Department of Environmental Management & Toxicology

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https://repository.lcu.edu.ng/handle/123456789/5
Environmental Management & Toxicology

Welcome to the Department of Environmental Management & Toxicology

Our department is dedicated to studying the intricate relationship between the environment and toxic substances. We explore the impact of pollutants, chemicals, and hazardous materials on ecosystems, human health, and wildlife.

Our Mission

Our mission is to promote sustainable environmental practices, mitigate toxic risks, and foster a healthier planet for current and future generations.

Areas of Focus

  • Environmental Risk Assessment
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Chemical Management
  • Waste Management
  • Environmental Policy

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Browsing Department of Environmental Management & Toxicology by Title

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Assessment of Heavy Metals and Organic Compounds in Water and Leachate from Aba- Eku Municipal Solid Waste Site in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
    (Lead City University, 2023-12) Morolake Oluwatoyosi AFOLABI
    Increase in waste generation, resulting from population growth, has led to a burden on global health. Physico-chemical, organic analysis, and leachate pollution index analysis were conducted on the water samples from Aba Eku dumpsite (latitudes 3°35'N and 4°10'N and longitudes 7°2'E and 7°40'E.). Relationships among various parameters were also analysed using correlation coefficients (r) and significance levels (p values). Water samples revealed high concentrations of physico-chemical parameters, heavy metals, also Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and phthalate esters were present. Notably, the dumpsite exhibited highest concentration of naphthalene among all the PAHs. These findings indicate that the landfill site is polluted with PAH and phthalate compounds. Significant relationships among parameters were observed, including a strong negative correlation between pH and both BOD (r = -0.932) and dissolved oxygen (r = -0.912). Total dissolved solids showed significant positive associations with chloride (r = 0.977, p < 0.05), total hardness (r = 0.889), sulphate (r = 0.955, p < 0.05), and phosphate (r = 0.836). BOD exhibited a strong positive correlation with dissolved oxygen (r = 0.984, p < 0.05) and NO-3 (r = 0.742), while chloride demonstrated significant positive correlations with total hardness (r = 0.942), sulphate (r = 0.994, p < 0.01), and phosphate (r =0.796). Significant differences (P < 0.001) were found between leachate and 300m location, leachate and 600m location, as well as leachate and the river location. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were detected among other locations. Leachate pollution index (LPI) values of water samples around the dumpsite ranged from 5.558 to 7.683, indicating slight contamination from heavy metals. The pollution from the landfill site, and surface runoff, poses a significant risk to quality of both underground water and river. Urgent remediation, waste management strategies should be implemented to mitigate the pollution. Keywords: Leachates, Heavy Metals, Leachate Pollution Index, Physicochemical Parameters. Word Count: 300
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    Assessment of Heavy Metals and Organic Pollutants in Soil and Plants from Aba-Eku Municipal Dumpsite in Ibadan, Oyo State
    (Lead City University, 2023-12) Ifeoluwa Mayowa MAKINDE
    Indiscriminate dumping of waste releases toxic pollutants which generate significantenvironmental pollution and hazard. This research work investigated the levels of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalate esters (PAEs) in soil andplants from Aba-Eku Municipal Dumpsite in Ibadan, Oyo State. Soil samples were collected at four locations around the dumpsite and three edible vegetables namely water leaf (Talinum triangulare), jute leaf (Corchorus olitorius) and scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) were randomly collected on the dumpsite. Five selected heavy metals namely Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Extraction and determination of PAHs and PAEs was done using USEPA 8270c and 8061A standard methods. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients. Results showed that the average concentration of heavy metals observed in soil samples were 1.01, 0.03, 0.12, 0.48 and 4.31mg/kg, for Cu, Cd, Pb, Mn and Fe respectively; while the contamination factor in decreasing order ranked iron>copper>manganese> cadmium>lead. Highest accumulation of heavy metals was observed in water leaf followed by jute mallow and then scent leaf. The average concentration of PAHs in the soil samples were naphthalene 36.15 mg/kg, acenaphthylene 33.18 mg/kg, acenaphthene 8.02 mg/kg, phenanthrene 3.94 mg/kg, fluorene 3.48mg/kg, and anthracene 1.14 mg/kg. The vegetable samples in order of total accumulated PAHs ranked scent leaf > water leaf > jute mallow. The PAHs showed strong positive correlation and are significantly different from one another (p<0.05). Only dipropyl phthalate and diethylphthalate were observed in the soil samples with average concentration of 3.80 and 3.74mg/kg respectively. Scent leaf accumulated more PAEs than jute mallow while water leaf showed no tolerance to the phthalate esters. Improper waste management at the dumpsite obviously poses a pollution risk to scavengers and local population’s health. Keywords: Heavy metal, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate esters (PAEs), Soil, Plant Word Count: 298
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    Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element in the Blood of Patients with Chronic Illnesses Attending University College Hospital Ibadan, Oyo State
    (Lead City University, 2023-12) Adedunni Oluwabimpe ADEGOKE
    Heavy metals are environmental pollutants that cause serious ill health which may be masked by other acute or chronic illnesses but exacerbating their effects in the patients. This study assessed the level of potentially toxic elements in the blood of Patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses attending University College Hospital (UCH), lbadan. The participants were given structured questionnaire after which their blood samples were collected from the various phlebotomy units of UCH. Blood samples were collected by venous puncture using pyrogen-free sterile disposal syringes and put in ethylene-diamine tetra acetic acid bottles. Five heavy metals selected for the study; Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni) and Arsenic (As), were digested and analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Data obtained were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 23.0 Version. Results showed that the average concentration of the metals were 16.03, 7.33, 1.15, 15.0 and 2.31 µg/dl for Cd, Pb, Hg, Ni and As respectively in decreasing order of abundance ranked Cd > Ni >Pb > As > Hg. The levels of these metals were higher than the acceptable level of metals recommended, expect for Arsenic which is within the permissible level by World Health Organization (WHO). Total heavy metals in the blood sample ranged from people diagnosed with Liver disease>Hypertension/Diabetes>Kidney diseases>Cancer>Infertility. The participants affirmed that they work and live in an area with high concentration of heavy metal are 48.8%. This study shows that there is high concentration of the selected heavy metals in the blood of the patients and the adverse effects of heavy metals in health may be contributing to the morbidity of the diseases. Keywords: Disease, Heavy metals, Environmental Pollutants, Accumulation Word Count: 280
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    Gender Differentials and Climate Change Perceptions on Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) Use and Trade in Ago-Owu Forest, Osun State
    (Lead City University, 2023-12) Bolatito Kehinde OGUNDELE
    NTFPs are increasingly touted as having significant value in the tropical area as the political economics of forest resources shifts globally. This study investigated the gender differentials in the use and trade of NTFPs in three selected markets around Ago-Owu forest namely Araromi market Omu, Total market Apomu and Oba Olatunde Falabi market Ikire. It was also aimed at investigating the contribution and impact of NTFPs to the livelihoods of local traders in Ago-owu forest and how climate change has affected the availability of the products to the traders. From the three selected markets, a hundred and one traders who agreed to be interviewed were used as respondents in the study. The survey was done using a semi structured questionnaire eliciting information on demographics, perceptions on NTFPs, gender differentials and perceived effect of climate change. Findings indicated that common NTFPs available in Ago-owu include Garden egg (Solanum macrocarpon), Bologi (Solanecio biafrae), Field pumpkin (Curcubita pepo), Fire wood (Crassocephalum crepidoides), Water leaf (Talinum triangulare), African mango (Irvingia gabonensis), Avocado (Persea Americana), Jute leaf (Corchorus spp), Wrapping leaves (Thaumatococcus danielli), Walnut (Juglans spp), Locust bean (Parkia biglobosa), Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), Okro (Abelmoschus esculentus), Water yam (Dioscorea alata), Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium), Plantain (Musa acuminate), Cocoa (Theobroma cacao), Kolanut (Cola acuminate), Bitter yam (Dioscorea dumetorum), Bitter Kola (Garcinia kola), Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulate) and Snail (Gastropoda spp). The study established the significance of NTFPs to traders’ livelihood as it formed at least 85 % of their income. Furthermore, respondents perceived extreme rainfall to be a strong agent of climate change and has caused crop destruction. Male traders were more inclined to harvest activities while women were more prominent in gathering, processing and transporting activities. Keywords: Forest, NTFPs, Market, Livelihood, Climate Change Word Count: 283
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    Insecurity Outcomes of Hotel Development and Operations in Ibadan, Nigeria
    (Lead City University, 2022-12) Adeola Francisca OLADELE
    This study examines insecurity outcomes of hotel development and operations in Ibadan, Nigeria. It assessed the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, the profile of selected hotels, the nature of security in the selected communities, the effects of insecurity in the study area (on hotels and host communities) and it also examined the factors that influence the feeling of insecurity. Data was obtained from primary source through the distribution of questionnaire to residents of the host communities of the hotels and there management staff. The hotels under study were selected by identifying the major Local Government Areas in Ibadan. The selected hotels are from five Local Government Area with Ibadan metropolis namely Ibadan North, Ibadan North West, Ibadan North East, Ibadan South West and Ibadan South East. Simple random sampling without replacement was used to select the hotels for the study and one hotel was selected from each of the five Local Government Areas. Using systematic sampling technique, one out of every 10 residential buildings was sampled and a total of 207 questionnaire were administered to the residents while a total of 10 were administered on the management (2 staff per hotel). Findings of this study shows that insecurity is a grave cause of concern in the development and operations of hotels in Ibadan, Nigeria as it reduces guest patronage, low guest satisfaction with resultant employee turnover which prevent the achievement of organisational goals and in some cases the ultimate closure of the hotels. The study also revealed the outcome of insecurity on the study communities and they include lack of employment, lack of adequate public amenities due to hindered development, low standard of living within community and increase in crimes and social vices. Conclusively, this study shows that there is a significant effect of insecurity on hotel operation and development in the study area and therefore this study recommends that there should be constant police patrol within Ibadan and environs, there should be adequate punishment for law offenders within the communities, and government should provide adequate public infrastructure and amenities amongst others. Keywords: Operation, Development, Hotel, Insecurity, Area, Community. Word Count: 351
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    Mercury Contamination Risk Assessment in Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Sites in Uke and Environs, Nasarawa State
    (Lead City University, 2023-12) Henry Olapade DAVIES
    The main focus of this research was to investigate the environmental effects of the use of mercury, a potent neurotoxicant, by artisanal miners processing gold at Uke mining sites in Nassarawa State. The research adopted multidisciplinary research approach involving analytical, quantitative and geospatial methods. The samples analyzed for both seasons includes, 10 fish samples,39 water samples, 24 plants samples, 20 soil (wastes) tailing samples,20 agricultural soil samples and 3 river sediments. The mercury concentration was measured using Direct Mercury Analyser (DMA80) and USEPA 7473 standard method. Moreover, remote sensing technique was adopted to process satellite imageries to extract NDVI values and Land use cover for the area. Results showed concentrations of mercury in fish within WHO allowable human consumption limit of 0.5 mg/kg, with bioaccumulation order within the organs as follows; gills>liver>intestine >muscle>bone. The values in soil ranges from 0.0162 to 0.387 mg/kg in wet season while the dry season ranges from 0.025 to 4.125 mg/kg which is above the crustal average of 0.003 mg/kg. The tailings have 0.003 to 0.142 mg/kg in dry season while 0.011 to 0.314mg/kg in the wet season which is above expected limit. Plants mercury concentration confirmed that Rice, Pepper and Sweet Potato are above the allowable range of 0.03-0.1mg/kg and should be a concern for food safety in the area. The mercury in river Uke is above WHO threshold of 0.002 mg/kg. The result indicates positive correlation with low NDVI values and stressed vegetation. The Geoaccumulation Index and Contamination Factor Values, confirmed low contamination with the soil tailings as a point sou. This work developed a GIS-based model using the weighted method in ARCGIS to help predict mercury migration and produce pollution vulnerability map for risk management. Keywords: Gold, Mercury, Remote Sensing, Tailings, Fish Word count: 299