scholarly journals Assessment of Growth and Fertility Hormones of Albino Rats Exposed to Quarry Dust at a Quarry Industry

2021 ◽  
pp. 22-29
Author(s):  
Francis Ugochukwu Madu ◽  
Emmanuel Iroha Akubugwo ◽  
Friday Obinwa Uhegbu ◽  
Miracle Chinwenmeri Madu
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Quarry Dust ◽  
Stimulating Hormone

Aim: Growth and fertility hormones of albino rats exposed to quarry dust were evaluated to determine if the inhaled quarry dust and heavy metals contained in it have any effect on the fertility and growth of the rats. Methods: Sixty (30 in each of wet and dry seasons) male albino rats were used in this study and were housed in six (6) sterilized plastic cages with five (5) rats in each cage at Ugwuele quarry industry Uturu. The control (group 1) was housed at a distance of 7.2km from the quarry site. Group 2 was housed at the administration block of the quarry industry while groups 3,4,5,6 were housed at the gate, plant house, drilling pit and crusher positions of the quarry industry respectively. Heavy metals; lead, chromium, cobalt, arsenic, zinc and cadmium from dust samples were analyzed with atomic absorption spectrophotometer while assay for hormones was also carried out using standard analytical methods. Results: All the analyzed heavy metals were present in the dust. Concentrations of heavy metals in the quarry dust were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the control and higher in the dry season than in the wet season. Concentrations of prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH) in the test samples were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the control while the concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the test samples were significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to the control. Results also show that the concentrations of prolactin, FSH, LH and GH were lower in the dry season than in the wet season whereas, the concentrations of TSH in the exposed rats were higher in the dry season than in the wet season.  Conclusion: Growth rate and fertility of the albino rats may have been compromised by the exposure to the quarry dust, since the growth and fertility hormones were all reduced.

scholarly journals Heavy metals concentration and pollution index (HPI) in drinking water along the southwest coast of Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Appiah-Opong ◽  
Amoako Ofori ◽  
Mark Ofosuhene ◽  
Ebenezer Ofori-Attah ◽  
Francis K. E. Nunoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Metal Concentration ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Pollution Index ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Southwest Coast ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Wet And Dry Seasons

AbstractThe concentration of seven heavy metals in water samples was analyzed along the southwest coast of Ghana in the wet and dry seasons using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Some physicochemical properties of the water samples were also determined to assess the quality of the water. The ranges of metal concentration in water in the wet season were; As (1.23–7.84 µg/L), Cu (4.10–24.09 µg/L), Pb (4.08–57.98 µg/L), Se (BDL-0.38 µg/L), Zn (2.86–17.75 µg/L) and Hg (0.023–0.068 µg/L), whereas the ranges of metal concentration in the dry season were; As (2.30–5.78 µg/L), Pb (25.47–70.73 µg/L), Se (0.081–0.158 µg/L), Zn (0.79–22.80 µg/L) and Hg (0.004–0.047 µg/L). The results of physicochemical properties of water in the wet season were pH (6.83 to 7.52), EC (291.15–780.64 µS/cm), TDS (195.07–523.02 mg/L), DO (2.98–4.39 mg/L), BOD (3.33 to 6.84 mg/L), salinity (0.01 to 0.30 ppt) and temperature (27.06–30.94 °C), whereas the dry season recorded the ranges of pH (6.84–6.95), EC (516.83 to 660.67 µS/cm), TDS (307.07–442.65 mg/L), DO (1.71–3.04 mg/L), BOD (4.25–13.38 mg/L), salinity (0.22–0.28ppt) and temperature (28.46–30.44 °C). The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals in water was below the WHO standard except Pb which exceeded the limit. The mean heavy metal pollution index (HPI) were 130 and 143 for wet and dry seasons, respectively, indicating that the water HPI was above the critical limit (HPI > 100), hence unfit for drinking. All the physicochemical properties analyzed were within the WHO permissible limits except BOD.

scholarly journals Assessing the bioconcentration of heavy metals in Nypa Palm (Nypa fruticans (Wurmb) from selected mangrove forests in Rivers State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1653-1660
Author(s):  
V.L. Gbosidom ◽  
I.A. Kalagbor ◽  
O.A.F. Wokoma ◽  
J. Akien-Alli
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystem ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Transfer Factors ◽  
Nypa Fruticans ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Rivers State

The bioconcentration of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr and Ni in tissues of Nypa palm (Nypa fruticans) was investigated during wet and dry seasons from selected mangrove forests, using the randomized complete block design. Soil and plant samples were randomly collected from plant dominated growth stations and analyzed for heavy metal content using the Perkin Elmer Analysts 200 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results obtained showed the bio-transfer factors of heavy metals at wet season as Pb (1.08mg/kg), Zn (1.42 mg/kg), Cd (6.14 mg/kg), Cr (0.56 mg/kg) Ni (0.90 mg/kg) and dry season as Pb (0.86 mg/kg), Zn (1.15 mg/kg), Cd (5.44 mg/kg), Cr (0.66 mg/kg), Ni (1.12 mg/kg). The result further showed the bio-translocation factors of the metals at wet seasons as Pb (0.59 mg/kg), Zn (0.76 mg/kg), Cd (3.25 mg/kg), Cr (0.22 mg/kg), Ni (0.54 mg/kg) and dry season as Pb (0.64 mg/kg), Zn (1.03 mg/kg) Cd (3.07 mg/kg), Cr (0.24 mg/kg), Ni (0.61 mg/kg) respectively. Findings indicate the study plant as a hyper accumulator of Ni, Cd and Zn, and non-hyper accumulator of Cr and Pb. It is thus recommended that N. fruticans be utilized for phytoremediation of Ni, Cd and Zn in polluted mangrove ecosystem.

scholarly journals HEAVY METALS ANALYSIS OF MAI-ALLO POND IN GWALE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KANO STATE, NIGERIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
M. M. Karaye ◽  
H. A. Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Pond Water ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
A Value ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Wet And Dry Seasons

Study of Seven heavy metals namely, Zinc, Lead, Copper, Cadmium, Manganese, Chromium and Nickel was conducted in Mai-Allo pond, Gwale, Kano State in order to assess the concentration of the heavy metals in the pond. The results of the heavy metals showed that Zn has a value of 0.34±0.17 mg-l in the wet season and 0.49±0.37 mg-l in the dry season, Cu has a value of 1.42±0.14 mg-l in the wet season and 0.64±0.09 mg-l in the dry season, and Ni also has 0.12±0.02 mg-l in the wet season and 0.23±0.13 mg-l in the dry season, all these were within acceptable limits, while Pb with a value of 0.05±0.02 mg-l was within the limits during the wet season but during the dry season, the value 0.14±0.09mg-l exceeds the limits. Cd has a value of 0.06±0.01 in the wet season and 0.17±0.12 in the dry season, Cr has 0.36±0.12 in the wet season and 0.04±0.07 in the dry season, and Mn also has values of 0.46±0.12 and 0.22±0.03 in the wet and dry seasons respectively. Hence there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean values of the sampling stations of the heavy metals during the wet and dry seasons. The study showed that the pond water was polluted with some heavy metals and hence measures must be taken to ensure the safety of the aquatic ecosystem, humans and the environment.

Effects of erdosteine on cyclosporin-A-induced nephrotoxicity

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 565-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Tutanc ◽  
V Arica ◽  
N Yılmaz ◽  
A Nacar ◽  
I Zararsiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Cyclosporin A ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Protective Mechanism ◽  
Antioxidant Parameters ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Wistar Albino Rats

Aim: In cyclosporin-A (CsA)-induced toxicity, oxidative stress has been implicated as a potential responsible mechanism. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the protective role of erdosteine against CsA-induced nephrotoxicity in terms of tissue oxidant/antioxidant parameters and light microscopy in rats. Materials and methods: Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into four groups. Group 1 rats treated with sodium chloride served as the control, group 2 rats were treated with CsA, group 3 with CsA plus erdosteine, and group 4 with erdosteine alone. Animals were killed and blood samples were analyzed for blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), total protein (TP), and albumin (ALB) levels. Kidney sections were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, as well as for histopathological changes. Results: In the CsA group, MDA, GSH-Px, BUN, and Cr levels were increased. The TP and ALB levels were decreased. These changes had been improved by erdosteine administration. Other biochemical parameters did not show any significant change. Conclusion: These results indicate that erdosteine produces a protective mechanism against CsA-induced nephrotoxicity and suggest a role of oxidative stress in pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Fruiting phenology and consumption by birds in Ficus calyptroceras (Miq.) Miq. (Moraceae)

2002 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. RAGUSA-NETTO
Keyword(s):  
Food Resource ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Frugivorous Birds ◽  
Fruiting Phenology ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Seed Dispersers ◽  
Wet And Dry Seasons

Figs are a remarkable food resource to frugivores, mainly in periods of general fruit scarcity. Ficus calyptroceras Miq. (Moraceae) is the only fig species in a type of dry forest in western Brazil. In this study I examined the fruiting pattern as well as fig consumption by birds in F. calyptroceras. Although rainfall was highly seasonal, fruiting was aseasonal, since the monthly proportion of fruiting trees ranged from 4% to 14% (N = 50 trees). I recorded 22 bird species feeding on figs. In the wet season 20 bird species ate figs, while in the dry season 13 did. Parrots were the most important consumers. This group removed 72% and 40% of the figs consumed in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. No bird species increases fig consumption from dry to wet season. However, a group of bird species assumed as seed dispersers largely increases fig consumption from wet to dry season, suggesting the importance of this resource in the period of fruit scarcity. The results of this study points out the remarkable role that F. calyptroceras plays to frugivorous birds, in such a dry forest, since its fruits were widely consumed and were available all year round.

Effects of Phosphorus and Carbofuran on the Growth and Nitrogen Fixation of Azolla pinnata and the Yield of Rice

1988 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Singh ◽  
P. K. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Uptake ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Rice Grain ◽  
Azolla Pinnata ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Nitrogen Yield ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Dry Seasons

SUMMARYThe effects of phosphorus fertilizer and the insecticide carbofuran on the growth and N2-fixation of Azolla pinnata and on the growth, grain yield and nitrogen uptake of intercropped rice were examined in a wet and a dry season. Treatment with phosphorus or carbofuran increased the biomass of Azolla and the amount of nitrogen fixed (nitrogen yield) in both seasons, but the response was much better in the dry season. Azolla inoculation at 1.0 t ha−1 resulted in a greater bio mass and nitrogen yield than inoculation at 0.5 t ha−1. In the dry season, a combination of phosphorus and carbofuran enhanced the growth and N2-fixation of Azolla more than either treatment alone. Carbofuran treatment slowed the rate of decomposition of Azolla, particularly in the dry season. The plant height, leaf area index and dry matter production of rice at flowering time were increased in the plots treated with phosphorus or carbofuran in the wet season and these treatments increased rice grain yield and nitrogen uptake in both the wet and dry seasons.

scholarly journals Histopathological Assessment of the Effect of Pregabalin Toxicity on Cerebrum and Cerebellum of Adult Albino Rats

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wael Abdou Hassan ◽  
Shaimaa Shehata ◽  
Ahmad ElBana
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Chronic Toxicity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Histopathological Study ◽  
Addictive Behaviors ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Cerebral Cortex Tissue

Abstract Background: Pregabalin (PGB) used as analgesic in treatment of neurogenic pains of chronic diseases, is considered as one of the most abused anti-epileptic drugs worldwide and it has been proved that it induces addictive behaviors. The present histopathological study aimed to identify the effect of PGB administration on cerebral cortex and cerebellar cortex, in both acute and chronic toxicity. Seventy-two male and non-pregnant female adult albino rats’ 6- to 8-week-old divided into 3 main groups of 24 rats each were studied. Group 1 represented the control group and group 2 represented the acute toxicity group, in which rats were given a single dose of PGB (5000 mg/kg) orally by gavage and after 24 hours, rats were sacrificed and examined. Group 3 represented the chronic toxicity group; were given PGB 500 mg/kg orally by gavage for 12 weeks, after which rats were sacrificed and examined. Result: Cerebral cortex tissue of acute toxicity group displayed astrocytosis and dystrophic changes, while in chronic group showed degeneration, necrosis and cellular infiltrates. The cerebellum of chronic groups showed degeneration and shrunken of Purkinje cells. Conclusion: Acute and chronic intoxication with pregabalin adversely altered the structure of cerebral cortex and cerebellum.

scholarly journals The economics of phosphorus supplementation of beef cattle grazing northern Australian rangelands

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 683
Author(s):  
M. K. Bowen ◽  
F. Chudleigh ◽  
R. M. Dixon ◽  
M. T. Sullivan ◽  
T. Schatz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Cattle Herd ◽  
Annual Business ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
P Deficiency ◽  
Business Profit ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Land Types

Context Phosphorus (P) deficiency occurs in beef cattle grazing many rangeland regions with low-P soils, including in northern Australia, and may severely reduce cattle productivity in terms of growth, reproductive efficiency and mortality. However, adoption of effective P supplementation by cattle producers in northern Australia is low. This is likely to be due to lack of information and understanding of the profitability of P supplementation where cattle are P-deficient. Aims The profitability of P supplementation was evaluated for two dissimilar regions of northern Australia, namely (1) the Katherine region of the Northern Territory, and (2) the Fitzroy Natural Resource Management (NRM) region of central Queensland. Methods Property-level, regionally relevant herd models were used to determine whole-of-business productivity and profitability over 30 years. The estimated costs and benefits of P supplementation were obtained from collation of experimental data and expert opinion of persons with extensive experience of the industry. The economic consequences of P supplementation at the property level were assessed by comparison of base production without P supplementation with the expected production of P-supplemented herds, and included the implementation phase and changes over time in herd structure. In the Katherine region, it was assumed that the entire cattle herd (breeders and growing cattle) grazed acutely P-deficient land types and the consequences of (1) no P supplementation, or P supplementation during (2) the dry season, or (3) both the wet and dry seasons (i.e. 3 scenarios) were evaluated. In the Fitzroy NRM region, it was assumed that only the breeders grazed P-deficient land types with three categories of P deficiency (marginal, deficient and acutely deficient), each with either (1) no P supplementation, or P supplementation during (2) the wet season, (3) the dry season, or (4) both the wet and dry seasons (i.e. 12 scenarios). Key results In the Katherine region, year-round P supplementation of the entire cattle herd (7400 adult equivalents) grazing acutely P-deficient pasture resulted in a large increase in annual business profit (+AU$500000). Supplementing with P (and N) only in the dry season increased annual business profit by +AU$200000. In the Fitzroy NRM region, P supplementation during any season of the breeder herd grazing deficient or acutely P-deficient pastures increased profit by +AU$2400–AU$45000/annum (total cattle herd 1500 adult equivalents). Importantly, P supplementation during the wet season-only resulted in the greatest increases in profit within each category of P deficiency, comprising +AU$5600, AU$6300 and AU$45000 additional profit per annum for marginal, deficient and acutely P-deficient herds respectively. Conclusions The large economic benefits of P supplementation for northern beef enterprises estimated in the present study substantiate the current industry recommendation that effective P supplementation is highly profitable when cattle are grazing P-deficient land types. Implications The contradiction of large economic benefits of P supplementation and the generally low adoption rates by the cattle industry in northern Australia suggests a need for targeted research and extension to identify the specific constraints to adoption, including potential high initial capital costs.

scholarly journals Investigation of Heavy Metals Level in selected Boreholes around the Vicinity of some Cemeteries in Benin City, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 841-845
Author(s):  
C.A.E. Ibhadode ◽  
I.R. Ilaboya
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Pollution Index ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Monthly Basis ◽  
Benin City ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Concentration

Groundwater pollution by heavy metals such as lead, copper, nickel and iron is one of the major environmental issues of concern which has developed into a widely studied area. In this study, attempt was made to investigate the level of heavy metals in selected boreholes around the vicinity of cemeteries in Benin City. Seventy-two (72) samples of groundwater were taken from boreholes in 9 stations around the three cemeteries in Benin City on monthly basis. The samples were analysed for 7 heavy metals, in accordance with standard procedures. The heavy metals include; Zinc, Lead Iron, Copper, Cadmium, Nickel and Mercury. From the results of the study, a variation in the mean concentration of zinc was observed. The mean concentration of zinc in site 1 was 0.450mg/l, for site 2, it was 0.140mg/l and for site 3, it was 1.0533mg/l. For iron, mean concentration was 0.072mg/l in site 1. For site 2, mean concentration of iron was 2.140mg/l and for site 3, mean concentration of iron was 0.560mg/l. It was further revealed based on the results that mean value of heavy metals in groundwater around cemeteries in Benin City were generally lower during dry season compared to wet season. In addition, result of computed pollution index (Pi) revealed that the heavy metal with the highest potential to pollute groundwater is Cadmium, with Pi of 0.5333 and 0.400 representing dry season and wet season respectively.

Effects of seasonal variation and locations on microbial load in sediment and water of a polluted ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-105
Author(s):  
A.N. Okereke ◽  
J.C. Ike-Obasi
Keyword(s):  
Heterotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Standard Procedure ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Microbial Load ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Total Fungi ◽  
Hydrocarbon Utilizing Bacteria

Seasonal effects on microbial load of sediment and water at different locations along Bonny Estuary of Niger Delta was investigated for a period of 12 months. All analyses followed standard procedure. Results revealed that total fungi counts in sediment and water at different locations were not significantly different (p > 0.05) at both wet and dry seasons while hydrocarbon utilizing fungi showed significant differences (p < 0.05) at both seasons in both sediment and water samples. During the wet season, total faecal counts ranged from 5.0 to 10.0 x 105 CFU/g for sediment and 4.0 to 7.0x 105 CFU/g in water. In dry season, the concentration of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in the sediment ranged between 0.1 x 105 CFU/ml/g and 8.0 x 105 CFU/ml/g in wet season while in dry season, the concentration in water ranged between 0.1 x 105 CFU/ml/g and 6.0 x 105 CFU/ml/g at Abuloma. At Okwujagu, total heterotrophic bacteria counts in sediment ranged  from 0.1 to 8.0 x 105 CFU/g in dry season. This was higher than the range 0.1 to 6.8.0 x 105 CFU/ recorded in Abuloma, Okwujagu and Slaughter at dry season. The highest vibrio counts in water (11.0 x 105 CFU/ml) for wet and (10.0 x 105 CFU/ml) for dry seasons were recorded at Slaughter. In Oginiba, the feacal count recorded 3.0 x 105 CFU/ml in water during the wet season and 2.0 x 105 CFU/ml for dry season. Generally, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the bacterial concentrations in both sediment and water. This showed that different seasons favour the growth of certain microbial types.

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