Bacteriological and Physicochemical Analysis of Groundwater of Kasur

Earth is a blue planet because of the rudimentary cause of life, that is water. All the biochemical reactions which are pre-requisite for nourishing life of animals and plants, use water as a basic element. Being a universal solvent, it dissolves almost all minerals present in the soil. It is one of the basic and necessary compounds responsible for the survival of life. The main purpose of research was to determine the quality of groundwater in Kasur near the tanneries. The study is focused on the bacteriological and physicochemical (pH, Temperature, DO, BOD, CO2, TOSM, TDS, TM and heavy metals) parameters. We selected four sites as Din Garh, Qatal Garhi, Mangal Mandi and Kot Haleem Khan for investigation. Coliforms were present in high concentration that produce viruses and bacterial diseases such as typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastrocnemii, dysentery and ear infections. World Health Organization (WHO) has justified that the drinkable water must have zero level of coliform and E.coli. Regarding the Total Suspended Matter (TSM), the values ranged from 0.3-0.5g/l in DIN GHARH, 0.2-0.5g/l in QATAL GHARHI, 0.2-0.5g/l in MANGAL MANDI and 0.2-0.6g/l in KOT HALEEM KHAN. The study concludes that the water pollution due to tanneries in Kasur have changed the bacteriological and physicochemical properties of ground water to a considerable level which is not drinkable. It also conclude that groundwater was contaminated with high concentrations of BOD, TOSM, TDS, TM and Heavy metals due to discharge of industrial effluents.

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS EFFLUIENT (CHROMIUM & NICKEL) RELEASED INTO ROMI RIVER, KADUNA STATE: A CASE STUDY

FUDMA Journal of Sciences ◽

10.33003/fjs-2020-0403-283 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 704-707

Author(s):

Muhammad Mudassir Usman ◽

Muhammad Nuruddeen Abdulkareem ◽

Abdullahi Muhammad ◽

Kabiru Hamza

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Water Quality ◽

Industrial Effluents ◽

World Health ◽

Refinery Effluent ◽

Iron Nickel ◽

The Mean ◽

Health Organization ◽

The Impact

Industrial effluents discharged into the river poses a serious threat to our environment; the research examines the impact of some heavy metals of Kaduna refinery effluent into the Romi River. It asserts the nature of effluent released into the water body and also the impact of effluent on water quality. However the important water quality became relatively slowly as early human could only judge water quality through the physical senses of sight, taste and smell, now a days there is an increase of contamination of natural water bodies by industrial effluents in developing and densely populated countries like Nigeria, because rivers are major means of waste disposal and especially effluents from industries nearby. The data used in this research were generated from direct field measurement of pH, Conductivity, and Turbidity, heavy metal profiles (Chromium & Nickel) from Kaduna Refinery Effluent. The mean concentrations of the metals; chromium, iron, nickel, and zinc with the standard deviation were found to be: < 0.01 ± 0.1 mg/kg, and 0.06 ± 0.1 mg/kg. This study has shown that the mean concentration of chromium and Nickel found to be lower than the World Health Organization (WHO) acceptable limits while the concentration values of nickel 0.06 ± 0.1 mg/kg and iron 0.06 ± 0.1 mg/kg as found to be higher than the WHO, acceptable limits of the metals) obtained at the effluent points and this implicate the industry adjacent to the area as one of the sources of heavy metals in the river.

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Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentration in Swampy Agricultural Soil of Nasarawa West, Nigeria

Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports ◽

10.9734/ajarr/2019/v3i129786 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Abbas Abdullahi Auta ◽

Umar Ibrahim ◽

Abdullahi Abubakar Mundi ◽

Idris Mohammed Mustapha ◽

Musa Usman Sarki

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Agricultural Soil ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

International Standards ◽

World Health ◽

State University ◽

High Concentration ◽

Sampling Locations ◽

Regulatory Standard ◽

Health Organization

Aim: This research was carried out to investigate the concentration of heavy metals in swampy agricultural soil of Nasarawa west, Nigeria. Study Design: To compare the swampy soil heavy metal concentrations with regulatory standard or allowable values by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other National and International standards. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physics, Nasarawa State University Keffi between January, 2018 and October, 2018. Methodology: Ten soil samples from each of thefive sampling locations (Karu, Keffi, Kokona, Nasarawa, and Toto) were randomly collected. A total of fifty (50) soil sampleswere collected within the period of one week. The collected samples were stored in polyethylene bag and labeled properly and taken to the Center for Energy Research and Development (CERD) at Obafemi Awolowo University Ile- ife Osun State, Nigeria. At CERD, elemental analysis was carried out for the fifty sample using X- ray fluorescent spectrometry analyzer. Results: The range of mean concentration of Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Fe, Ni, and Cu (in KR, KF, KK, NS, and TT locations) are 243.60- 502.80 mg/kg, 7.40- 37.00mg/kg, 260.90- 524.50 mg/kg, 167.80- 336.60 mg/kg, 20222.90- 58170.50 mg/kg, 342.20- 555.10 mg/kg, and 266.60- 515.90 mg/kg respectively. The average mean of all the sample locations are found to be higher than the WHO allowable concentration limits of As (20 mg/kg), Pb (100 mg/kg), Cd (3 mg/kg), Zn (300 mg/kg), Fe (n.a), Ni (50 mg/kg), and Cu (100 mg/kg)respectively. There is high concentration Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Fe, Ni, and Cu in the swampy soil. Conclusion: The results indicates that the swampy agricultural soils of Nasarawa west (Karu, Keffi, Kokona, Nasarawa, and Toto) are contaminated with toxic metals (Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Fe, Ni, and Cu).

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Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Two Species of Goby (Porogobius Schelegelii and Bathygobius Soporator) From Buguma Creek, Niger Delta

Sumerianz Journal of Biotechnology ◽

10.47752/sjb.41.46.51 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 46-51

Author(s):

Wilfred–Ekprikpo P. C.

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

World Health ◽

High Concentration ◽

Metal Concentrations ◽

Heavy Metal Concentrations ◽

Flame Atomic Absorption ◽

Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer ◽

Fish Samples ◽

Health Organization

This study investigated the heavy metal concentrations in different organs such as gills, muscles, liver and gatro-intestinal tract (GIT) of two species of Goby: Porogobius schelegelii and Bathygobius soporator from Buguma Creek, Rivers State, Nigeria. The fish samples were collected from the creek and were preserved in ice chest box and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Samples were digested by using standard laboratory methods. The concentrations of metals were analyzed using a Varian AA240 Fast Sequential Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The Results obtained indicated that heavy metals such as Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), and Nickel (Ni) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the liver of the two species than in the muscle, gills and the GIT. Comparatively, the concentrations of these metals were higher in the specie B.soporator than P. schelegelii in all the organs of the fishes under consideration. The heavy metal concentrations recorded in this study were above the limits recommended by Food and Agricultural Organization/ World Health Organization. The high concentration of heavy metals above permissible level suggests the need for caution during the consumption of these species from Buguma Creek due to health implications associated with heavy metals.

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STEVIA PLANT - ALTERNATIVE SWEETNER IN FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Knowledge International Journal ◽

10.35120/kij28041213j ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 1213-1217

Author(s):

Jovana Džoljić ◽

Ljiljana Đorđević

Keyword(s):

Food Additives ◽

Functional Class ◽

World Health ◽

Food Technology ◽

Food Standards ◽

Safety Studies ◽

Negative Side Effects ◽

Health Organization ◽

Almost All ◽

Agricultural Organization

Food and Agricultural Organization as a “sweeteners” consider products used for sweetening derived from sugar crops, cereals, fruits or milk, or that are produced by insects. Sweeteners, as an additive, have important role for technological functions of food, especially in providing texture, bulk and color, and also as preservative agents. Regardless the numerous sweeteners, alternative sweeteners to sucrose are in main focus for implementation in food industry. Nowadays Food and Agricultural Organization and World Health Organization Food standards, Codex Alimentarius Commission (2018) accepted list of 27 food additives that have the functional class “sweetener”. Nowadays, alternative sweeteners and their application in food technology are in main focus of scientist. Stevia plant stands for one of the most important natural intense sweetener, since stevia glycosides are almost 400 times sweeter than sucrose. Extracts of stevia represents a powerful tool for reducing sugars in food and beverages, which can be acceptable substitutes to full sugar versions of this products. Regarding the data of Euromonitor international, new food products containing stevia grew 10% from 2016 to 2017. The biggest increment in stevia use was noticed in categories of snacks, juice drinks, dairy, carbonated soft drinks and confectionery. Barriocanal et al. (2008) highlighted that safety studies reported no negative side effects of stevia use. Can be expected that in recent future use of S. rebaudiana as sweetener would be extended to almost all the world’s countries, regarding all discovered beneficial health effects.

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A living WHO guideline on drugs to prevent covid-19

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.n526 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. n526

Author(s):

François Lamontagne ◽

Thomas Agoritsas ◽

Reed Siemieniuk ◽

Bram Rochwerg ◽

Jessica Bartoszko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Guideline Development ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

World Health ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Assessment Development ◽

Research Priority ◽

Health Organization ◽

Almost All ◽

Drug Interventions

Abstract Clinical question What is the role of drugs in preventing covid-19? Why does this matter? There is widespread interest in whether drug interventions can be used for the prevention of covid-19, but there is uncertainty about which drugs, if any, are effective. The first version of this living guideline focuses on the evidence for hydroxychloroquine. Subsequent updates will cover other drugs being investigated for their role in the prevention of covid-19. Recommendation The guideline development panel made a strong recommendation against the use of hydroxychloroquine for individuals who do not have covid-19 (high certainty). How this guideline was created This living guideline is from the World Health Organization (WHO) and provides up to date covid-19 guidance to inform policy and practice worldwide. Magic Evidence Ecosystem Foundation (MAGIC) provided methodological support. A living systematic review with network analysis informed the recommendations. An international guideline development panel of content experts, clinicians, patients, an ethicist and methodologists produced recommendations following standards for trustworthy guideline development using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Understanding the new recommendation The linked systematic review and network meta-analysis (6 trials and 6059 participants) found that hydroxychloroquine had a small or no effect on mortality and admission to hospital (high certainty evidence). There was a small or no effect on laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (moderate certainty evidence) but probably increased adverse events leading to discontinuation (moderate certainty evidence). The panel judged that almost all people would not consider this drug worthwhile. In addition, the panel decided that contextual factors such as resources, feasibility, acceptability, and equity for countries and healthcare systems were unlikely to alter the recommendation. The panel considers that this drug is no longer a research priority and that resources should rather be oriented to evaluate other more promising drugs to prevent covid-19. Updates This is a living guideline. New recommendations will be published in this article and signposted by update notices to this guideline. Readers note This is the first version of the living guideline for drugs to prevent covid-19. It complements the WHO living guideline on drugs to treat covid-19. When citing this article, please consider adding the update number and date of access for clarity.

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Effectiveness of Face Masks in Reducing the Spread of COVID-19: A Model-Based Analysis

Medical Decision Making ◽

10.1177/0272989x211019029 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0272989X2110190

Author(s):

Isabelle J. Rao ◽

Jacqueline J. Vallon ◽

Margaret L. Brandeau

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Infected Individual ◽

Disease Model ◽

World Health ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Reproductive Number ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Health Organization ◽

Almost All ◽

Mask Effectiveness

Background The World Health Organization and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that both infected and susceptible people wear face masks to protect against COVID-19. Methods We develop a dynamic disease model to assess the effectiveness of face masks in reducing the spread of COVID-19, during an initial outbreak and a later resurgence, as a function of mask effectiveness, coverage, intervention timing, and time horizon. We instantiate the model for the COVID-19 outbreak in New York, with sensitivity analyses on key natural history parameters. Results During the initial epidemic outbreak, with no social distancing, only 100% coverage of masks with high effectiveness can reduce the effective reproductive number [Formula: see text] below 1. During a resurgence, with lowered transmission rates due to social distancing measures, masks with medium effectiveness at 80% coverage can reduce [Formula: see text] below 1 but cannot do so if individuals relax social distancing efforts. Full mask coverage could significantly improve outcomes during a resurgence: with social distancing, masks with at least medium effectiveness could reduce [Formula: see text] below 1 and avert almost all infections, even with intervention fatigue. For coverage levels below 100%, prioritizing masks that reduce the risk of an infected individual from spreading the infection rather than the risk of a susceptible individual from getting infected yields the greatest benefit. Limitations Data regarding COVID-19 transmission are uncertain, and empirical evidence on mask effectiveness is limited. Our analyses assume homogeneous mixing, providing an upper bound on mask effectiveness. Conclusions Even moderately effective face masks can play a role in reducing the spread of COVID-19, particularly with full coverage, but should be combined with social distancing measures to reduce [Formula: see text] below 1. [Box: see text]

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An analysis of heavy metals contamination and estimating the daily intakes of vegetables from Uganda

Toxicology Research and Application ◽

10.1177/2397847320985255 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 239784732098525

Author(s):

Keneth Iceland Kasozi ◽

Eric Oloya Otim ◽

Herbert Izo Ninsiima ◽

Gerald Zirintunda ◽

Andrew Tamale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Principal Component ◽

Absorption Spectrometry ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Essential Elements ◽

World Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Organization ◽

Daily Intakes

Background: Environmental contamination with elevated levels of copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr6+), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni)—all states of which are found in Uganda—raises health risk to the public. Pb, Cr6+, Cd, and Ni for instance are generally considered nonessential to cellular functions, notwithstanding the importance of the oxidative state of the metals in bioavailability. As such, we aimed in this study (i) to evaluate heavy metal concentrations in four vegetables from a typical open-air market in Uganda, (ii) to assess the safety of consuming these vegetables against the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits of heavy metals consumption, and (iii) to formulate a model of estimated daily intake (EDI) among consumers in the country. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in five georeferenced markets of Bushenyi district in January 2020. Amaranthus, cabbages, scarlet eggplants, and tomatoes were collected from open markets, processed, and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Modeled EDI, principal component (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were conducted to identify relationships in the samples. Results: The levels of essential elements in the four vegetables were found to fall from Co > Cu > Fe > Zn. Those of non-essential metals were significantly higher and followed the pattern Cd > Cr > Pb > Ni. The highest EDI values were those of Cu in scarlet eggplants, Zn in amaranthus, Fe in amaranthus, Co in amaranthus, Pb in cabbages, total Cr in scarlet eggplant, Cd in cabbages and tomatoes, and Ni in cabbages. In comparison to international limits, EDIs for Zn, Cu, Co and Fe were low while Ni in cabbages were high. PCA showed high variations in scarlet eggplant and amaranthus. The study vegetables were found to be related with each other, not according to the location of the markets from where they were obtained, but according to their species by CA. Conclusion: The presence of non-essential elements above WHO limits raises policy challenges for the consumption and marketing of vegetables in the study area. Furthermore, low EDIs of essential elements in the vegetables create demand for nutritious foods to promote healthy communities.

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Food advertising during children’s television programmes in Italy

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020004693 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Silvano Gallus ◽

Elisa Borroni ◽

Chiara Stival ◽

Sharanpreet Kaur ◽

Sofia Davoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Product ◽

Food Products ◽

Children's Television ◽

World Health ◽

Nutritional Values ◽

International Guidelines ◽

Food Advertisements ◽

Health Organization ◽

Almost All ◽

The Eu

Abstract Objective: Previous studies from European countries noted that food products promoted on TV for children did not comply with international guidelines, including the World Health Organization European Nutrient Profile Model (WHO-ENPM) and the EU Pledge Nutrition Criteria (EU-PNC, an initiative developed by leading food companies). We aim to provide new data from Italy. Design: Evaluation of Italian TV advertisements. Data on nutritional values for food product advertised were compared with nutritional standards issued by the WHO-ENPM and the EU-PNC. Setting: In total, 180 h of TV programmes from six Italian channels, 2016–2017. Participants: Eight hundred and ten consecutive advertisements during children’s programmes. Results: Out of 810 advertisements, 90 (11·1 %) referred to food products. Among these, 84·5 % of the foods promoted did not meet the WHO-ENPM and 55·6 % the EU-PNC guidelines. Advertisements promoting sweet and salty snacks (i.e. ≥ 70 % of all foods) v. other food products showed higher non-compliance with both the WHO-ENPM (OR: 73·8; 95 % CI: 4·09, 1330) and the EU-PNC (OR: 9·21; 95 % CI: 2·82, 30·1). Conclusions: In Italy, most food advertisements during children’s programmes are not compliant with European nutritional standards. Almost all the advertisements for snacks do not meet international guidelines. As the WHO-ENPM guidelines do not propose standards for all the food products, including meals, there is an urgent need to define independent and easy-to-read guidelines for food advertisements targeting children. As a first step towards the complete ban of food advertisements targeting children recommended by other researchers, these guidelines should be enforced by all the TV broadcasts.

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COVID-19 pandemic: A review of the global lockdown and its far-reaching effects

Science Progress ◽

10.1177/00368504211019854 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 104 (2) ◽

pp. 003685042110198

Author(s):

Helen Onyeaka ◽

Christian K Anumudu ◽

Zainab T Al-Sharify ◽

Esther Egele-Godswill ◽

Paul Mbaegbu

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Global Economy ◽

World Health ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

The World ◽

Education Delivery ◽

Environmental Air ◽

Health Organization ◽

Almost All ◽

The Impact

COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 11th of March 2020, leading to some form of lockdown across almost all countries of the world. The extent of the global pandemic due to COVID-19 has a significant impact on our lives that must be studied carefully to combat it. This study highlights the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on crucial aspects of daily life globally, including; Food security, Global economy, Education, Tourism, hospitality, sports and leisure, Gender Relation, Domestic Violence/Abuse, Mental Health and Environmental air pollution through a systematic search of the literature. The COVID-19 global lockdown was initiated to stem the spread of the virus and ‘flatten the curve’ of the pandemic. However, the impact of the lockdown has had far-reaching effects in different strata of life, including; changes in the accessibility and structure of education delivery to students, food insecurity as a result of unavailability and fluctuation in prices, the depression of the global economy, increase in mental health challenges, wellbeing and quality of life amongst others. This review article highlights the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown across the globe. As the global lockdown is being lifted in a phased manner in various countries of the world, it is necessary to explore its impacts to understand its consequences comprehensively. This will guide future decisions that will be made in a possible future wave of the COVID-19 pandemic or other global disease outbreak.

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TIRYAQ-E-ARBA (A POLY HERBAL UNANI FORMULATION) IN FIGHTING AGAINST COVID 19 LIKE CONDITIONS – UNANI PERSPECTIVE

Indian Journal of Unani Medicine ◽

10.53390/ijum.v13i1.3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nafisa Qibriya Khan ◽

A. H. Farooqui ◽

Syed Ayesha Fatima ◽

Jalil Ahmad ◽

Tausif S. Khan

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Infections ◽

Transmission Rate ◽

Multiple Organ ◽

World Health ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Unani Medicine ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization ◽

Almost All

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease of modern time with unique and rapid transmission rate and affected almost all the nations without respecting any border. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is arguably the biggest health crisis the world has faced in 21st century. It is an infectious disease and declared pandemic by the World Health Organization. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, which originated in Wuhan, China, has now spread to 192 countries and administrative regions infecting nearly 800,000 individuals of all ages as of 31 March 2020. Though most infected individuals exhibit mild symptoms including fever, upper respiratory tract symptoms, shortness of breath, and diarrhoea, or are asymptomatic altogether, severe cases of infection can lead to pneumonia, multiple organ failure, and death. Globally, at least 7900 deaths have been directly attributed to COVID19, and this number is expected to rise with the ongoing epidemic. This is particularly crucial as the current outbreak involves a new pathogen (SARS-CoV-2), on which limited knowledge exists of its infectivity and clinical profile. Research is in progress on therapeutic efficacy of various agents including anti-malarials (Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine), antiviral drugs, and convalescent serum of recovered patients. Unani system of medicine is one of the traditional systems of medicine which is being explored for providing preventive, supportive and rehabilitative care to patients. Unani system of medicine has a detailed description of drugs that are utilized in many infectious diseases, including respiratory infections. Immune response is essential to eliminate virus and to preclude disease progression to severe stages. Therefore, it is important to summarize the evidence regarding the preventive measures, control options such as immune-stimulator and prophylactic treatment in Unani medicine against Covid19. This review summarizes various pharmacological actions of Unani formulation Tiryaq-e-Arba in Unani literature and various reported pharmacological activities which can possibly provide prevention, control and reduction of complications of this deadly disease.

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