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.

Physicochemistry and Heavy Metal Characteristics of Waste Products from Abattoir Activities in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract: The upsurge of abattoir operations as a result of the rise in demand for meat protein has led to a corresponding increase in waste generation. These wastes are often channelled into nearby streams with little or no treatment which exposes aquatic organisms to the resultant consequences of this waste deposition. This study was thus aimed at determining the physicochemical quality of some abattoir samples in Port Harcourt city. Soil, faecal matter, wastewater, waste blood and service water samples from the Iwofe, Rumuodomaya and Trans-Amadi abattoirs were collected within a period of one year and the pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), sulphate, chloride, temperature, nitrate, ammonia and heavy metals quantities including chromium, lead, zinc, cobalt, copper and cadmium were determined using standard Original Research Article Chikanka et al.; AJARR, 7(4): 1-12, 2019; Article no.AJARR.53411 2 techniques. The study recorded high BOD5 and COD values from the blood, faecal matter, soil and wastewater samples while service water samples had values within the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality limits. Seasonal variations in the physicochemical parameters of the samples collected both in the wet and dry seasons were observed. The pH values ranged from 6.2-8.5, BOD5 of blood, faecal matter soil and wastewater ranged from 2124-4349 mg/l while the COD ranged from 2715-8820 mg/l. In Rumuodomaya, the BOD5 and COD ranged from 2276-2727 mg/l and 2583-3245 mg/l respectively while samples from Trans-Amadi abattoir had values for BOD5 and COD ranging from 2253-4330 mg/l and 2931-4597 mg/l, respectively. Nitrate, chromium, cadmium, zinc, cobalt, lead and copper contents in the different locations varied statistically at α0.05 while no significant difference was observed for pH, ammonia, temperature, COD, BOD5, sulphate and chloride contents at α=0.05. The BOD5 and COD of waste blood, wastewater, soil and faecal matter recorded values that were above permissible limits for service water and therefore raises concern for the aquatic life being threatened by these effluents as the amount of dissolved oxygen available for them will be reduced as a pollution of the immediate environment, if these generated wastes are not treated before disposal.

Assessment of Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality of Table Water Sold in School Campuses of the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract: Water is the elixir of life which is essential for proper metabolic processes to take place. The quest for cheap and readily available source of potable water has led to the emergence of sachet and bottle water which the sale and consumption continue to grow astronomically and rapidly in most countries of the world. This study was aimed at assessing the microbial and physicochemical water quality of table water sold on School campuses. Standard microbiological procedures were used to isolate and identify various microbial genera associated with the water samples using morphological, microscopic and biochemical characterization method. The bacterial genera identified were Escherichia sp., Streptococcus sp., Micrococcus sp., Vibrio cholera., Staphylococcus sp. and Original Research Article Lawson et al.; JAMB, 20(12): 22-33, 2020; Article no.JAMB.64041 23 Bacillus sp. with Choba campus having the highest microbial contamination of packaged water. However, the results of the physicochemical properties from this study were all below the WHO recommended limits. The temperature and pH ranged between 26-27°C and 6.98-7.08, respectively. The values of the electrical conductivity ranged from 0.080 to 0.150 μs/cm; turbidity ranged between 0.40-1.40 NTU; chloride ranged between 1.187-2.103 mg/l, nitrate was within the range of 0.01 to 0.14 mg/l; BOD ranged from 0.02-0.04 mg/l, COD was between 0.00-0.08 mg/l and the total soluble solids were between the ranges of 0.04-0.10 mg/l. Therefore, this study suggests the improvement of water-borne disease preventive and control measures, and monitoring of water quality by the regulatory agencies to ensure good manufacturing practices by the water bottling companies which will result in reduction of health hazards associated with water borne diseases.

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