB) and percentage clay, silt and sand) were determined using standard methods of analysis. The concentrations of Pb at points A, B and C of MY (2.10±0.01, 9.50±0.05 and 2.90±0.03 mg/kg) were lower than 35.10±0.20, 37.20±0.21 and 46.50±0.54 mg/kg at RW and 25.80±0.29, 64.80±0.75 and 75.60±0.87 mg/kg at SBG. Zinc concentration was in the order MY < RW < SBG. Cadmium concentrations were 3.20±0.20, 3.70±0.02 and 3.40±0.02 mg/kg at points A, B and C in RW, 3.90±0.02, 2.80±0.05 and 3.50±0.02 mg/kg in MY soil. The high concentration of cadmium in soils at RW and MY are indications of considerable contamination and the soils at MY and RW are not suitable for planting of crops but requires remediation action.
