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Heavy Metals in Soils as Indicator of Sanitary State of Territories: Monitoring of the South of Astrakhan Region
Nikolay Alexandrovich Bogdanov
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2018
Pages:
119-129
Received:
27 August 2018
Accepted:
21 September 2018
Published:
19 October 2018
Abstract: The results: 1) long-term monitoring of Hg concentrations and amounts of metals Zc(MnCrVNiCoCuAgZnPbSnMo) in the soils of the area of deployment of the Astrakhan gas complex (AGC; stages: 1991-1997-2007-2012 years); 2) estimates of the dynamics of Hg in soils of villages in the Volga Delta in the period 1995-2009, Since in the Astrakhan region such significant assessment has been undertaken (detail and coverage areas). At the distance of 50 km from AGC on the stages of the control 1997-2007-2012 the tendency for the deterioration of the hygienic condition of the land was discovered. In a separate ghosting the contents of Hg in the soil was up to 285 mg/kg and was approaching a "target" safe levels (300 mg/kg) adopted in Western Europe. The content of Hg in soils to 2007 has increased 6 to 8 times on the leeward of the North-West territories, distant 15 km from AGC. The study established the effect of concentration of Hg in summer in the surface horizon of soils. When handling Hg-containing (70-100 µg/kg) commercial sulfur, a significant role in the deterioration of the hygienic state of the sanitary protection zone belongs to their Eolian distribution of particles from the places of storage, loading and transportation of raw materials. The total number of metals at values Zc(MnCrVNiCoCuAgZnPbSnMo) as the nearest (sanitary protection – up to 5 km) far (5-50 km) and background sites has risen steadily. By 2012, a number of places in the AGC-30 km control zone had already recorded hygienically dangerous levels of total accumulation of metals (up to Zc =34). The spatial variability of this state is largely controlled by the dispersion of emissions by the prevailing East and South-East winds. In the settlements of the Volga Delta, gasification of boiler houses ensured the dispersion of Hg in soils (>90% of its previously accumulated amount). Concentrations decreased to almost background values (20-60 µg/kg). Further quality control of the hygienic state of the territories needs to be repeated sampling of soil and involvement of medical statistics on the incidence of residents of the region.
Abstract: The results: 1) long-term monitoring of Hg concentrations and amounts of metals Zc(MnCrVNiCoCuAgZnPbSnMo) in the soils of the area of deployment of the Astrakhan gas complex (AGC; stages: 1991-1997-2007-2012 years); 2) estimates of the dynamics of Hg in soils of villages in the Volga Delta in the period 1995-2009, Since in the Astrakhan region such...
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Knowledge, Attitude and Perception About Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) Among Clinical Medical Students of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos
Maryam Shehu,
Hassan Shehu
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2018
Pages:
130-134
Received:
20 September 2018
Accepted:
29 September 2018
Published:
27 October 2018
Abstract: Background: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The program was started in 2015 and is expected to end in 2030. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the awareness, knowledge, attitude and perception of SDGs among clinical medical students of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos. Method: Consecutive sampling method was used. Results: A total of 141 (82.46%) were aware of SDGs while 30 (17.46%) have not heard about SDGs; 140 (81.87%) got the full meaning of SDGs correctly, 3 (1.75%) were wrong, while 28 (16.37%) did not know its meaning. The major sources of information about SDGs from 203 multiple responses were from the internet with 84 (41.35%) and Television 34 (16.75%). The least were from conferences with 3 (1.48%). The level of knowledge about the SDGs was generally very poor, with only 26 (15.20%), 13 (7.60%) and 1 (0.58%) knowing the correct number of goals, targets, and indicators respectively. The percentage knowledge on the year it was launched, for how long it is supposed to last and the year it will end were also poor with 29 (16.96%), 30 (17.54%) and 35 (20.47%) respectively. The knowledge on the academia playing a more prominent role in the SDGs than MDGs was the highest with 60 (35.09%); getting it correctly, followed by the knowledge on there are more goals on inequality in the SDGs than the MDGs with 46 (26.90%). The student’s perception on the impact of SDGs most likely going to be better than MDGs was 100 (58.48%). The level of awareness of SDGs in Nigeria was perceived to be poor by 126 (73.68%) and good by 45 (26.32%). Only 48 (28.07%) of the students agreed that government is committed to seeing the fulfillment of the SDGs, while 123 (71.92%) did not agree that the government is committed. The attitude of the students towards learning about the SDGs was good as 123 (71.93%) agreed that SDGs should be taught in Universities, while 48 (28.07%) did not agree that SDGs should be taught in Universities. Only 35 (20.47%) of the students did not want to study about SDGs. Conclusion: There will be need to teach university students about SDGs, so as to improve their knowledge of the ongoing SDGs.
Abstract: Background: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The program was started in 2015 and is expected to end in 2030. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the awareness, knowledge, attitude and perception of SDGs among clinical medical students of Bingham University Teaching Ho...
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Adequacy of Work Environments in Public Dispensaries and Health Centers in Machakos County, Kenya
Patrick Njogu,
Charles Mburu,
Benson Karanja
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2018
Pages:
135-139
Received:
19 October 2018
Accepted:
7 November 2018
Published:
3 December 2018
Abstract: The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) mandates employers to uphold the highest standards of occupational safety and health in their workplaces. However, occupational incidents persist in public health facilities. The researcher sought to assess the adequacy of work environments in public dispensaries and health centers in Machakos County. The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted in February, 2018 involving fourteen (14) dispensaries and seven (7) health centers. Researchers took linear dimensions and angles in the facilities. Assessment involved measuring workrooms, doors, windows, and passageways; computing areas and air volumes; and observing patient examination couches and material storage. The researcher recorded data in checklists then tabulated and analyzed for adequacy.79% of the workrooms ceiling heights were less than the required 3m. 52.5% of the workrooms had less air volumes per worker than the specified 10m3. 61.5% of the rooms did not have through ventilation. All the 27 patient examination couches had no height adjusters. 77.8% of material storage shelves had no equipment to reach heights. 51.3% of doors were less than 900mm wide. 57.1% of passageways were less than 1.2 meters wide. 61.9% of the passageways were obstructed. Work environments within the selected facilities were inadequate. OSHA should be reviewed to provide standards for various elements. Directorate of safety and health services should help health facilities to improve adequacy of work environments. Health management should make all aspects of work environments adequate.
Abstract: The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) mandates employers to uphold the highest standards of occupational safety and health in their workplaces. However, occupational incidents persist in public health facilities. The researcher sought to assess the adequacy of work environments in public dispensaries and health centers in Machakos County. T...
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Required Withholding Period for Vine Leaves Following Spraying with Pesticide
Britt Marianna Maestroni,
Iyad Ghanem,
Raymond Correll,
Amer Abu Alnaser,
Marivil Islam,
Veronica Cesio,
Horacio Heinzen,
Andrew Cannavan
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2018
Pages:
140-152
Received:
25 October 2018
Accepted:
10 November 2018
Published:
17 December 2018
Abstract: Vine leaves are consumed in many countries but little attention is paid to the residues left on them after the application of pesticides that help prevent pests and protect the grapes, the economically important target. Therefore, it is of outmost importance to study the dissipation of the pesticides applied to this crop to protect the consumers that also eat vine leaves. Dissipation kinetics of chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, diazinon and dimethoate residues were studied in vine leaves grown under sunny conditions in Syria, using an ethyl acetate based sample preparation followed by GC-MS/MS determination. The dissipation rate for all doses applied followed first-order kinetics, with half-lives in grape leaves in the range of 2.9 – 3.9 days. At the recommended application dose, a withholding period of 8.9-37.1 days before consumption should be applied to meet current MRLs and minimise risks to consumers. The effectiveness in the reduction of pesticide loads in vine leaves through washing with either cold or hot water was dependant on the physicochemical properties of the studied pesticides. Hot water washing was very effective for dimethoate, a polar and water-soluble pesticide, with an effective reduction of 92% of the residue level; but no significant effect was observed for chlorpyrifos, the most apolar compound in this study.
Abstract: Vine leaves are consumed in many countries but little attention is paid to the residues left on them after the application of pesticides that help prevent pests and protect the grapes, the economically important target. Therefore, it is of outmost importance to study the dissipation of the pesticides applied to this crop to protect the consumers th...
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Bioinsecticidal Activity of Eucalyptol and 1R-Alpha-Pinene Rich Acetonic Oils of Eucalyptus saligna on Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Timothy Omara,
Fredrick Kizza Kateeba,
Bashir Musau,
Erisa Kigenyi,
Eddie Adupa,
Sarah Kagoya
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2018
Pages:
153-160
Received:
10 November 2018
Accepted:
9 December 2018
Published:
22 January 2019
Abstract: Exploration of plants, animals, microbes and their products for green pesticides have been the mainstay of modern agriculturalists. Plant bioactive oils have been utilized in formulation of green pesticides, which are less toxic, least deleterious on biocontrol agents, readily biodegraded and have no or few ecological effects as compared to synthetic equivalents. This study evaluated the bioinsecticidal activity of Eucalyptol and 1R-Alpha-Pinene rich acetonic essential oils of dry leaves of the Sydney Blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna Smith) on common granivorous maize weevil. Fresh leaves of Eucalyptus saligna were harvested and the essential oils extracted from its dry powder by hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by tandem GC/MS. Twelve components were identified, and the main components were Eucalyptol (34.36%) and 1R-alpha pinene (17.92%). Acetonic essential oils of 2µL, 4µL, 6µL and 8µL in 1ml acetone were used in contact toxicity, fumigant and repellent bioassays. In contact toxicity, 8µL/ml oil exerted a rapid effect on the weevils giving 100% mortality in the first day of exposure; 6µL/ml achieved 100% mortality 96 hours after treatment. Both fumigant and repellent activities showed a gradual increase in insect mortality and repellency with time of exposure as the concentrations of the essential oils were increased; 100% repellency was achieved at 8µL in the second hour and this remained constant with time. The lowest repellency of 20% was obtained at 2µL. In fumigant toxicity, the highest mortality was 70% recorded at 8µL on the third day of exposure. The results indicated that the acetonic essential oil of dry Eucalyptol and 1R-Alpha-Pinene rich Eucalyptus saligna leaves can be developed into a bioinsecticide for controlling maize weevil as a repellent, toxicant and fumigant candidate.
Abstract: Exploration of plants, animals, microbes and their products for green pesticides have been the mainstay of modern agriculturalists. Plant bioactive oils have been utilized in formulation of green pesticides, which are less toxic, least deleterious on biocontrol agents, readily biodegraded and have no or few ecological effects as compared to synthet...
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