Rivers State University of Science and Technology

About: Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Threatened species. The organization has 1826 authors who have published 1833 publications receiving 15183 citations.

Biodegradation Potentials of Aspergillus sydowii and Fusarium lichenicola on Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in an Oilfield Wastewater in Rivers State

Abstract: This study investigated the potential of Aspergillus sydowii and Fusarium lichenicola as mixed cultures in the biodegradation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons TPHs in oilfield wastewater. Oilfield wastewater was collected from an onshore oil producing platform and biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons was investigated using standard methods. Fungi were isolated from oilfield wastewater contaminated soils obtained from the vicinity of the oil producing platform. Experimental control set-up and treatment with mixed culture of fungal isolates were periodically analyzed on days 7 and 21 intervals for total petroleum hydrocarbon degradation using Gas Chromatography (GC). The total amount of TPHs on day 1 recorded 381. 871 mg/l. The amount of TPHs on days 7 and 21 in the mixed culture of fungi was 108.975 mg/l and 21.105 mg/l respectively while TPHs in control was 342.891 mg/l and 240.749 mg/l respectively. There was a significant difference between the mixed culture and the control on days 7 and 21 at p≤0.05. The results therefore revealed actual and Original Research Article Williams and Aleruchi; JAMB, 19(3): 1-7, 2019; Article no.JAMB.53096 2 significant reduction of TPHs in the mixed culture. In addition, there was clearance of n-alkanes by the mixed culture. This suggests that fungi have great potentials in biodegradation of TPHs and in remediation of TPH contaminated environments.

A Comparative Study on the Effects of Leachate on Groundwater in Selected Dumpsites in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract: The health and environmental risk associated with unlined open waste dumpsites are worrisome. This study, therefore, evaluated the leachate and its final fate on groundwater pollution at selected solid wastes dumpsites in Rivers State. Leachate samples collected near the dumpsites were analyzed to determine the physical and biochemical characteristics. The two studied dumpsites indicated that the computed TCB were 296.33±6.22 cfu/100 ml and 182.68±21.33 cfu/100 ml respectively which were within the permissible limits of 400cfu/100 ml specified by World Health Organization (WHO) and Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv); which suggest low quantities of disease-causing agents in the groundwater. The total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) were 21x104 cfu/ml and 17x104 cfu/ml. These high values of THB may not be an indication of contamination of groundwater but it indicates a gradual decline in raw water quality. The values of SO42-, PO43-, TDS, DO, BOD and COD at the dumpsites were 196.52±6.26 mg/l and 9.12±0.59 mg/l, 139.23±3.19 mg/l and 3.81±0.68 mg/l, 5952.23±72.52 mg/l and 12663.33±490.95 mg/l;1.51±0.42. mg/l and 2.02±0.16 mg/l; 31.22±4.12 mg/l and 21.33±3.51 mg/l, and313.30±6.57 mg/l and 270.33±26.16 mg/l respectively which exceeded the standards of the WHO and FMEnv. The high values of analyzed parameters were an indication of the groundwater contamination. Heavy metals in the Rumuosi dumpsite indicated 11.31±1.33 mg/l, 11.01±0.67 mg/l, 361.84±12.31 mg/l, 118.03±5.74 mg/l and 84.77±4.84 mg/l for Pb, As, Mn, Fe and Zn respectively. While Heavy metals thresholds at Igwuruta were 0.004±0.005 mg/l, 0.04±0.07 mg/l, 0.05±0.08 mg/l, 0.08±0.14 mg/l and 0.15±0.04 mg/l respectively. Rumuosi thresholds exceeded the standards, indicating that the exposed local people in the nearby communities may experience cases of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk by drinking the groundwater. The leachate pollution index (LPI) at the studied dumpsites indicated 13.58 and 12.9 which exceeded the internationally accepted benchmark of 7.38; indicating that the Rumuosi leachate was more polluted than Igwuruta leachate. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the pollutant characteristics indicated a significant difference at p=0.05 across the physicochemical and biological indicators at Rumuosi dumpsite over Igwuruta dumpsite. The researcher recommended the practice of sanitary landfill which may reduce the risk of leachate percolation, a primary source of groundwater contamination.

Assessment of selected biochemical parameters among food hawkers along the streets of Yenagoa Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract: This study was aimed on assessment of selected biochemical parameters among food hawkers along the streets of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Five milliliter of blood specimen was collected from fifteen food hawkers with ≤ 5 years working experience (experimental group one), ≥ 5 years working experience (experimental group two) and nonfood hawkers (control group) respectively into lithium heparin anti-coagulated bottles. Thereafter alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and C-reactive protein were measured quantitatively. The mean values of volunteers in experimental group one showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in alanine aminotransferase (7.46 ± 1.02), aspartate aminotransferase (7.02 ± 0.86), urea (7.70 ± 1.29) and creatinine (70.44 ± 3.54) as compared with the control group (7.42 ± 0.98), (6.98 ± 0.82), (7.65 ± 1.28) and (70.40 ± 3.52) respectively, but there was a statistically significant difference (p