ABSTRACT
The study investigates the ability of selected tree species to absorb heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Zn) from polluted soils. Seedlings of Adansonia digitata (P1), Jatropha curcas (P2), and Hildegardia barteri (P3) were transplanted into polythene pots with soils from a dumpsite (T1), highway (T2), industrial area (T3), and farmland (T4), forming a 3x4 factorial experiment replicated five times in a Completely Randomized Block Design. Pre-sowing analysis showed T1 and T2 had the highest Pb and Zn concentrations, T3 had the highest Ni, and T4 had the lowest heavy metal concentrations. After 12 weeks, heavy metal concentrations decreased in all soils. P1 concentrated metals in the root, P2 in the shoot, and P3 in various plant parts, with significant differences between species. P2 was identified as an effective phytoextractor for Pb and Zn (TF > 1), and P3 for Ni. All species showed potential for phytostabilization. The study concludes that these species are viable options for phytoremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soils.
The study examines the effectiveness of indigenous tree species in phytoremediation, highlighting the importance of using species adapted to local ecosystems for successful land restoration.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The internship period is a peculiar time in a doctor's career, and some have described it as a "nuisance year" during which the junior doctor assumes many roles at the same time. Junior doctors especially house officers are faced with many unique challenges; this is even more pronounced in poor resource settings like Nigeria. This study aimed to unravel and improve understanding of the challenges faced by medical and dental interns in Nigeria. Methodology: A nine-member House officers Research and Statistics Committee (HRSC) was immediately set up to include three senior colleagues - Senior Registrars and Registrar. To carry out her responsibility efficiently the committee created the House Officers Research Collaboration Network (HRCN), a 103- member team comprising medical and dental interns from across Nigeria under a collaborative - Medical INternship Training in Nigeria (MINTING) study. Results: Out of a total of the 103 House Officers Research Collaboration Network, 80 of them participated in this survey giving a 78% response rate. Ten of the intern Collaborators had additional qualification and seven of them had BSc as an initial degree. About 66 % of the Collaborators have never authored any publication. Of the 27 that have published an article; three collaborators are said to have published 15, 13, 16 articles respectively. Male collaborators where more likely to have published at least one article in the past. Thirty one of the 80 Collaborators have never been in a research collaborative group prior to this MINTING collaborative. Conclusion: This commentary is set out to describe in detail Nigerian House Officers initiative in terms of the structure, functions, operational modalities, and to investigate the demographics of the HRCN collaborators which showed that over two third of collaborators have never authored any publication and about a third of them have never been involved in collaborative research. We also believe the findings will serve as policy guide and benchmark in training the critical medical health force.