Assessment of Physico-Chemical Parameters and Heavy Metal of Drinking Water Samples from Some Iranian Universities and Surveyed the Efficacy of Several Water Purification Methods on Removal of Heavy Metal

Water quality is the most important factor for consumers because it has a significant impact on their health. So, monitoring and controlling water quality is of particular significance in different human communities such as universities. In this study, the physicochemical parameters such as turbidity, electrical conductivity, hardness, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium ions, and heavy metals including lead, cadmium, nickel, arsenic, and chromium in drinking water were determined in nine Iranian universities. Then, the efficacy of several treatment methods was evaluated in the removal of heavy metal, including the boiling process in two stages: 5 minutes boiling and 5 hours boiling and filtration process. The results revealed that the physicochemical quality of drinking water in all universities was appropriate. Hardness levels in drinking water samples of all universities were higher than the WHO standards. However, this parameter was lower than the national standard of Iran (500 mg/l). Nevertheless, cadmium content was not detected in any samples, nickel content was below the permissible limit, and chromium content was below the permissible limit in all samples. However, its value was higher than the allowable limit in the university with a code of 6. Lead content was higher than the limit in samples with codes 3, 5-1, and 5-4, and arsenic content was higher than the limit in samples with codes 6, 1-1, 1-2, and 2. Water purification methods, including boiling and water purifier, were satisfactory and significantly reduced pollutants. According to the present study, it is suggested to check drinking water quality in universities randomly, and the 5-minute boiling method can be recommended as a cost-effective solution for water purification.

Computational analysis of novel variable displacement pumps

The centralized lubrication system is an important mechanism required in most industries where the pumps provide the lubricant. This study is aimed to design a variable displacement pump that will replace the existing pump and reduce the cost of the operations required to provide the lubrication as per the requirement. A novel design of variable displacement pump is proposed with different components providing the variable discharge. Initially, the design of the variable displacement pump is evaluated, and analytical solutions are validated numerically. Numerical simulations are performed for the forces obtained in the analytical calculations, and the design proposed is safe within the permissible limit. The novel variable displacement pump proposed will reduce the wastage of fluid.

Consistent Organochlorinated Pesticides (OPC) Residues Contamination in Beans Consumed in Gombe Metropolis Nigeria

Most of the locally consumed beans in our vicinity contain excess chemicals of pesticides residues which are harmful to humans and environmental hazards to ecosystem. Investigation of this study revealed contamination level of organochlorine pesticides residues in dried beans originating from Nigeria with a view to controlling them, it also studies crude fiber of beans showed that B4 has the highest fiber content, 27.85% and the order of decreasing value as B4, B5 , B1, B3 and B2. The least percentage of crude fiber was shown by B2 in all the beans samples analyzed. This study also investigated the pesticides residue components of the organochlorinated pesticides test. The presence of pesticide residues in all 14 types of organochlorine pesticides in beans is lower than a previously reported level. Despite this, the amount of organochlorine pesticides tested is more than the permitted levels of 0.01 to 0.2 mg/kg, indicating that the beans consumed in the Gombe metropolis included pesticide residues beyond the permissible limit.

Variation of rain water quality with storage time for different coloured storage containers

It is very important to evaluate the quality of rain water collected and stored in cisterns and storage tanks. In this study, rainwater quality analysis was carried out on samples collected from an experimental set -up at the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. The physio-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of rainwater collected and stored using four different coloured containers under outdoor and indoor conditions were analyzed and the results compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standard for potable water. The results of the physio-chemical analysis revealed that the colour, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), phosphate, sulphate, iron and copper of all the rainwater samples fell within WHO acceptable standards for potable water. The pH of the harvested rainwater of the samples ranged from 5.34 – 6.73 mg/l for the indoor stored rainwater samples and 5.28 – 6.59 mg/l for the outdoor stored samples. The pH of the water samples did not fall with WHO permissible limit of 6.5 to 8.5. The Nitrate content of the water samples also did not fall within WHO permissible limit. Similarly, the total coliform count did not conform to WHO standard for potable water. Based on the results obtained from this study, it is recommended that harvested rainwater be treated to kill contaminating microorganisms and to reduce the health risks associated with its consumption.

Verification of the method of finding a faulty sensor in reduced meters

The reliability of the method for determining a failed sensor in a redundant angular velocity meter (AVM) by means of its experimental verification is considered. The mutual non-orthogonal arrangement of six axes of sensor sensitivity has been optimized to reduce the instrumental errors of each sensitive element and ensure the equality of their contribution. Provides approximately the same sensitivity to the level of error in case of failure. One of the six experimentally obtained sensor signals contains an error that exceeds the specified permissible limit. The algorithm for searching for a sensor is checked, the error of which exceeds the specified one, and which, for this reason, is considered faulty.

Heavy Metals Contamination and Human Health Risk Asssessment Via Consumption of Medicinal Plants from Amassoma Community, Bayelsa State of Nigeria

Aims: Man-made activities such as excessive oil exploration, automobile emissions, gas flaring and agricultural activities tend to elevate the concentrations of heavy metals in the surrounding. Heavy metals have the tendency to accumulate in plant roots, which may result to heavy metal contamination. Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the concentration of heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel and Zinc (Zn) in Pawpaw fruits, seeds, leaf and Scent leaf from Amosoma community in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The concentrations of these metals were used to assess the human health risk melted to the consumers of the vegetables and fruits. Materials and Methods: Sixteen different vegetables and fruit samples comprising of Pawpaw and Scent leaves were digested and analyzed for heavy metals using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (F-AAS). Results: The result of the present study reviewed that Pb, Cd, Ni, and Zn ranged from 1.090 ± 0.01 - 5.990 ± 0.06; 0.213 ± 0.03 - 1.317 ± 0.02; 2.810 ± 0.04 - 4.767 ± 0.09; and 0.793 ± 0.01 -5.303 ± 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Ni in some of the analyzed pawpaw and scent leaf samples exceeded the permissible limit as recommended by WHO/FAO, EC/CODEX and NAFDAC respectively. The concentrations of Zn were below the permissible limit as recommended by WHO/FAO. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) of Pb and Cd exceeded the oral reference dose (RfDo) however; Ni and Zn fall within the oral RfDo. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI) values of Pb, Cd, Ni and Zn were less than 1. The Carcinogenic Risk (CR) of Cd and Ni exceeded the range of permissible predicted lifetime risks for carcinogens as recommended by US EPA, meanwhile, the carcinogenic risk of Pb was within the permissible predicted lifetime risks as recommended by USEPA. Conclusion: The result from the present study indicate that the fruits and leaves from pawpaw and scent leaf may be contaminated with Pb, Cd, and Ni and the exposed population may be at risk of developing cancer due to carcinogenic ingestion of Cd and Ni over time.

Selected Metal Contents and Phytochemical Profiling of Ficus capreifolia and Mangifera indica Commonly used Antidiabetic Plants from Oil Producing Region of Nigeria

Aim: The study evaluated selected metal contents and phytochemicals present in Ficus capreifolia and Mangifera indica extracts commonly used antidiabetic plants from Aluu and Bodo communities in Rivers State, Nigeria. Place and Duration of Study: University of Port-Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria and its environs was used between June to November, 2020. Methodology: Composite soil samples and the leaves of Ficus capreifolia and Mangifera indica were collected from Bodo and Aluu communities respectively. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was employed for the analysis of the metals (Zn, Pb, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu, As and Cr). The plant extracts were screened for the presence of various phytochemicals using spectrophotometric methods. Results: Flavonoid, Saponins, Tannins, Alkaloids. Terpenoid, Glycoside and Carotenoid were detected in Ficus carpreifolia obtained from Bodo and Aluu communities while Magnifera indica obtained from both communities has Alkaloids, Phenols, Flavonoids, Saponins and Tannins detected. Metals such as Zn, Pb, Mn, Fe and As were detected at Bodo and Aluu soil samples. Cu, Ni and Cr were below the detectable limit. Zn, Pb and As were above the permissible limit in Bodo soil samples while only As was above the permissible limit in Aluu community. In the plant samples, only Mn was present and was within the permissible limit in plants samples obtained from Bodo and Aluu communities while Zn, Pb, Ni, Fe, Cu, As and Cr were below the detectable limit. Conclusion: The study shows that Ficus capriefolia and Mangifera indica do not bioaccumulate Fe, Zn, Ni, Pb, As and Cr and this may be attributed to the metal intolerance potential of the plants, hence no fear of metal toxicity when using these plants for medicinal purposes. The presence of saponins, tannins and flavonoid affirmed the hypoglycemic potentials of the plants.

Determination of Heavy Metal Concentration in Two Bony Fish (Catfish and Tilapia) from Orashi River in Rivers State, Nigeria

The research was intended to study the influence of human and industrial activities on the Orashi River and two bony fish (Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia nilotica). Three groups are observed to have impacted the environment – Oil/gas industries, tyre burning from abattoir, untreated human and animal waste from settlers and the abattoir. The study was carried out from September 2019 to August 2020. The mean concentrations of the parameters studied in some samples were close to or exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) and Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) recommended limits for drinking water and seafood. The results from this study have provided information on the heavy metals profile on the fish of the river. The level of heavy metals in the muscle of Catfish and Tilapia showed a range of Cadmium in Catfish (1-3.9mg/kg and Tilapia (0.1-4.2mg/kg) with the highest level occurring in station 2 (3.47mg/kg for Catfish and 3.39mg/kg for Tilapia) which is high with regard to FAO 19835, FAO/WHO 10896, EEC 20054 permissible limit of 0.01mg/l and USEPA SQG (1mg/kg) level in seafood. The levels of essential heavy metals in fish muscle were Copper (Catfish-10.9-33mg/kg, Tilapia -17.3-40.6mg/kg), Iron (Catfish-1.0-2.5mg/kg, Tilapia -0.1-5.6mg/kg) were within the FAO 1983 permissible limit while Zinc (Catfish-22-213.2mg/kg) and Tilapia (30.1-196mg/kg) exceeds the limit in some stations. Catfish muscles recorded higher mean value (127.12mg/kg) for all heavy metals than tilapia (44.03mg/kg) and the sequence is Copper > Zinc > Iron > Cadmium. The concentration of heavy metals in Orashi River is in the sequence: Sediment > Catfish > Tilapia >Water. The Total Heavy metal concentration in muscle of Catfish (0.5-1.8mg/kg) and Tilapia (0.1-3.8mg/kg) were within permissible limit.

Determination of Heavy Metals (Lead, Zinc, Nickel and Cadmium) in Medicinal Plants (Scent Leaf and Pawpaw) in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Aims: This study investigated the level of zinc, nickel, lead and cadmium in selected medicinal plants - Scent Leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) and Pawpaw (Carica papaya) that are traditionally used in alternative medicine in Amassoma community, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Study Design: Scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) and Pawpaw (Carica papaya) from where these plants are grown were randomly collected for heavy metal analysis from within Amassoma community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State between March 2019 to September 2019 Methodology: Scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) and Pawpaw (Carica papaya) were digested and analyzed for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS, model S471096). The method used was wet-ashing method for the analysis. Results: The result showed that the concentration of Lead in the pawpaw fruit with 5.99mg/kg and pawpaw seed with 3.72mg/kg, were above the WHO permissible limit. While the concentration of Cadmium in the pawpaw fruit, pawpaw leaf, pawpaw seed and scent leaf with 1.32mg/kg, 0.96mg/kg, 0.21mg/kg, and 0.59mg/kg, were all above the permissible limits. Again, Zinc in the pawpaw fruit, pawpaw leaf, pawpaw seed and scent leaf were 2.52mg/kg, 2.53mg/kg, 5.30mg/kg, and 0.79mg/kg respectively, and these are also above the permissible limit. While that of the concentration of Nickel in the pawpaw fruit, pawpaw leaf, pawpaw seed and scent leaf were observed to be within permissible limit. Conclusion: It is therefore recommended that caution should be taken when such plants are to be used as alternative to conventional medicine as excess of it could pose the risk of bioaccumulation and possible health effects in humans.

Evaluation of the Quality of Drinking Water and Rivers in the Mantaro Valley, Central Peru

The quality of river water is essential for the survival of living beings, whether for agricultural, livestock or human consumption. This study was carried out in the province of Junín, in different districts of Huancayo, the analysis of the samples was carried out in the continental university, from which the data were obtained for comparisons. This investigation revealed that the Chanchas river water has a higher concentration of pollutants during the afternoons since the pH is 8.69 (alkaline), being within the environmental quality standards, however these waters are not recommended for irrigation because it would cause plants do not absorb nutrients properly. Likewise, it was shown that the pH values of the drinking water of the four districts are similar, being 7.36, verifying that it is within the maximum permissible limit and suitable for consumption.