Ecological Risk Link to Trace Metals in Waters and Sediments along the Abobo-Doumé Fish Market in Ebrié Lagoon, Côte d’Ivoire

In coastal waters, trace metals continues to be among global threats due to several harmful effects on living organisms. The present study was conducted along the Abobo-Doumé Fish Market (ADFM) to assess metal contamination due to the lack of data despite the influences of several socio-economic activities. Waters (both surface and bottom layers) and surface sediments samples were collected using respectively a Niskin bottle and a Van Venn Steel, at five stations in April 2006.Trace metals concentrations were determined using the ICP-MS Instrument after proper treatment of each sample. Then, the obtained concentrations were used to calculate several pollution indexes such as Contamination Index (CI), Contamination factor (CF), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Enrichment factor (EF) and Muller’s Index of Geo-accumulation (Igeo) to evaluate the contamination of the selected trace metals in waters and sediments. For water samples, apart from Iron that was not detected in any sample, trace metals were found in respective ranges (in µg/L) of ND-0.2 (As), 0.2-2.0 (Cd), 2.0-20.0 (Hg), ND-1.0 (Mn) and 1.0-390.0 (Pb). According the World Health Organization guidelines values, waters were safe for As, Cd, Fe, and Mn. For Hg, apart from waters closed to the ADFM that exhibited a value of 20.0 µg/L, higher than the reference value of 6.0 µg/L, waters were safe elsewhere. Waters were found contaminated with Pb, particularly in bottom layers, with levels nine to thirty times higher than the reference value of 10.0 µg/L. For sediments, the respective ranges (in mg/kg dry weight) were observed: 2.10-4-1668.48 (As), 2.10-4-7.50 (Cd), 1.95-4554.90 (Fe), 10-4-2.070 (Mn) and 0.001-253.50 (Pb). Highest concentrations of As, Cd and Pb were observed in sediments from several sampling stations, indicating a contamination status of these sediments as confirmed by the calculated pollution indexes. In conclusion, waters along the Abobo-Doumé Fish Market were contaminated in Pb, while sediments exhibited highest concentrations in As, Cd and Pb. This area of the Ebrié Lagoon need attention to the exceeded concentrations of toxic elements (As, Cd and Pb) observed. The present study has provided useful data for future environmental assessment along the Abobo-Doumé Fish Market.

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The health effects of quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-203306 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 523-527

Author(s):

Maryam Feiz Arefi ◽

Amin Babaei-Pouya ◽

Mohsen Poursadeqiyan

Keyword(s):

Health Effects ◽

World Health ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Social Hygiene ◽

Social Communications ◽

Study Results ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Health Organization ◽

Made In

BACKGROUND: Quarantine is considered as an effective solution in the early stages of an epidemic. In the case of the coronavirus epidemic, quarantine was also recommended and implemented as a significant guideline to prevent the disease. However, despite the benefits of quarantine, there are also complications and problems. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the health effects of quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This study was conducted as a literature review through searching the databases Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct for papers published before July 2020. The research was conducted based on the keywords “Coronavirus,” “COVID-19,” and “quarantine.” The references of the papers were also reviewed to find the ones not found in the databases. The guidelines published by reputable organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were used in this study. RESULTS: Although quarantine is applied as an important and primary solution in the outbreak of epidemics, in cases of pandemics, it may not be free of negative effects on individuals and public health. However, because of the need to reopen and restart social and economic activities, some changes should be made in lifestyles and work activities. Using cyberspace and telework can be helpful. As the findings showed, COVID-19 bubbles can be used to restore social communications. CONCLUSION: Using masks, avoiding unnecessary gatherings, complying with personal and social hygiene, and respecting social distancing can be valuable solutions that, if implemented properly, can decrease the rate of the disease significantly. It is also emphasized that quarantine is still necessary and important as the best solution for sick people and individuals who are suspected carriers of the disease.

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Co-exploring the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihood of persons with disabilities in Bangladesh

Disability Studies Quarterly ◽

10.18061/dsq.v41i3.8377 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Adity Shayontony Das ◽

Fatema Akter Bonny ◽

Arifa Bente Mohosin ◽

Sabina Faiz Rashid ◽

Md Tanvir Hasan

Keyword(s):

Social Life ◽

World Health ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Formal Sector ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Middle Income ◽

Persons With Disabilities ◽

Household Level ◽

The Government ◽

Health Organization

Background: According to World Health Organization (WHO), vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities are facing severe impacts of the pandemic. There has always been significant challenges and hurdles in terms of achieving adequate and equitable inclusivity of persons with disabilities in all sections of social life. Education and employment of persons with disabilities were least focused which created more marginalization for the community. The long term impact of these marginalization has also led to the lack of jobs and social security of persons with disabilities, which is very clear now given the crisis in place. In low and middle income countries like Bangladesh the situation is even worse. To better understand the conditions of persons with disabilities in this crisis situation, the present study was initiated to explore the dimensions of livelihood with respect to income and wellbeing of persons with disabilities and to generate evidence for developing policies around these issues.Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken among 30 persons with disabilities from 8 different geographical divisions of Bangladesh. The interviews were conducted through telephone calls due to the existing COVID-19 crisis and mobility restrictions. The respondents were purposively selected based on gender, type of disability, area of resident (urban, rural) and their ability to communicate, therefore most (25/30) respondents were persons with physical disability. Thematic analysis was conducted to generate the findings of the study.Findings: Study findings revealed that majority of the respondents were involved in informal jobs. Predominantly males were daily wage-earners and often the sole breadwinner of the families, very few females were involved in economic activities. Since they had no stable income, the economic shock from the COVID-19 pandemic had affected them badly even leading to household level famine. The study identifies low level of education and informal job security as the primary causes of socio-economic insecurity among persons with disabilities, resulting in challenges in ensuring a stable livelihood during crisis situations, such as COVID-19.Conclusion: Constant alienation of persons of disabilities from the formal sector results in the deterioration of their livelihood standards which even worsen during any emergency crisis such as COVID-19. The study pinpoints that only aided services are not adequate to ensure persons with disabilities' rights rather there is an urgent need of disability inclusion in formal job sector and livelihood training for persons with disabilities. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and to irradiate the inequality towards persons with disabilities in the society it is important for the Government and concern bodies to focus on the inclusiveness with better implementation and monitoring strategies.

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An Awakening Alarm for Dental Professionals in Pandemic of Covid-19

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences ◽

10.14260/jemds/2021/235 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (15) ◽

pp. 1098-1101

Author(s):

Aditi Vinay Chandak ◽

Surekha Dubey Godbole ◽

Tanvi Rajesh Balwani ◽

Tanuj Sunil Patil

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

New York ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Human Life ◽

New York Times ◽

World Health ◽

Typical Structure ◽

Living Organisms ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Health Organization

Ecosystem, which consists of the physical environment and all the living organisms, on which we all depend, is declining rapidly because of its destruction caused by humans. It’s a two-way relationship between the humans and mother nature. If we destroy the natural environment around us, human life will be seriously affected, and the life of next generation will be endangered unless serious steps are taken. One such effect of human overexploitations has come in the form of coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus, a contagious disease of 2019 known as Covid-19, is the latest swiftly spreading global infection. The aetiology of Covid-19 is different from SARS-CoV which has the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but it has the same host receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The novel coronavirus which is zoonotic (spreading from an animal to a human) and mainly found in the bats and pangolins is a single stranded ribonucleic acid virus of Coronaviridae family. 1 The typical structure of 2019-nCoV possessed ‘spike protein’ in the membrane envelope, also expressed various polyproteins, nucleoproteins and membrane protein. The S protein binds to the receptor cell of host to facilitate the entry of virus in the host. Currently four genera for coronavirus are found α-CoV, ßCoV, γ-CoV, δ-CoV. SARS-CoV first originated in Wuhan, China and has spread across the globe. World Health Organization (WHO) and public health emergency of international concern declared it as 2019 - 2020 pandemic disease.2 According to WHO report, (7th April 2020) update on this pandemic coronavirus disease, there have been more than 13,65,004 confirmed cases and 76,507 deaths across the world and these figures are rapidly increasing. Therefore, actions for proper recognition, management and its prevention must be prompted for relevant alleviation of its outspread.3 Health care professionals are mainly indulged in the national crises and are working diligently around-the-clock, small ratio of the health care workers have become affected and few died tragically. Dentists are most often the first ones to be affected because they work with patients in close proximity. On 15th March 2020, the New York Times published an article titled “The workers who face the greatest Coronavirus risk” described the dentists are highly exposed, than the paramedical staffs and general physicians, to the risk of novel coronavirus disease 19.4

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Assessment of Water Quality of Blue Nile River in Sudan

Journal of Agronomy Research ◽

10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-18-2457 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Rasha Babiker Gurashi Abu Sabah ◽

Abubaker Haroun Mohamed Adam ◽

Dawoud Mohamed Ali

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Seasonal Variation ◽

World Health ◽

Nile River ◽

Blue Nile ◽

Surrounding Environment ◽

The World ◽

Living Organisms ◽

Health Organization

The objectives of this study were to quantify the fresh water quality of Blue Nile River before processing, identify the pollutants, and to determine the most polluted areas, and their impacts on living organisms as well as the surrounding environment. Thus, random water samples were collected and analyzed at the laboratory of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources, Ground water and Wadis Directorates - Khartoum. The outcomes were compared with the World Health Organization standardization. The results revealed variations in the concentration of the studied elements taken from the different locations. But, the results indicated that the water quality is good, and it is within the permissible water use. However, further study is recommended to include seasonal variation as well as the biological analysis.

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Characteristics, distribution and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in coastal sediments from the heavily industrialized area of Asalouyeh, Iran

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2017.500 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 76 (12) ◽

pp. 3340-3350 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Hossein Arfaeinia ◽

Zahra Asadgol ◽

Ehsan Ahmadi ◽

Morteza Seifi ◽

Masoud Moradi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽

Persian Gulf ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Coastal Sediments ◽

World Health ◽

Multivariate Statistical ◽

Contamination Levels ◽

Toxic Equivalents ◽

The Persian Gulf ◽

Health Organization

Abstract In this research, the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were investigated in the marine sediments of Asaluyeh harbor, in the Persian Gulf. The samples were taken from industrial, semi-industrial and urban regions. The mean concentration levels of total (Σ) 18 detected PCBs were 514.32, 144.67 and 31.6 pg/g dw for the industrial, semi-industrial and urban sampling stations, respectively. Based on a multivariate statistical analysis, it was found that high contamination levels of PCBs in sediments collected along the Persian Gulf were associated with releases from local industries. Total organic carbon (TOC) content was significantly and positively correlated with the concentrations of PCB congeners. World Health Organization toxic equivalents (TEQs) for PCBs ranged from 0.04 to 2.66 pg TEQ/g dry weight (dw) in the coastal sediments. The TEQ values in this study were higher than many reported worldwide in the literature for sediments. This suggests that there are high levels of contamination in the area due to industrial and other human activities.

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A Study on the Pollution Status of Akata Lake Sediments, Katsina-Ala Benue State, Nigeria

International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Technovation ◽

10.34256/irjmt2153 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 26-31

Author(s):

Yebpella G.G ◽

Magomya A.M ◽

Hikon B.N ◽

Joshua Y ◽

Gani J

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Pollution Load Index ◽

World Health ◽

Pollution Status ◽

Accumulation Index ◽

Contaminated Food ◽

Air Intake ◽

The Mean ◽

Health Organization ◽

Geo Accumulation Index

Heavy metals accumulation in biological system are by inhalation of contaminated air, intake of contaminated food or drinking water has been considered to be an ecological menace to man and other organisms. This study was carried out to ascertain the pollution status of Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in sediment of Akata Lake, Katsina- Ala Benue State, Nigeria. Sediment samples were collected, digested using 30% H2O2 followed by 0.5M HCl and the metal concentrations were determined with Varian AA240 Atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with Zeeman’s background correction (Varian, New Jersey, USA). The mean level of the heavy metals, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd and Cr are 31.05, 2.72, 19.22 and 0.88 mg/kg while the concentration of Cr was below the detection limit of the instrument. The values obtained were compared with the established soil and sediment standard by World Health Organization (WHO). The contamination factors value for Zn, Cu and Cd are <1 while that of Pb is >1, hence it shows that the sediment is polluted by lead. The pollution load index (PLI) and Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) levels for Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd heavy metals in sample A - E were less than 1 except for Pb which is >1, this show that, the sediment were polluted with Pb.

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Parthenium hysterophorus: Weed of Pharmacological Importance

Journal of University of Shanghai for Science and Technology ◽

10.51201/jusst/21/09688 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (10) ◽

pp. 295-300

Author(s):

F.Johnsy Mary ◽

◽

Dr.M.Senthil Kumar ◽

E. Vijaykumar ◽

G. Yadeshwaran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Invasive Plant ◽

Wood Preservative ◽

Parthenium Hysterophorus ◽

World Health ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Invasive Weed ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

Living Organisms ◽

Noxious Weed ◽

Health Organization

Parthenium hysterophorus, often known as congers grass, is a noxious weed that is a member of the Asteraceae family of plants. Its natural habitats include the areas surrounding the Gulf of Mexico, Central America, Southern North America, the West Indies, and Central South America, among other places. Congress grass has risen to become one of the world’s seven most destructive and deadly weeds, according to the World Health Organization. This invasive plant is also a significant concern in India. It is responsible for a variety of illnesses and allergies in both people and animals. Aside from that, there is some potential for this plant to be used as an insecticide, herbicide, fungicide, wood preservative, anti-amoebic, and even for medicinal purposes. If any species, particularly an invasive weed, is to be evaluated for its ability to benefit living organisms, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of both its positive and negative impacts. As a result, this review paper is an attempt to describe the present state of knowledge regarding the hazardous and helpful effects of Parthenium hysterophorus on people and animals.

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COVID-19’s Direct and Indirect Impact

Indonesian Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation ◽

10.36803/ijpmr.v10i1.277 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Irma Ruslina Defi

Keyword(s):

Indirect Effects ◽

Well Being ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

World Health ◽

Direct And Indirect Effects ◽

Economic Activities ◽

The World ◽

Indirect Impact ◽

Health Organization ◽

Health And Well Being

The COVID-19 outbreak has been declared a public health emergency of worldwide concern by the World Health Organization. The direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 on health and well-being are still being investigated. In addition to the direct impacts of COVID-19 disease, social distancing and lockdown measures have had a significant and unequal effect on individuals, households, and communities through restrictions imposed on our daily social an d economic activities.

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Detection of Organochlorine Pesticide (OCPs) Residues and Trace Metals in Some Selected Malt Drinks in Nigeria

Beverages ◽

10.3390/beverages4030065 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 65 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Godwin Olutona ◽

Sophia Livingstone

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Trace Metals ◽

Environmental Protection Agency ◽

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry ◽

World Health ◽

Gas Chromatograph ◽

Protection Agency ◽

Absorption Spectrophotometry ◽

Total Burden ◽

Health Organization

In this study we evaluated the trace metals and toxic residues of pesticides in commercial malta drinks sold in Nigeria markets. Residual concentrations of seventeen (17) chlorinated hydrocarbons and trace metals were determined in fifteen samples of three batches each of five selected brands of Malta drink sold in Nigeria markets. Gas Chromatograph-Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) were employed in quantitative analysis. The results revealed that all the malt drink analyzed have one or more OCPs detected. The presence of eleven (11) OCPs residue were detected at varying concentrations. The total burden of OCPs in the samples was in the following order: AMS > DUB > MAG > HIM > MLT. Trace metals results revealed that Cd was below detection limit in all the samples while Pb; Ni and Cr were above World Health Organization and United State Environmental Protection Agency (WHO/USEPA) limits for drinking water.

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Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Pelagic and Benthic Fishes of Ogbese River, Ondo State, South-Western Nigeria

Water Air & Soil Pollution ◽

10.1007/s11270-021-04987-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 232 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Josephine Omowumi Olayinka-Olagunju ◽

Adekunle A. Dosumu ◽

Adetola Mary Olatunji-Ojo

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Risk Index ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

World Health ◽

Fish Organs ◽

Permissible Limits ◽

Ondo State ◽

Health Organization ◽

Human Pollution

AbstractThe bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of heavy metal (Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, and As) concentrations in benthic and pelagic fish organs (muscles, gills, liver, and hearts), and concentrations of heavy metals in water and sediments of Ogbese River, Ondo State, Nigeria were investigated. From the results, the concentrations of heavy metals in the water were within the permissible limits stipulated by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, in the sediments, Cd, Cr, Fe, and Mn concentrations were higher than the limits, while Zn, As, Pb, and Cu were within limits. Heavy metals concentrations in the fish organs showed that all fish species were within the permissible limits implying no contamination. More so, the BAFs in all fish organs revealed no probability of accumulation while the geoaccumulation index and contamination factor showed no contamination to moderate contamination. The potential ecological risk index also showed moderate risk factor indicating that the water and sediments were not extremely polluted for higher organisms but may be toxic for lower ones. The study concludes that constant monitoring and study should be conducted by researchers and the Ministry of Water Resource and that the community should be aware of the danger human pollution can cause to the river.

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