Immobilization Potential of Cow Manure for Heavy Metal Remediation from Refuse Dump Soil

Aims: The present study investigated the effect of cow manure amendment on fractionation and availability of some heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Mn, Pb and Zn) in refuse dump soil. Study Design: A greenhouse study experiment was conducted to determine the uptake of the metals by Ricinus communis in dump soil treated with 0%, 5%, 10% and 20% cow manure. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria, between May and October 2018. Methodology: Experimental pots were filled with 2.0kg refuse dump soil in a green house and treated with 5%, 10% and 20% of Cow manure in three replicates per treatment. The seeds of Ricinus communis were planted in each pot and analysed after 12 weeks of planting for heavy metals using AAS. Sequential extraction was carried out on the treated soil after the harvest with each extract further analysed for heavy metals using AAS. Results: Application of cow manure significantly (p ˂ 0.05) affected the redistribution and the mobility of the heavy metals in the dump soil; as the concentration of the amendment increased, heavy metals in the mobile fractions reduced. 20% amendment had the best immobilization effect as the mobility factor decreased with increasing manure amendment. The mobility factors at 20% amendment were 18.34%, 15.82%, 5.23%, 15.86%, 25.56% and 12.81% for Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn respectively with the general trend of metal forms given as: residual > bound to organic > bound to Fe-Mn oxide > bound to carbonate > exchangeable. Conclusion: Cow manure amendment of the dump soil decreased the availability of heavy metals for plant uptake; and the metal uptake generally decreased as percentage amendment increased. Cow manure is therefore a good immobilizing agent for remediation of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in polluted soils.

Een plan voor grootschalige zoutwinning op Sint-Maarten

A plan for large-scale salt extraction on Sint Maarten A map of 1859 shows a huge project to produce salt in the Great Salt Pond (St. Martin, Dutch West Indies). It was a failure. Nevertheless, far into the 20th century salt-making continued to be an important industry, just as it was in former days. Nowadays, the Pond has been partly filled up to accommodate the extension of the town of Philipsburg. It is also used as a refuse-dump.

Spatial analysis of confirmed Lassa fever cases in Edo State, Nigeria, 2008 – 2014

Background: Lassa fever (LF) is endemic and poses public health threats in Edo State. Identification of primary clusters will help prioritize public health interventions in the state. We investigated retrospective cases of LF to identify primary cluster of the disease for household exposure management. Method: We reviewed retrospective data (n = 1400) of LF case-patients at a referral hospital in Edo State from 2008 to 2014 based on World Health Organization case definition for LF. We determined primary cluster of confirmed cases on Bernoulli model and evaluated environmental factors in the primary cluster: presence of rodent deterrents, proximity of households at 2 km radius to rice farm, rice post-harvest storage facility, refuse dump, forest, hospital and main road using Multi-criteria analysis at p < 0.05. Results: Of the reviewed cases, 171 (12.2%) were confirmed case-patients. The median age of confirmed case-patients was 30 years (Q1:16.0 and Q3: 43.5). Of the confirmed case-patients, 101 (59.1%) were male. A primary spatial cluster (4.45 km radius; geographic centre at 6.717900oN, 6.243500oE) was identified in Esan West LGA. Associated environmental factors included presence of rodent deterrents (p < 0.001), proximities of households to refuse dump (p < 0.001), rice post-harvest storage facility (p = 0.01) and rice farm (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Esan West LGA was identified as a primary cluster for Lassa fever. Presence of rodent deterrents, household proximity to refuse dump sites, rice storage facilities and rice farms were associated environmental factors. We recommend improved rice post-harvest storage and use of rodent deterrents in Edo State, Nigeria. Key words: Multi-criteria analysis, Lassa fever, environmental variables, Nigeria.

Spatial analysis of confirmed Lassa fever cases in Edo State, Nigeria, 2008 – 2014

Spatial analysis of confirmed Lassa fever cases in Edo State, Nigeria, 2008 – 2014 S. Owoicho 1 , E. Awosanya 2 , D. Fadugba 2 , M. S. Balogun 1 ,P. Nguku 1 , W. S. Ajisegiri 1 , O. Eugene 2 , B. Olugasa 2 1 Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Abuja, Nigeria; 2 Centre for Control and Prevention of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria . Background: Lassa fever (LF) is endemic and poses public health threats in Edo State. Identification of primary clusters will help prioritize public health interventions in the state. We investigated retrospective cases of LF to identify primary cluster of the disease for household exposure management. Method: We reviewed retrospective data (n = 1400) of LF case-patients at a referral hospital in Edo State from 2008 to 2014 based on World Health Organization case definition for LF. We determined primary cluster of confirmed cases on Bernoulli model and evaluated environmental factors in the primary cluster: presence of rodent deterrents, proximity of households at 2 km radius to rice farm, rice post-harvest storage facility, refuse dump, forest, hospital and main road using Multi-criteria analysis at p < 0.05. Results : Of the reviewed cases, 171 (12.2%) were confirmed case-patients. The median age of confirmed case-patients was 30 years (IQR: 27.5). Of the confirmed case-patients, 101 (59.1%) were male. A primary spatial cluster (4.45 km radius; geographic centre at 6.717900 o N, 6.243500 o E) was identified in Esan West LGA. Associated environmental factors included presence of rodent deterrents (p < 0.001), proximities of households to refuse dump (p < 0.001), rice post-harvest storage facility (p = 0.01) and rice farm (p = 0.03). Conclusion : Esan West LGA was identified as a primary cluster for Lassa fever. Presence of rodent deterrents, household proximity to refuse dump sites, rice storage facilities and rice farms were associated environmental factors. We recommend improved rice post-harvest storage and use of rodent deterrents in Edo State, Nigeria.

Spatial Distribution of Soil Bulk Density, Organic Carbon and pH under Different Land Use Systems along Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State in South Eastern Nigeria

Information about spatial distribution of soil qualities in a given area is a fundamental piece of land surface prerequisites for ecological purposes, agriculture and other land use systems. The utilization of numerical methods to portray soil properties and upgrade objectivity in soil-related decision making, was applied to soil samples collected from soil under the land use systems; excavation site (EX), refuse dump site (RD), forest land (FL), continuously cultivated land (CC) and 4-year bush fallow (4-BF) along Umuahia South LGA of Abia State in south eastern Nigeria. Geostatistical technique was applied to estimate the spatial distribution and produce soil maps for each selected soil properties. Results revealed that excavation site (1.70 Mg m-3) recorded a high bulk density, while the other land use systems had a moderate bulk density. The results showed that refuse dump site had a neutral soil reaction (7.02), slightly acidic reaction was recorded under 4-year bush fallow (6.00) and forest land (5.71). Continuously cultivated land had a moderately acidic soil reaction (5.41) and organic carbon content (1.48%). The result also revealed that forestland (2.97%) and refuse dump site (3.20%) had very high organic carbon content, while excavation site (0.38%) had very low organic carbon content. This study will help land owners/users in terms of choice and adoption of land for different uses in the area.