Ocean County, New Jersey /

"March 1985."

Passaic County, New Jersey /

"October 1986."

Sussex County, New Jersey /

"October 1986."

Somerset County, New Jersey /

"October 1986."

Soil surface textures, Salem County, New Jersey /

"October 1986."

Soil surface textures, Salem County, New Jersey /

"October 1986."

Union County, New Jersey /

"April 1985."

Warren County, New Jersey /

"June 1985."

Select toxic metals status of pregnant women with history of pregnancy complications in Benin City, South-South Nigeria.

Toxic metals are part of the most important groups of environmental pollutants that can bind to vital cellular components and interfere with their functions via inhalation, foods, water etc. The serum levels of toxic metals (lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic) in pregnant women with history of pregnancy complications, pregnant women without history of pregnancy complication and non-pregnant women in Benin City, South – South Nigeria was investigated in this paper, with total of 135 healthy women comprising of 45 pregnant women with history of previous pregnancy complications, 45 pregnant women without history of pregnancy complications and 45 non-pregnant women without history of pregnancy complications (controls). Some demographic characteristics and 4ml of blood samples were obtained from each subject for the analysis of lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic by standard methods. Pregnant women with history of pregnancy complications recorded a highly significant increase in the toxic metal (lead) mean value of 25.81μg/dl as against 23.70μg/dl for pregnant women without history of pregnancy complications and 11.23μg/dl for non-pregnant (control) women without history of pregnancy complications as well as significant increases in the mean values of other toxic metals (mercury, cadmium and arsenic) compared with controls (p<0.001). The selected toxic metals (Pb, Hg, Cd and As) may be involved in the development of pregnancy complications among pregnant women in Benin City, South– South Nigeria. Lead in particular may pose threat to mothers and fetuses as its mean values in the two groups of pregnant women were well above normal.

Effect of Cocoa ( Theobroma cacao ) Plantation Types on the Distribution of Anuran Communities in Ore, Ondo State, Nigeria

Anuran species diversity and abundance were evaluated in different farming status of cocoa plantation in Ore, Ondo State, Nigeria. Applying the combination of visual encounter survey (VES) and acoustical survey (AES), the different farms surveyed were categorized as; 1) pure cocoa farms with pesticides applied (PCWP); 2) pure cocoa farms without pesticides application; 3) intercropped cocoa farms with pesticides applied (ICWP); and 4) intercropped cocoa farms without pesticides application (ICNP). The surrounding primary/secondary forest (PSFV) was sampled applying the transect method. A mean total of 690±2.6 anurans belonging to 28 species, 14 genera and 9 families were recorded during the study. Out of these, 10, 19, 17, 22 and 26 species were recorded respectively from PCWP, PCNP, ICWP, ICNP and PSFV. The anuran species richness was significantly different between the different cocoa plantation status and the forest sites (F4, 10 = 20.55, P< 0.01). The highest mean number of individuals (190±9.5) was observed at ICNP followed by PSFV (183±5.7), while the least was at PCWP (77±8.0). There was also significant difference (F4, 10 = 150.48, P< 0.01) between the abundance of anuran species at the various sites. Diversity indices (Shannon and Margalef) showed that the forest sites had the greatest (3.204 and 4.799) respectively while the pesticide using pure cocoa farms had the least (1.853 and 2.072). Generally, the result of the study clearly indicated that pesticide use cocoa farms were significantly lower compared to other sites. Farmers are encouraged to engage in intercropping (polyculture) especially with food and economic crops in a biodiversity friendly manner which could have similar characteristics of a natural ecosystem, thereby enhancing the biological diversity of agro-ecosystems.

In vivo antifungal activity of neem oil and aqueous extracts against leaf spot disease caused by Cercospora abelmoschii on okra

The cercospora leaf spot, caused by Cercospora abelmoschi Ellis and Everhart, is quite common in okra culture. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of aqueous extracts of neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss), citronella ( Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle), eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus grandis L.), ecolife®, A. indica oil and fungicide cercobin 700 PM® in control of cercospora leaf spot on okra in greenhouse. The extracts and neem oil were tested in concentration 10%, the fungicide cercobin 700PM® in dose 2.5 g.l-1, applied 10 days after pathogen inoculation by leaf spray and the citric biomass extract ecolife® in concentration 5.0 ml.l-1, applied 10 days before pathogen inoculation. All treatments, except ecolife®, were effective in controlling cercospora leaf spot and may be recommended as alternatives in agroecological systems.

Examination of Faecal Caliform Presence in Groundwater in Ghana (A Case Study in Ketu South Municipality)

Samples were taken from wide-dam, open wells and compared with piped city water. Well water from both districts showed widespread contamination with faecal bacteria. This study revealed high Faecal and Total coliforms in all the samples with varying numbers. The high coliforms content of the eight hand-dug wells poses a health risk and renders the water unsuitable for human consumption. The presence of pathogenic organisms in the water could be attributed to pit latrine in the vicinity that extent their influence on these water qualities, since they are sited close to them.

Geological Characterisation of Depleted Oil and Gas Reservoirs for Carbon Sequestration Potentials in a Field in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

The injectivity, containment and storage capacity of sandstone reservoirs in a field in the Coastal Swamp depobelt of the onshore eastern Niger Delta were evaluated using wireline logs and seismic data to assess their potentials for carbon dioxide storage and geosequestration. The reservoir formation consists of multilayered alternating beds of sandstone and shale cap rocks. Active seismicity and fracturing intensity are low and growth faults provide the reservoir sealing mechanisms. Three reservoirs were delineated at depths between 3319 m and 3539 m which will keep injected CO2 in a supercritical state. The reservoir depth of at least 800 m, porosity and permeability of more than 10 percent and 20 mD, and a caprock thickness of at least 10 m, in addition to geothermal gradients of 13.46 to 33.66 ºC /km are the ideal conditions for the efficacy of storage. Comparison of the derived reservoir and seal properties such as porosity, permeability, thickness and depth with the minimum recommended site selection criteria shows that the reservoirs are potential candidates for carbon geosequestration with a total theoretical storage capacity of 147MM tons.

Assessment of a Planned Municipal Solid Waste Management System in Sri Lanka

Systematic Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) authorities of Sri Lanka contributes to exchange some productive outputs with localities; however it is still not in a successful mode due to limitations and environmental failures in their operation. Most of these local administrations are directly dumping Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to an open dumping site, this manner of inappropriate disposal of MSW is become a major threat to the environment and public health in developing countries like Sri Lanka. This study was conducted for the MSWM practices of Balangoda Urban Council. The research was performed based on analyzing information obtained from field observations; reports; literature; questionnaire distribution among community; and a series of formal interviews with major stakeholders. The ongoing MSWM practices of Balangoda Urban Council encompass six categories as waste minimization and handling; waste collection; on-site separation; waste transportation; further management including grading, composting, recycling, producing sludge fertilizer; and final disposal to an open dump site. Apart from those, training sessions on MSWM are also being conducted. The purpose of this paper is to assess current status of urban waste management scenario and highlight strengths and weaknesses to understand the sustainability of the system which would help any local authority to improve MSWM.

Organic Matter Removal from Piggery Wastewater in Waste Stabilisation Pond in Nigeria

Four (4) wastewater quality variables: chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solid (TS), total dissolved solid (TDS), and total suspended solid (TSS) were determined. Analysed samples comprises of raw influent and effluents entering and leaving the stabilisation ponds. Significant reduction in variables were obtained, maximum and minimum values obtained for COD were 917mg/l (anaerobic pond), and 13mg/l (maturation pond). For TS, TDS and TSS, maximum and minimum values obtained were 14,420mg/l, 9,180mg/l, 5,240mg/l and 3,398mg/l, 3,120mg/l, 278mg/l respectively. Removal efficiencies recorded for parameters in final effluent (maturation pond) were 98.55% (COD), 76.44% (TS), 66.01% (TDS), and 94.69% (TSS) respectively.