scholarly journals Suitability of urban waste land use in relation to heavy metal and micronutrient influence on soil and green amaranth production in Southeast Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 62-69
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Hazard Quotient ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Waste Land ◽  
Plant Cultivation ◽  
Zn Content ◽  
The Impact

An assessment of the impact of long term (>20 years) MSW disposal on soil properties and their suitability for crop productivity was carried out in Anambra and Enugu States of southeast Nigeria. Four dumpsites were selected (two in each state) and, 12 soil auger samples (2 sampling points at 3 depths and 2 repeated measures) each were collected at incremental depth intervals of 0-20, 20-30, and 30-40cm were collected at the dump sites and adjacent non-dumpsites situated 100 meters away from the dumpsites; The auger samples were used for the determination of Fe, B, Pb and Zn content of the soil. Forty Amaranthus spinosus biomass samples were collected from both dump and non-dumpsites in the four locations and also assayed for Fe, B, Pb, and Zn content. Results showed that the mean values of Fe concentration in the dumpsites are between 4.48 – 11.57 mg kg-1 whereas B ranged from 1.19 – 6.73 mg kg-1; Pb ranged from 0.36 – 2.19 mg kg-1 and Zn averaged from 17.2 – 54.0 mg kg-1. The values of these elements were higher than those of the corresponding non-dump sites by between 6-100 %. Pb and Zn with values of 2.0 and 0.06 mg kg-1 respectively in the amaranth plants in the dumpsite soils were higher than the permissive limits for heavy metals in vegetables. Despite the toxicity variance of the elements in the dumpsites and non-dumpsite soils and vegetables, the calculated hazard quotient (ecological risks) values of these elements were less than unity (Q.H.Q < 1), suggesting that harmful effects are not likely to occur in the study areas. Public awareness creation of the dangers of plant cultivation in the unmanaged dumpsite, including health implication of heavy metal pollution and entry into the food chain as well as controlling sources of municipal wastes with appropriate legislations are recommended.

scholarly journals EXPOSURE OF COWPEA (vigna unguiculata (l) walp) TO SPENT ENGINE OIL CONTAMINATED SOIL AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON CONSUMER’S HEALTH

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 24-36
Author(s):  
T. B. Bello ◽  
O. M. Bolaji ◽  
F. A. Fakunle
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Hazard Quotient ◽  
Environmental Pollutant ◽  
Engine Oil ◽  
Plant Weight ◽  
Lead And Cadmium ◽  
Spent Engine Oil ◽  
The Impact

Spent Engine oil (SEO) is a common environmental pollutant generated after engine services. Disposing SEO is a serious environmental issue in Nigeria as generators end up disposing it in water drain systems, rivers, open vacant plots and agricultural lands. Thus, the need to assess the impact of such disposal on environmental components becomes imperative.  Using a completely randomized design, a control and seven treatments of SEO (T0: 0 ml, T1: 5 ml, T2: 10 ml, T3: 15 ml, T4: 20 ml, T5: 25 ml, T6: 50 ml, T7: 75 ml) were applied to potted soil for cowpea planting. Plant height, leave number, yield, heavy metal load and hazard quotient were assessed. Baseline heavy metal analysis showed the SEO contained lead and cadmium at 0.003 mg/kg and 0.462 mg/kg respectively. There was significant reduction in plant height (T0: 50.72 cm, T3: 37.36 cm, T7:  24.33 cm), number of leaves (T0: 25.91, T3: 21.57, T7: 17.67), seed weight (T0: 24.40 g, T3: 16.38 g, T7: 5.03 g) and plant weight (T0: 171.60 g, T3: 136.60 g, T7: 54.70 g) in contaminated soil with increasing SEO concentration (P<0.05). Cowpea grown on contaminated soil accumulated cadmium in seeds (T0: 0.000 mg/kg, T3: 0.057 mg/kg, T7 0.119 mg/kg) and in roots (T0: 0.000 mg/kg, T3: 0.079 mg/kg, T7: 0.263 mg/kg) with hazard quotient ranging from 0.084 to 0.216. This study revealed that increasing environmental pollution through indiscriminate SEO increases the possibility of health risk by elevating hazard quotient and this should therefore be discouraged.

scholarly journals Assistance for Healthy Cultivation of Chili Plants on Sub-Optimal Land in Facing the Impact of Climate Change in Sumbawa Regency

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ieke Wulan Ayu ◽  
Ikhlas Suhada ◽  
Wening Kusumawardani ◽  
Ade Maryam Oklima ◽  
Yhosa Novantara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Health ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Healthy Plant ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Plant Cultivation ◽  
Cultivation Technology ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

Environmental stress is a major challenge in sustainable food production, because it can reduce crop productivity, specifically chilies on sub-optimal land. The use of liquid organic fertilizers containing complete macro and micro nutrients is highly needed, so that plants thrive and are healthy and are more resistant to pathogens. This activity aimed to improve the knowledge and skills of farmer group partners about healthy plant cultivation technology on sub-optimal land. Assistance activities were carried out for the Hasrat Indah farmer group in Kerato Village, Unter Iwes District, Sumbawa Regency, during July 2020 by using extension and training methods. The results of the activity indicated that this assistance activity can improve the farmers’ knowledge about healthy cultivation of chilies, and the application of fertilizers at the right time by using liquid organic fertilizers. The successes achieved in the process of empowering farmers in this activity included increasing farmers’ knowledge of soil health, healthy cultivation of chilies, and the application of using liquid organic fertilizers. Abstrak Cekaman lingkungan merupakan tantangan utama dalam produksi pangan berkelanjutan, karena dapat mengurangi produktivitas tanaman, terutama pada tanaman cabe di lahan sub optimal. Penggunaan pupuk organik cair yang mengandung zat hara makro dan mikro lengkap sangat diperlukan agar tanaman tumbuh subur dan sehat serta lebih tahan terhadap patogen.  Tujuan kegiatan adalah untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan keterampilan mitra kelompok tani terkait teknologi budidaya tanaman sehat di lahan sub optimal. Kegiatan pendampingan dilakukan pada kelompok tani Hasrat Indah di Desa Kerato Kecamatan Unter Iwes Kabupaten Sumbawa,  selama bulan Juli 2020 dengan metode penyuluhan, dan pelatihan. Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan bahwa melalui pendampingan dapat meningkatkan pengetahuan petani tentang budidaya sehat pada tanaman cabe, aplikasi pupuk pada waktu yang tepat dengan menggunakan pupuk organik cair. Keberhasilan pemberdayaan petani dalam kegiatan ini adalah petani mengetahui tentang kesehatan tanah, budidaya sehat tanaman cabe, dan aplikasi penggunaan pupuk organik cair.

Effects of Quarantine Due to the COVID-19 on Sleep Duration and Quality in Algerians

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-193
Author(s):  
Kacem Abdelhadi ◽  
Houar Abdelatif ◽  
Zerf Mohamed ◽  
Bengoua Ali
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Italian Version ◽  
Sleep Timing ◽  
Algerian Population ◽  
Significant Change ◽  
The Impact

SummaryThis study tests the impact of COVID-19 on sleep of Algerian population before and during the COVID-19 quarantine by an estimated online survey, adapted from the PSQI Italian version. Including 1210 participants (age between 18-60 years old). The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 22.0 software. Our results showed a significant change in sleeping quality during quarantine, the sleep timing markedly changed, we also noticed additional use of sleeping medications. Algerian scientists recommend to build public awareness and to provide necessary information regarding Algerian sleep quality, especially for Algerian adults.

HEAVY METALS IN WATER, SEDIMENTS AND MARINE FISHES FROM BULGARIAN BLACK SEA

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katya Peycheva ◽  
Katya Peycheva ◽  
Mona Stancheva ◽  
Mona Stancheva ◽  
Stanislava Georgieva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Marine Fishes ◽  
Marine Water ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Sprattus Sprattus ◽  
Cu And Zn

In this study, the ecosystem marine water-sediment-biota was investigated and the pollution was assessed. The concentrations of eight elements were determined in marine water, sediments and four fish species collected from Black Sea (Varna), Bulgaria during 2013. Marine water recorded the highest concentrations of Zn (15-22 μg/L), As (1.1–1.2 μg/L) and Pb (0.7-0.8 μg/L) while Zn (31-52 μg/g), Pb (21-29 μg/g) and Cu (20-34 μg/g) and show the highest concentrations in sediments. Water and sediments showed similar spatial distribution patterns for the highest mean values of the different metals. In the analysed fish species, the highest concentration of the metals Cu and Zn were found in Trachurus Mediterrneus (0.42 mg/kg w.w) and in Sprattus Sprattus (12.7 mg/kg w.w), respectively while the heavy metals As and Hg were found with maximum values in Pseta Maxima (3.99 mg/kg w.w and 0.08 mg/kg w.w respectively). The results from this study were compared with our data for a previous period (2004-2006) and they show decrease in the levels of heavy metal.

Influence of long-term fertilization on soil microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity in relation to crop productivity in an acid Inceptisols

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-311
Author(s):  
Debasis Purohit ◽  
Mitali Mandal ◽  
Avisek Dash ◽  
Kumbha Karna Rout ◽  
Narayan Panda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Dehydrogenase Activity ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Maturity Stage ◽  
Microbial Biomass Nitrogen ◽  
Biological Potential ◽  
Initiation Stage ◽  
The Impact

An effective approach for improving nutrient use efficiency and crop productivity simultaneously through exploitation of biological potential for efficient acquisition and utilization of nutrients by crops is very much needed in this current era. Thus, an attempt is made here to investigate the impact of long term fertilization in the soil ecology in rice-rice cropping system in post kharif - 2015 in flooded tropical rice (Oryza sativa L.) in an acidic sandy soil. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with quadruplicated treatments. Soil samples at different growth stages of rice were collected from long term fertilizer experiment.The studied long-term manured treatments included 100 % N, 100% NP, 100 % NPK, 150 % NPK and 100 % NPK+FYM (5 t ha-1) and an unmanured control. Soil fertility status like SOC content and other available nutrient content has decreased continuously towards the crop growth period. Comparing the results of different treatments, it was found that the application of 100% NPK + FYM exhibited highest nutrient content in soils. With regards to microbial properties it was also observed that the amount of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen ( MBN) showed highest accumulation in 100 % NPK + FYM at maximum tillering stage of the rice. The results further reveal that dehydrogenase activity was maximum at panicle initiation stage and thereafter it decreases. Soil organic carbon content, MBC, MBN and dehydrogenase activity were significantly correlated with each other. Significant correlations were observed between rice yield and MBC at maturity stage( R2 = 0.94**) and panicle initiation stage( R2 = 0.92**) and available nitrogen content at maturity stage( R2 = 0.91**).

scholarly journals Patient-Reported Outcomes After Complex Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: 5-Year Results of the Scoli-Risk-1 Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 219256822098827
Author(s):  
Scott L. Zuckerman ◽  
Meghan Cerpa ◽  
Lawrence G. Lenke ◽  
Christopher I. Shaffrey ◽  
Leah Y. Carreon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Adult Spinal Deformity ◽  
Corrective Osteotomy ◽  
Leg Pain ◽  
Major Surgery ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Spinal Deformity Surgery

Study Design: Prospective cohort. Objective: To prospectively evaluate PROs up to 5-years after complex ASD surgery. Methods: The Scoli-RISK-1 study enrolled 272 ASD patients undergoing surgery from 15 centers. Inclusion criteria was Cobb angle of >80°, corrective osteotomy for congenital or revision deformity, and/or 3-column osteotomy. The following PROs were measured prospectively at intervals up to 5-years postoperative: ODI, SF36-PCS/MCS, SRS-22, NRS back/leg. Among patients with 5-year follow-up, comparisons were made from both baseline and 2-years postoperative to 5-years postoperative. PROs were analyzed using mixed models for repeated measures. Results: Seventy-seven patients (28.3%) had 5-year follow-up data. Comparing baseline to 5-year data among these 77 patients, significant improvement was seen in all PROs: ODI (45.2 vs. 29.3, P < 0.001), SF36-PCS (31.5 vs. 38.8, P < 0.001), SF36-MCS (44.9 vs. 49.1, P = 0.009), SRS-22-total (2.78 vs. 3.61, P < 0.001), NRS-back pain (5.70 vs. 2.95, P < 0.001) and NRS leg pain (3.64 vs. 2.62, P = 0.017). In the 2 to 5-year follow-up period, no significant changes were seen in any PROs. The percentage of patients achieving MCID from baseline to 5-years were: ODI (62.0%) and the SRS-22r domains of function (70.4%), pain (63.0%), mental health (37.5%), self-image (60.3%), and total (60.3%). Surprisingly, mean values ( P > 0.05) and proportion achieving MCID did not differ significantly in patients with major surgery-related complications compared to those without. Conclusions: After complex ASD surgery, significant improvement in PROs were seen at 5-years postoperative in ODI, SF36-PCS/MCS, SRS-22r, and NRS-back/leg pain. No significant changes in PROs occurred during the 2 to 5-year postoperative period. Those with major surgery-related complications had similar PROs and proportion of patients achieving MCID as those without these complications.

scholarly journals Anthropomorphic Strategies Promote Wildlife Conservation through Empathy: The Moderation Role of the Public Epidemic Situation

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3565
Author(s):  
Dan Yue ◽  
Zepeng Tong ◽  
Jianchi Tian ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Linxiu Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Behavioral Intention ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Illegal Wildlife Trade ◽  
The Impact

The global illegal wildlife trade directly threatens biodiversity and leads to disease outbreaks and epidemics. In order to avoid the loss of endangered species and ensure public health security, it is necessary to intervene in illegal wildlife trade and promote public awareness of the need for wildlife conservation. Anthropomorphism is a basic and common psychological process in humans that plays a crucial role in determining how a person interacts with other non-human agents. Previous research indicates that anthropomorphizing nature entities through metaphors could increase individual behavioral intention of wildlife conservation. However, relatively little is known about the mechanism by which anthropomorphism influences behavioral intention and whether social context affects the effect of anthropomorphism. This research investigated the impact of negative emotions associated with a pandemic situation on the effectiveness of anthropomorphic strategies for wildlife conservation across two experimental studies. Experiment 1 recruited 245 college students online and asked them to read a combination of texts and pictures as anthropomorphic materials. The results indicated that anthropomorphic materials could increase participants’ empathy and decrease their wildlife product consumption intention. Experiment 2 recruited 140 college students online and they were required to read the same materials as experiment 1 after watching a video related to epidemics. The results showed that the effect of wildlife anthropomorphization vanished if participants’ negative emotion was aroused by the video. The present research provides experimental evidence that anthropomorphic strategies would be useful for boosting public support for wildlife conservation. However, policymakers and conservation organizations must be careful about the negative effects of the pandemic context, as the negative emotions produced by it seems to weaken the effectiveness of anthropomorphic strategies.

scholarly journals Biases in CloudSat Falling Snow Estimates Resulting from Daylight-Only Operations

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2041
Author(s):  
Lisa Milani ◽  
Norman B. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Water Cycle ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Satellite Missions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Global Mean

Falling snow is a key component of the Earth’s water cycle, and space-based observations provide the best current capability to evaluate it globally. The Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) on board CloudSat is sensitive to snowfall, and other satellite missions and climatological models have used snowfall properties measured by it for evaluating and comparing against their snowfall products. Since a battery anomaly in 2011, the CPR has operated in a Daylight-Only Operations (DO-Op) mode, in which it makes measurements primarily during only the daylit portion of its orbit. This work provides estimates of biases inherent in global snowfall amounts derived from CPR measurements due to this shift to DO-Op mode. We use CloudSat’s snowfall measurements during its Full Operations (Full-Op) period prior to the battery anomaly to evaluate the impact of the DO-Op mode sampling. For multi-year global mean values, the snowfall fraction during DO-Op changes by −10.16% and the mean snowfall rate changes by −8.21% compared with Full-Op. These changes are driven by the changes in sampling in DO-Op and are very little influenced by changes in meteorology between the Full-Op and DO-Op periods. The results highlight the need to sample consistently with the CloudSat observations or to adjust snowfall estimates derived from CloudSat when using DO-Op data to evaluate other precipitation products.

scholarly journals The Environmental Effects of the April 2020 Wildfires and the Cs-137 Re-Suspension in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: A Multi-Hazard Threat

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 467
Author(s):  
Rocío Baró ◽  
Christian Maurer ◽  
Jerome Brioude ◽  
Delia Arnold ◽  
Marcus Hirtl
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Plume Dispersion ◽  
Exclusion Zone ◽  
Fire Plume ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
The Impact

This paper demonstrates the environmental impacts of the wildfires occurring at the beginning of April 2020 in and around the highly contaminated Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). Due to the critical fire location, concerns arose about secondary radioactive contamination potentially spreading over Europe. The impact of the fire was assessed through the evaluation of fire plume dispersion and re-suspension of the radionuclide Cs-137, whereas, to assess the smoke plume effect, a WRF-Chem simulation was performed and compared to Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) satellite columns. The results show agreement of the simulated black carbon and carbon monoxide plumes with the plumes as observed by TROPOMI, where pollutants were also transported to Belarus. From an air quality and health perspective, the wildfires caused extremely bad air quality over Kiev, where the WRF-Chem model simulated mean values of PM2.5 up to 300 µg/m3 (during the first fire outbreak) over CEZ. The re-suspension of Cs-137 was assessed by a Bayesian inverse modelling approach using FLEXPART as the atmospheric transport model and Ukraine observations, yielding a total release of 600 ± 200 GBq. The increase in both smoke and Cs-137 emissions was only well correlated on the 9 April, likely related to a shift of the focus area of the fires. From a radiological point of view even the highest Cs-137 values (average measured or modelled air concentrations and modelled deposition) at the measurement site closest to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, i.e., Kiev, posed no health risk.

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