ABSTRACT
Generally, in Nigeria dumpsites are open and elevate the pollution by increasing the total environment contamination level. This affects not only the site of dumpsites but also the surrounding buildings and area. In the present work, indoor radon activity concentration is tested inside some buildings in the vicinity of dumpsites in Lagos, Nigeria. A passive technique with CR-39 detectors is used. Different buildings around different eight dumpsites were chosen. Radon concentration had ranged from 16.00 ± 3 to 931.00 ± 186 Bqm-3 in the dumpsites. With Mean concentrations range from 120 ± 24 at OKE-ODO to 334 ± 67, at Solus-4 respectively. The present results explain that 63% of the radon activity concentration in indoor air around the selected dumpsites at Lagos city in Nigeria is below the allowed limit from ICRP 200 Bq m-3 while 37% is more than this limit. Based on the measured radon concentration, the annual effective dose and cancer risk are evaluated. The range of ELC is from 242 to 14086 with mean value 3114 ± 1111.
Subject(s)
Air Pollutants, Radioactive/toxicity , Lung Neoplasms/etiology , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/etiology , Radon/toxicity , Humans , NigeriaABSTRACT
Serial anthropometry and assay of plasma iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were done on 72 babies with birth asphyxia during the first six months of life to assess the pattern of their physical growth and trace element status, respectively. Eighty-seven non-asphyxiated babies served as controls. The mothers of babies in both groups also had their plasma assayed for Fe, Zn and Cu immediately following delivery. Asphyxiated babies were lighter than non-asphyxiated controls during the first two months of life and they also had smaller mean occipito-frontal circumference at birth. While Fe, Zn and Cu status was generally comparable in both groups, the newborn Cu concentrations were very low compared with earlier reports. No baby showed any overt signs of trace element deficiency.
Subject(s)
Asphyxia Neonatorum/complications , Breast Feeding/adverse effects , Copper/blood , Growth Disorders/diagnosis , Growth Disorders/etiology , Infant Nutrition Disorders/diagnosis , Infant Nutrition Disorders/etiology , Iron/blood , Nutritional Status , Trace Elements/blood , Zinc/blood , Apgar Score , Asphyxia Neonatorum/diagnosis , Birth Weight , Case-Control Studies , Cephalometry , Copper/deficiency , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Growth Disorders/blood , Growth Disorders/epidemiology , Hospitals, University , Humans , Infant , Infant Nutrition Disorders/blood , Infant Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Infant, Newborn , Iron Deficiencies , Male , Nigeria/epidemiology , Trace Elements/deficiency , Zinc/deficiencyABSTRACT
Three hundred and sixty nine Nigerian neonates and 484 Nigerian children aged 1 month to 14 years were examined for the presence of Mongolian spots. The spots were observed in 381 children (189 boys and 192 girls) with an overall incidence of 44.7% regardless of sex or age. The colour of the Mongolian spots varied from pale blue to grayish blue. The most frequently involved sites were the gluteal, sacrococcygeal and lumbar areas respectively. In our study, Mongolian spots were present in 74.8% of neonates and in 13.6% of pre-school children. There was a rapid disappearance in the incidence of Mongolian spots with advancing age. No case of Mongolian spot was recorded in children aged 6 years and above. Primipara whose children have Mongolian spots should be reassured that the spots are harmless and would usually disappear in early childhood. Physicians should however be alert to marks resulting from child abuse as these could mimic the spots.
