Evaluation of Heavy Metal Phytoextraction Potential of Rhizophora Racemosa in Niger Delta Mangrove Forest, Rivers State, Nigeria

Periwinkles are invertebrates rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. These make them relished delicacies. Three hundred and fifteen (315) individual periwinkles were hand-picked from mangrove swamp river banks and intertidal zones of Twon-Brass in Bayelsa State and Abonnema town of Rivers State. Shell length and the weight of both the meat and shell were taken with Veneer caliper and a sensitive electronic scale balance respectively. Information on the economics of production was gathered from market women and harvesters through the use of structured questionnaires. The present study indentified possible phenotypic differences among periwinkle harvested in Bayelsa and Rivers States base on shell length and meat weight differences. Periwinkle harvested in Rivers is bigger and heavier than those harvested in Bayelsa State. Prediction of meat and total weight of from shell length was done using regression analysis. The study also identified the involvement of the different age groups that form the work-force in the States; showing that there are more young adults and teenagers in the business of harvesting and sales than aged people. There are more men involved in the business than women. There is a decline in size, quantity and availability of periwinkle presently than in the past, a factor that could be attributed to over-harvesting.Key Words: Bayelsa, Morphology, Niger Delta, Periwinkle, Rivers.

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Assessment of Physicochemical Properties and Heavy Metal Load in Soils of Ebocha Gas Flaring Site in Rivers State, Nigeria

Asian Soil Research Journal ◽

10.9734/asrj/2020/v4i230087 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

O. I. Achieche ◽

O. O. Njoku ◽

C. M. Duru ◽

M. O. Nwachukwu

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Calcium Content ◽

Gas Flaring ◽

Metal Load ◽

Acidic Nature ◽

Rivers State

The negative impact of gas flaring on the environment cannot be overemphasised. This study assessed the effect of gas flaring on the physicochemical properties and heavy metal contents in soils of Ebocha gas flaring site in Rivers State. It involved the assessment of various distances from gas flaring point to 200 meters away (50 m, 100 m, 150 m, and 200 m) which represents the extent of gas flared pollution on soils to determine the physicochemical properties and heavy metal load. The gas flaring significantly decreased soil organic carbon and calcium content when compared with non-gas flaring polluted soils. Soil acidity increased, soil exchangeable ions decreased. N, P and K were altered in gas flared soils when compared to the controls. There were detrimental effects on soils physicochemical properties. Heavy metals observed were Cd (Cadmium), Ni (Nickel), As (Arsenic), Cr (Chromium), while Pb (Lead) was not detected. The concentration of heavy metals in gas flared soils decreases down soil depth from 0-15 cm to 45-60 cm respectively. The gas flaring extremely caused the acidic nature of gas flared soils. Coefficient of variation (CV) in percentage shows significant increase in acidic nature of the gas flared soils when compared with the control soils.

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Appropriate Use Criteria for Paediatric Echocardiography – Applicability in a Resource Poor Setting in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health ◽

10.9734/ijtdh/2021/v42i230439 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 47-57

Author(s):

P. N. Tabansi ◽

U. C. Onubogu

Keyword(s):

Niger Delta ◽

Clinical Indication ◽

Cardiac Anomaly ◽

Resource Poor Setting ◽

Appropriate Use Criteria ◽

Appropriate Use ◽

Niger Delta Region ◽

Resource Poor ◽

Chi Squared ◽

Rivers State

Aims: To make comparative analysis of the indications and outcome of paediatric echocardiography in tertiary centers in Rivers State, Nigeria using the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) guidelines [11]. Methodology: A retrospective analysis of 645 echocardiography requests done between July 2019 to June 2020. Patients’ biodata and indications for echocardiography and echocardiography diagnosis were retrieved. Using the AUC guidelines, each indication was scored from 1 to 9, after which they were categorized into Appropriate, May be appropriate and Rarely appropriate to determine the respective percentages accordingly. Cochran-Armitage test for trend was done to assess degree of yield of cardiac anomaly for each level of AUC classification while bivariate associations were assessed using persons chi squared tests. Results: There were 645 echocardiography requests within the study period. The median age was 5months, with interquartile range of 2months to 24months. There were 355(55%) males and 290(45%) females. The clinical indication for echocardiography was appropriate in 490(76.0%), May be appropriate in 32(5.0%) and Rarely appropriate in 104(16.1%). Nineteen (2.9%) clinical indications were “Unclassified” under the AUC. Echocardiography showed abnormality in 544(84.3%) reports, among which children with “Appropriate indications” had the highest yield 457(93.3%), while “unclassified indications” had the lowest yield 8(42.1%). The yield for cardiac anomalies significantly decreased with decreasing appropriateness (p=0.00001). Conclusion: Most indications for paediatric echocardiography in our centers were appropriate according to the AUC guidelines. The AUC guidelines are applicable in resource poor settings.

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