Spatial analysis of leachate penetration at Lemna dumpsite, Calabar: Implications for sustainable waste management in Cross River State.

This study rigorously investigated the spatial analysis of leachate penetration at Lemna dumpsite, located in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Purposeful soil sampling, performed at specific intervals (5 m, 25 m, and 50 m) along the Electrical Resistivity profile line within the dumpsite, was augmented by water sample collection from five boreholes near Lemna dumpsite. Utilizing Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Vertical Electric Sounding (VES) survey techniques, resistivity data were systematically gathered to comprehensively analyze the Leachate Penetration in the Lemna dumpsite. Laboratory analysis of soil and borehole water quality focused on Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene (BTEX), with paired sample t-tests applied for statistical scrutiny. Analyzing the ERT and VES data employed sophisticated techniques embedded in Resistivity Two Dimension Invasion software and Advanced Geosciences Incorporation Earth Imager software. Substantial disparities (p < 0.05) emerged in the paired sample t-tests for BTEX in soil compared to National Environmental Standard Regulation and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) limits. Similarly, BTEX in borehole water displayed significant differences (p < 0.05) when compared to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, raising alarming concerns about the safety and portability of groundwater in the area. The examination of dumpsite leachate penetration revealed a resistivity anomaly of 8.01 Ωm and an inverse depth of 12.4 m, underscoring profound environmental implications and necessitating immediate remediation efforts. Additionally, Vulnerability and Aquifer Protective Capacity Index (VES) results, with a rating of <0.1, indicated severely compromised aquifer protective capacity, emphasizing the vulnerability of groundwater resources to further contamination. Our study advocates for strategic management, remediation, and monitoring measures to prevent contamination and safeguard water quality in the region.

Community informatics for sustainable management of pandemics in developing countries: A case study of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Although a significant number of the human population in developing countries live in urban communities, majority of the population lives in rural areas. Developing countries, especially in their rural areas, suffer from a lack of healthcare facilities, poverty and high rate of illiteracy. Motivated by the huge socio-economic gap between the developed and the developing worlds, there have been several studies into the COVID-19 pandemic management in developing countries. However, none of these research works emphasised the health cultural beliefs of any developing economy as a basis for their recommendations. Specifically, this paper discusses the pandemic situation in Nigeria with emphasis on the prevalent health cultural beliefs of the citizens of the country, especially those living in rural communities. This is important because each local community defines a socio-ecological cluster of people who are more tightly knitted together in terms of language, relationship, culture, religion, social amenities, business, leadership and so on. As such, there is a need to prepare the socio-ecological units to be more resistant to the spread of the virus; a weaker social-ecological unit will entail a higher risk of community transmissions. With respect to the peculiarity of each local community, this paper recommends strategies for controlling and managing the pandemic in Nigeria using community informatics or grass-root computing. We argue that community informatics can empower and support policy makers and governments of developing countries such as Nigeria in combating and effectively managing a pandemic.

Natural weathering in dry disposed ash dump: Insight from chemical, mineralogical and geochemical analysis of fresh and unsaturated drilled cores.

Some existing alternative applications of coal fly ash such as cement manufacturing; road construction; landfill; and concrete and waste stabilisation use fresh ash directly collected from coal-fired power generating stations. Thus, if the rate of usage continues, the demand for fresh ash for various applications will exceed supply and use of weathered dry disposed ash will become necessary alternative. As a result it's imperative to understand the chemistry and pH behaviour of some metals inherent in dry disposed fly ash. The bulk chemical composition as determined by XRF analysis showed that SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 were the major oxides in fresh ash and unsaturated weathered ashes. The unsaturated weathered ashes are relatively depleted in CaO, Fe2O3, TiO2, SiO2, Na2O and P2O5 due to dissolution and hydrolysis caused by chemical interaction with ingressing CO2 from the atmosphere and infiltrating rain water. Observed accumulations of Fe2O3, TiO2, CaO, K2O, Na2O and SO3 and Zn, Zr, Sr, Pb, Ni, Cr and Co in the lower layers indicate progressive downward movement through the ash dump though at a slow rate. The bulk mineralogy of unsaturated weathered dry disposed ash, as determined by XRD analysis, revealed quartz and mullite as the major crystalline phases; while anorthite, hematite, enstatite, lime, calcite, and mica were present as minor mineral phases. Pore water chemistry revealed a low concentration of readily soluble metals in unsaturated weathered ashes in comparison with fresh ash, which shows high leachability. This suggests that over time the precipitation of transient minor secondary mineral phases; such as calcite and mica might retard residual metal release from unsaturated weathered ash. Chloride and sulphate species of the water soluble extracts of weathered ash are at equilibrium with Na+ and K+; these demonstrate progressive leaching over time and become supersaturated at the base of unsaturated weathered ash. This suggests that the ash dump does not encapsulate the salt or act as a sustainable salt sink due to over time reduction in pore water pH. The leaching behaviours of Ca, Mg, Na+, K+, Se, Cr and Sr are controlled by the pH of the leachant in both fresh and unsaturated weathered ash. Other trace metals like As, Mo and Pb showed amphoteric behaviour with respect to the pH of the leachant. The precipitation of minor quantities of secondary mineral phases in the unsaturated weathered ash has significant effects on the acid susceptibility and leaching patterns of chemical species in comparison with fresh ash. The unsaturated weathered ash had lower buffering capacity at neutral pH (7.94-8.00) compared to fresh (unweathered) ash. This may be due to the initial high leaching/flushing of soluble basic buffering constituents from fly ash after disposal. The overall results of the acid susceptibility tests suggest that both fresh ash and unsaturated weathered ash would release a large percentage of their chemical species when in contact with slightly acidified rain. Proper management of ash dumps is therefore essential to safeguard the environmental risks of water percolation in different fly ashes behaviour.

Awareness of information, expectations and experiences among women for obstetric sonography in a south east Nigeria population.

BACKGROUND: The role of obstetric sonography in the development of diagnostic ultrasound technology has remained invaluable in obstetric and gynaecological investigation. OBJECTIVES: This work investigated the awareness of information, expectations and experiences of pregnant women coming for obstetric sonography. METHODS: One hundred and ten (110) pregnant women in Anambra State of Nigeria were prospectively studied during prenatal ultrasound scan. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied population was 30.5 +/- 14.5 years. Majority (85%) of the subjects were already aware of obstetric ultrasound scan. Most of the subjects were between the ages of 26-35. 73% got their information from antenatal centre. Over 20% were interested in the lies and presentation of their foetus. During the scan, about 69% subjects interested with the sonographers, and more than half of the population (51%) saw their babies. CONCLUSION: The role of prenatal a-sonography in obstetric care should be promoted by creating awareness campaign in antenatal centres, and initiating mother/sonographers interaction are necessary.

Development and survival of free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and goats on pasture in the Nigerian derived savanna.

Four grass plots were sequentially contaminated with goat faeces containing known numbers of unembryonated eggs of predominantly Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp. between October 1982 and April 1983. Four other plots were similarly contaminated with sheep faeces between February and May 1987. An additional plot was repeatedly contaminated with sheep faeces from February to April 1987. Populations of free-living stages in faeces and of infective larvae (L3) in the herbage were subsequently monitored until the end of April and June of 1983 and 1987 respectively. During February and May 1987 two control cultures of sheep faeces were incubated in the laboratory at 25 degrees C-30 degrees C and at a constant temperature of 50 degrees C and the free-living development was also monitored. L3 developed very readily in the faeces cultured at 25 degrees C-30 degrees C and in those spread on a grass plot in October, at the end of the wet season, but developed less on the plot contaminated in May at the start of the wet season. Worm eggs in faeces deposited on plots during the hot dry season (December to April) or incubated at 50 degrees C died and disintegrated after 24-48 h exposure to the high environmental temperatures. The results indicate that it is unlikely that gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and goats can develop or survive on open pasture during the dry season in the Nigerian derived savanna zone.