Health Risk Assessment

The study focused on ear piercing behaviour and self-esteem among male university students in Nigeria. Two research questions were raised and two null hypotheses were formulated in the study. A mixed-methods design was adopted in the study. It combines qualitative and quantitative research approaches to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem. The sample size used for this study is 600 participants in the study area. A purposive sampling technique was used in the study. Participants are selected based on specific criteria. A self-structured instrument titled "Ear Piercing Behaviour and Self-esteem Questionnaire-EPBSQ" and interviews were used as the instrument to collect data from participants. The researcher administered a total of 600 questionnaires to randomly selected participants and 13 participants were interviewed in the study area. Mean scores, standard deviation and Pearson Product Moment Statistics was used to analyse the data at 0.05 level of significance while Thematic analysis was adopted for the interpretation of responses. The study concluded that reducing ear piercing behaviour among male university students in Nigeria is a sign of masking and requires a multifaceted approach: health education to highlight risks, alternative self-expression outlets, regulatory measures, culturally sensitive engagement, and psychological interventions to boost self-esteem. There is an urgent need to tailor interventions to local cultural and social dynamics.

Preliminary studies with homeless youth have found surprisingly pervasive social media use and suggest that youth's online interactions may be associated with their HIV-related risk and protective behaviors. As homeless youth are transient and difficult to engage in place-based services, social media may represent a novel venue for intervention. A critical 1st step in intervention development is gaining greater understanding of how homeless youth use social media, especially as it relates to who they connect to and around what topics. Given the salience of social networking sites in the lives of these otherwise difficult-to-reach adolescents, and their potential to disseminate prevention interventions, this study assessed associations between online social networking technology use and HIV risk behaviors among homeless youth in Los Angeles, California. Homeless youth ages 13 through 24 (N = 1,046) were recruited through 3 drop-in centers and surveyed about their social media use and selfreported HIV-related risk behaviors. Results suggest that social media use is widely prevalent among this population, and the content of these online interactions is associated with whether youth engage in risk or protective behaviors. Implications for interventions and further research are discussed.

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Lead contamination from mining activities poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating effective remediation strategies. This study evaluates the lead tolerance and reduction capabilities of five bacterial isolates-Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain A3, Bacillus paraflexus strain rnr13, Providentia stuartii strain MF1, Pantoea agglomerans, and Commamonas thioxydans strain MA1, sourced from lead-contaminated effluents in Ikwo L.G.A, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Effluent samples were collected from two mine sites and a discharge point, and bacterial tolerance to lead concentrations (100-300 mg/L) was assessed using Luria Bertani broth. Lead reduction was investigated under varying pH (2.5 and 5.2) and temperature (30°C, 37°C, and 45°C) conditions, with residual lead quantified via a colorimetric Dithizone method. Results revealed that P. aeruginosa A3, B. paraflexus rnr13, and P. stuartii MF1 exhibited increased growth with higher lead concentrations and time, while P. agglomerans and C. thioxydans MA1 showed reduced tolerance. Lead reduction was significantly enhanced at pH 5.2 and 45°C, with P. aeruginosa A3 and B. paraflexus rnr13 demonstrating superior reduction capacities. Statistical analysis using ANOVA confirmed the significant influence of pH and temperature on lead reduction (p < 0.05). These findings underscore the potential of indigenous lead-tolerant bacteria for bioremediation of contaminated mine effluents, advocating for their use in consortium-based strategies to mitigate heavy metal pollution under optimized environmental conditions.

This paper summarises and extends the work developed over the last decade by the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) for acute health risk assessment of agricultural pesticides. The general considerations in setting of acute reference doses (ARfDs) in a step-wise process, as well as specific considerations and guidance regarding selected toxicological endpoints are described in detail. The endpoints selected are based on the practical experience with agricultural pesticides by the JMPR and are not a comprehensive listing of all possible relevant endpoints. Haematotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, liver and kidney toxicity, endocrine effects as well as developmental effects are taken into account as acute toxic alerts, relevant for the consideration of ARfDs for pesticides. The general biological background and the data available through standard toxicological testing for regulatory purposes, interpretation of the data, conclusions and recommendations for future improvements are described for each relevant endpoint. The paper also considers a single dose study protocol. This type of study is not intended to be included in routine toxicological testing for regulatory purposes, but rather to guide further testing when the current database indicates the necessity for an ARfD but does not allow a reliable derivation of the value.

Flourishing private economy caused increasing heavy metal damages. • Leafy and rootstock vegetables posed higher hazards. • Cr has the biggest non-carcinogenesis effect while Cd generates the greatest cancer risk. • Negative impacts on humans and the environment may cause additional costs not included in sales expenditures.

تمت دراسة 74 نموذجاً من منطقة القاطع الصناعي في ناحية القيارة جنوبي الموصل/شمالي العراق. شملت 26 نموذجاً من التربة، و27 نموذجاً من اصناف مختلفة من النباتات والاشجار، مع 14 نموذجاً من المياه شملت: 4 نماذج من نهر دجلة و9 نماذج من المياه الجوفية ونموذجاً واحداً من العين الكبريتية، فضلاً عن 5 نماذج من القير الطبيعي ونموذجين من النفط.
أُجريت التحاليل الكيميائية والفيزيائية والمعدنية لهذه النماذج باستخدام جهاز ICP-MS
وGC-MS وXRD لغرض اجراء التقييم الجيوكيميائي البيئي للترب والنبات والمياه السطحية والجوفية. تبين أن معدل الاكاسيد الرئيسة في التربة (Al2O3 وCaO وFe2O3 وK2O وMgO وNa2O وP2O5 وSO3 وTiO2 وSiO2 وL.O.I.) قد بلغت (3.76% و17.55% و7.83% و0.37% و3.51% و0.14% و0.13% و5.28% و0.09% و37.80% و19.80%) على التوالي. اما معدلات تراكيز العناصر الاثرية (As وCd وCo وCr وCu وHg وMn وMo وNi وPb وSb وSe وV وZn) فبلغت (6.40 و0.21 و18.69 و101.47 و28.91 و0.03 و542.6 و0.98 و159.1 و9.94 و0.21 و0.20 و58.0 و60.7 ppm) على التوالي. وتم مقارنة تراكيز العناصر الثانوية بالقيم العالمية للقشرة الأرضية والترب العالمية واظهر البعض منها ارتفاعاً نتيجة المصادر الطبيعية (تكوين الفتحة وانجانة) والارتباطات المعدنية المختلفة فضلاً عن المصادر البشرية، فيما انخفض الجزء الاخر.
    تدرج محتوى المادة العضوية فيها من منخفض في بعض المناطق الى عالٍ جداً في مناطق أخرى بسبب قربها من مواقع العمليات النفطية، اما التوصيلية الكهربائية للتربة فتميزت بملوحتها القليلة الى المتوسطة. وبينت قيم الدالة الحامضية ان التربة هي قاعدية قلوية بسبب المعادن الكاربوناتية والجبسية فضلاً عن تأثير معدن الالبايت، مما أسهم في تقليل حركة العناصر الثقيلة في التربة.
    بلغ مجموع نسب المحتوى المعدني في التربة لكل من المعادن الكاربوناتية والمتبخرات 49.75% والمعادن الفتاتية 39.26% والمعادن الطينية 10.94%. وقد اظهرت هذه المعادن توزيعاً جغرافياً منتظماً يتبع تركيبية وطبوغرافية المنطقة وأنظمة التصريف السطحية والمكاشف الصخرية. إذ يزداد المحتوى المعدني الكاربوناتي والمتبخرات وسط طية القيارة ويقل باتجاه جناحي الطية والسهل الفيضي في حين تزداد المعادن الفتاتية والطينية.
    إن نسب محتوى الترب من المواد الهيدروكاربونية النفطية (aliphatic وCyclic وAromatic) كانت 96.66% و1.99% و1.43% على التوالي، اذ كانت الهيدروكاربونات الاليفاتية اعلى في الجزء الشمالي الغربي وقرب وادي العين البيضاء نتيجة الانسكابات النفطية فيما كانت نسب الاروماتية والحلقية اعلى قرب العيون القيرية ومواقع العمليات النفطية. بينما بلغت نسب محتوى المواد الهيدروكاربونية من المكونات الاليفاتية والاروماتية والحلقية في المياه 68.44% و11.57% و19.99% على التوالي. وكانت المكونات الاليفاتية والصمغيات والدهون في المياه اقل من التربة والاروماتية والحلقية والمجاميع القطبية والذائبة أكبر. إن عمليات معالجة النفط من الغاز في محطات عزل الغاز قللت من المحتوى الاليفاتي والاروماتي في النفط ويتم اطلاقه الى الجو ثم الى التربة ولذلك زاد من محتواها من المركبات الحلقية. إن نسبة الفناديوم والنيكل كانت عالية ومتقاربة في النماذج النفطية ونموذج القير (T.AB2) الناتج عن الانسكابات النفطية، في حين كانت متقاربة في النماذج القيرية (T.SW5, T.TP, T.SW3) مما يدل على أن مصدرها واحد.
    إن المركبات الاليفاتية المستخلصة من المواد الهيدروكاربونية كانت عالية في الجزء الشمالي الغربي من منطقة الدراسة في حين كانت المركبات الاروماتية والحلقية تزداد قرب العين الكبريتية ومكبات المناطق الصناعية كمحطة عزل الغاز عن النفط ومحطة توليد الكهرباء الغازية. وقد بلغ معدل الحوامض الكاربوكسيلية الناتجة عن تحطم المواد الهيدروكاربونية في التربة نسبة عالية تصل الى 96.25% بسبب درجة الحرارة العالية نسبياً وقلوية التربة والمحتوى الطيني والفعاليات الحياتية واستخدام السماد العضوي وأنها تزداد باتجاه الجنوب الشرقي.
    اظهرت نتاىج تحليل النباتات والأشجار أن معدل المكونات الغذائية الاساسية (Ca وK وMg وNa وP وS) كانت (3.22% و2.14% و0.553% و0.195% و0.235% و0.78%) على التوالي. وأن تراكيز العناصر الثقيلة في النباتات والاشجار (As وCd وCo وCr وCu وHg وMn وMo وNi وPb وSb وSe وV وZn) كانت (1.28 و0.094 و3.65 و2.75 و45.21 و11.74و0.064 و198.16 و1.57 و63.83 و2.57 و0.06 و0.106 و10.36 و48.56 ppm) على التوالي.
    كان محتوى للعناصر الغذائية الرئيسة الاتية (Ca وMg وS وK) في النباتات والاشجار اعلى من الحد الطبيعي، فيما انخفض Na. اما العناصر الثقيلة (As وCo وCr وHg وMn وMo وNi وPb وSb وSe وV) كانت على العموم اعلى من الحدود الطبيعية، فيما انخفضت العناصر الثقيلة
(Zn وCu وCd) عن الحدود الطبيعية.
    اظهرت نتائج تحليل مياه نهر دجلة في أن معدل الخصائص الفيزيائية والفيزوكيميائية من الكمية الكلية للاملاح الذائبة والتوصيلية الكهربائية ودرجة الحرارة والعكورة فضلا عن الدالة الحامضية القيم
(281.75 mg/l و443.25 µS/cm و23.9 Co و4.0 NTU و8.28) على التوالي. أما المكونات الكيميائية الرئيسة من العناصر والاكاسيد (Ca وMgوNaو K وHCO3 وSO4و Clو NO3) بلغت معدلاتها (58.3 و16.6 و16.1 و2.2 و137.5 و69.7 و16.4 و0.6 mg/l) على التوالي، ومعدل تركيز العناصر الثقيلة (As وCd وCo وCr وCu وMn وMo وNi وPb وSb وSe وV وZn وF) بلغ (1.54 و0.01 و0.003 و0.53 و0.48 و0.36 و3.12 و2.78 و0.12 و0.7 و0.36 و2.52 و4.05 و0.14 ppb) على التوالي.
      أظهرت نتائج تحليل المياه الجوفية والعين الكبريتية أن معدل الدالة الحامضية وكمية الاملاح الذائبة الكلية والتوصيلية الكهربائية والعكورة ودرجة الحرارة كان (8.2 و6491 mg/l و7515 µS/cm و1.1 NTU و23.4 Co) على التوالي. اما المكونات الكيميائية من العناصر الرئيسة والاكاسيد (Ca وMg وNa وK وHCO3 وSO4 وCl وNO3) فكان معدلها (588.9 و269.1 و1056.3 و7.1 و189.1 و2843.0 و1281.3 و14.4 mg/l) على التوالي. ومعدل تركيز العناصر الثقيلة والاثرية (As وCd وCo وCr وCu وHg وMn وMo وNi وPb وSb وSe وV وZn وBr وF) كان (0.71 و0.002 و0.008 و7.27 و0.62 و0.008 و86.8 و10.47 و3.88 و0.13 و0.27 و3.35 و3.47 و3.68 و1.26 و0.97 ppb) على التوالي.
      قسمت المياه حسب تصنيف بايبر (Piper)الى اربعة أصناف: مياه نهر دجلة تكون ضمن الصنف (B)، ونموذجا المياه الجوفية (GR5, GR7) ضمن الصنف(C)، والنمادج (GR1, GR2, GR3, GR4, GR6) تمثل الصنف (E)، والنموذجان (GR9,SW5) الصنف (G). بين تصنيف ستيف لمياه منطقة الدراسة وجود خمسة اصناف هي نماذج مياه نهر دجلة التي تميزت بكونها قلوية معتدلة تسود فيها الكربونات والكبريتات، ونماذج المياه الجوفية (GR5, GR6, GR7, GR8) هي قلوية معتدلة تسود فيها الكبريتات، والنموذج GR9 قلوياً مع زيادة نسبة الصوديوم والكبريتات، ونموذج مياه العين الكبريتية SW5 قلوياً مع زيادة نسبة الصوديوم والكلور والكبريتات.
      صنفت المياه الى ثلاث مجاميع حسب العوامل الموثرة فيها: هي مياه نهر دجلة تأثرت الصخور الكاربوناتية المنكشفة على السطح فضلا عن نوعية التربة السائدة والتي تلقي بنواتج التجوية لها في مياه النهر ولاسيما أن ميل الطبقات الذي يكون باتجاه النهر، أما المجموعة الثانية فهي المياه الجوفية والعين الكبريتية شمال طية القيارة نوعية مياهها سببه سمك عمود المتبخرات وقربه من السطح، والمجموعة الثالثة مياه الأبار في جنوب طية القيارة تميزت بقلة تاثرها بصخور المتبخرات.
 
    بَيَّنَ التحليل العاملي وخرائط التوزيع المكاني أن تركيبية المنطقة تؤثر في تلوث المياه الجوفية بالمركبات النفطية والعناصر الثقيلة، وأن العوامل من درجة الانحدار العام فضلا عن اتجاه الرياح السائدة في منطقة الدراسة الى جانب المكون المعدني وانسكاب المواد الهايدروكاربونية من الانابيب الناقلة والمتهالكة كانت توثر على توزيع العناصر الثقيلة والملوثات الأخرى.
    يظهر معامل التراكم الأرضي (Igeo) أن التربة شديدة التلوث بعنصر السيلينيوم، فيما تكون متوسطة التلوث بالزرنيخ ومتوسطة الى قليلة التلوث بالعناصر (Cd,Cr,Ni) وعديمة التلوث العناصر
(Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo,Pb, Sb, V, Zn). أما عامل الاغناء Enrichment factor فقد بين إغناءً عالياً بالعناصر (Se,As,Ni)، متوسطاً بالعناصر (Sb,Cd,Cr,Zn,Pb,Co,Mo,Mn,Cu) وقليلاً بالعنصرين (V,Hg)، فيما بينت العناصر الترتيب التالي بالاغناء في نمادج التربة (Se>As>Ni>Sb>Cd>Cr>Zn>Pb>Co>Mo>Mn>Cu>V>Hg).
        أظهر معامل التلوث Contamination factor تلوثاً منخفظاً بالعناصر (Zn,Pb,Co,Mo,Mn,Cu,V,Hg) ومتوسطاً بالعناصر(Ni,Sb,Cd,Cr)، معتبراً بالعناصر (As,Se). وبين معامل تحميل التلوث (PLI) إن نماذج التربة (QF5-S, QF7-S, QF8-S, GS3-S, AB2-S, AB3-S, AB4-S, AB5-S, AB6-S, QR1-S, QR2-S) غير ملوثة، والنماذج (QF1-S, QF2-S, QF3-S, QF4-S, QF6-S, QF9-S, GS1-S, GS2-S, GS4-S, GS5-S, GS6-S, AB1-S, GS-S, TP-S, DS-S,) ملوثة.
    بَيَّنَ مؤشر الخطر (HI) نتيجة التلوث بالعناصر الثقيلة في التربة بين عدم وجود خطر غير مسرطن على البالغين والاطفال. بينما كان الخطرالمسرطن عالي الاحتمالية بالتعرض من خلال الابتلاع للعناصر (As,Co,Cr,Ni) ومنخفضاً بالعناصر (Cd,Pb)، ومن خلال الاستنشاق كانت العناصر (As,Co,Cr,Ni) ذات خطر مسرطن عالي الاحتمالية، ومحتملاً لعنصر (Cd)، ومنخفض الاحتمال للرصاص (Pb) كما ان الخطر المسرطن من خلال التعرض الجلدي للعناصر (As,Cr,Ni) كان محتملاً، ومنخفظاً بعنصر الكادميوم (Cd).
      أظهر معامل التراكم الحيوي (BAC) أن العناصر الثقيلة (As,Cd,Co,Cr,Cu,Mn,Ni,Pb, Sb,Se, V,Zn) لايحصل لها تراكم في النبات الأشجار المنتخبة، بينما يحصل اغناء للزئبق في جميع انواع النبات والاشجار، اما الموليبيديوم فيحصل له اغناء في جميع النبات باستثناء اليوكالبتوس. اما معامل تراكم العناصر الثقيلة MAI)) في النبات بيَّنَ أن نبات الشعير يحصل له اغناء بجميع العناصر الثقيلة، فيما يحصل اغناء لعنصر المنغنيزMn)) في اشجاراليوكالبتوس فقط.
    إن مياه نهر دجلة صالحة للاستخدام البشري حسب معامل نوعية المياه (WQI)، ومياه البئر
GR9 فقيرة (Poor)، والآبار (GR6,GR7) فقيرة جداً (very poor)، أما مياه الآبار الاخرى والعين الكبريتية غير ملائمة.
    تُعدُّ مياه نهر دجلة جيدة لأغراض الري حسب قيم (TDS,EC) في حين كانت المياه الجوفية غير ملائمة للري, وبحسب نسبة الصوديوم Na% مياه نهر دجلة ومياه البئر GR7 ممتازة للري، ومياه الآبار(GR1,GR2,GR5,GR6,GR8)  جيدة، والآبار (GR3,GR4)مسموح بها، ومياه البئر GR9 والعين الكبريتية SW5 تستخدم بحذر شديد للري. تبين من خلال حساب قيمة نسبة امتزاز الصوديوم (SAR) أن جميع أنواع المياه ممتازة للري باستثناء (GR3,GR4) كانت جيدة. بين حساب نسبة كاربونات الصوديوم المتبقية (RSC) أن جميع مياه المنطقة ممتازة للري، أما حساب معامل النفاذية (PI) فقد بيَّنَ أن جميع مياه منطقة الدراسة جيدة للري باستثناء مياه البئرين (GR5,GR7) كانا غير ملائمين.
    يظهر معامل تلوث المياه أن النموذجين من مياه البئرين (SW5,GR4) كانا ملوثين بدرجة كبيرة جداً بالبروم Br))، والبئرين (GR1, GR3) اظهرا تلوثاً عالياً، ومياه الآبار (GR2, GR3,GR7, GR4, GR6) اظهرت تلوثاً متوسطاً بالبروم والبورون والفلور (F,Br,B). ومياه النماذج (SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, GR5,GR6, GR8, GR9) غير ملوثة حسب معامل تحميل التلوث، بينما النماذج (GR1,GR2, GR3,GR4 GR7,SW5) ملوثة. وأظهر عامل تلوث المياه بالعناصر الثقيلة (HPI) مياه منطقة الدراسة غير ملوثة بالعناصر الثقيلة بسبب قلويتها التي أدت الى مغادرة العناصر الى الطور الصلب.
    ان مياه منطقة الدراسة لاتظهر خطراً صحياً غير مسرطن بالعناصر الثقيلة على البالغين والاطفال. وان الخطر المسرطن بالتعرض من خلال الفم على البالغين يكون محتملاً للعناصر (As,Cr, Ni, BrO3) وغي...

Wetlands are increasingly threatened by human activities and climate change globally. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of water quality in Nepal's lowland riparian Ramsar wetlands. It focuses on Jagadishpur Reservoir (JR) and Nakrori Lake (NL), chosen for their ecological significance and contrasting artificial and natural features. The research examines seasonal water quality changes, identifies key hydrochemical processes, and evaluates suitability for drinking and irrigation. During pre-and post-monsoon periods, 156 water samples were collected from both lakes. Samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, including total dissolved solids (TDS), and major ions (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , HCO 3-), using standardized laboratory techniques. Statistical analyses and hydrochemical diagrams, such as Piper and Gibbs plots, revealed that both lakes exhibited similar physicochemical profiles. Ca 2+-HCO 3-was the dominant water type, indicating that carbonate and silicate weathering, along with cation-anion exchange, were key determinants of water chemistry. TDS levels averaged 182.7 mg/L in NL pre-monsoon and declined to 154.3 mg/L in JR post-monsoon, reflecting the effects of evaporation and monsoonal dilution. Water quality consistently met standards for both drinking and irrigation, with water quality index (WQI) and Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) < 50 and 10, respectively. These findings underscore the challenges in maintaining standard water quality and highlight the implementation of a sustainable action plan (SAP) that advances Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 by 25 % and SDG 13 by 40 % through targeted pollution mitigation and climate resilience measures. This research can provide a transferable framework for wetland conservation and policy development in similar ecosystems worldwide.

The degradation efficiency of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in the environment of Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was studied. An experimental design method was used for this research. A random sampling technique was applied to collect the samples (APHA, 2005). Fifteen (15) topsoil samples from a depth of 0-20 cm were randomly gathered from fifteen (15) different locations in the study area using an auger. These samples were mixed in a six-liter plastic bucket to create a composite sample and stored at 4 °C in a refrigerator. A standard method for analyzing soil samples was followed to assess Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPHs) as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The absorbance of each sample A, B, C, and D was measured and recorded using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer (UV2500-1198). Different concentrations of palm bunch ash (PBA) (ranging from 0.0 g to 50.0 g), Tween 80 (50.0 g), and a combination of PBA + Tween 80 (25.0 g) were added to samples A, B, C, and D, with A serving as the control. The concentrations of TPHs were measured at 20-day intervals over a period of 60 days. The data were analyzed using a first-order kinetic model represented by InC = InCo-kt. The average concentration of TPHs in the soil was found to be 14.55±0.01 mg/kg. The degradation efficiencies recorded were PBA (86.69 %), PBA + Tween 80 (85.63 %), Tween 80 (76.70 %), and the control (5.40 %). The degradation rates (mg/kg per day) varied from 2.70×10-2 to 1.30×10-2; 5.00×10-1 to 2.18×10-1; 2.49×10-1 to 1.84×10-1; and 4.67×10-1 to 2.09×10-1 for samples A, B, C, and D respectively. The k values ranged from 2.09 × 10-2 to 2.78 × 10-2, 3.79×10-2 to 5.81×10-2, 2.78×10-2 to 2.09×10-2, and 5.13×10-2 to 3.23×10-2 for samples A, B, C, and D respectively. The degradation efficiency of TPHs was as follows: PBA (86.69 %) > PBA + tween 80 (85.63 %) > tween 80 (76.70 %) > control (5.40 %). The degradation rate of TPHs declined as the surfactant concentrations decreased over time. Based on these results, the following recommendations were proposed. A remediation technique using natural and ecofriendly materials like palm bunch ash can be an alternative green and cost-effective solution for cleaning hydrocarbon-contaminated soil.

The degradation efficiency of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in the environment of Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was studied. An experimental design method was used for this research. A random sampling technique was applied to collect the samples (APHA, 2005). Fifteen (15) topsoil samples from a depth of 0-20 cm were randomly gathered from fifteen ( ) different locations in the study area using an auger. These samples were mixed in a six-liter plastic bucket to create a composite sample and stored at 4 °C in a refrigerator. A standard method for analyzing soil samples was followed to assess Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPHs) Different concentrations of palm bunch ash (PBA) (ranging from 0.0 g to 50.0 g), Tween 80 (50.0 g), and a combination of PBA + Tween 80 (25.0 g) were added to samples A, B, C, and D, with A serving as the control. The concentrations of TPHs were measured at 20-day intervals over a period of 60 days. The data were analyzed using a first-order kinetic model represented by InC = InCo -kt. The average concentration of TPHs in the soil was found to be 14.55±0.01 mg/kg. The degradation efficiencies recorded were PBA (86.69 %),

In the 7 domestic wastewater treatment plants-PTAR-evaluated, 81630.72 m 3 / day of wastewater are treated and 2537.85 Tn / day of sludge with high moisture content are generated, becoming a problem since the spaces for their confinement are scarce and / or that the existing distances from the generation centers to the final disposal sites are significant. The sludge was characterized physically-chemically and biologically on two occasions and compared with the maximum permissible limits established in the Peruvian, Mexican and EPA regulations, then the results showed excess concentrations of Cadmium, Zinc and Thermotolerant Coliforms, for which prior treatment is recommended. Nutritional concentrations of the generated sludge were also determined, comparing the results with the quality of the compost that is made at the Pampamarca Chico-Carhuaz Plant, which is concluded that they have high concentrations of Total Nitrogen, Organic Matter and acceptable pH; there is a demand for its use to fertilize agricultural land. The conversion of sludge waste to input requires innovation in management, and currently only one company is hired that is in charge of storing, transferring and disposing of them in sanitary landfills. Treating crude sludge, enriching it and marketing it obviously requires a change in management in order to generate business opportunities, already converted into an input, within the framework of the Circular Economy.

Okoronkwo Nwadike who by their effort pooled resource together to ensure that the vision of my academic pursuit is achieved successfully. My immeasurable gratitude also goes to my sweetest friends, Nwaji Uchenna John, Isaac Amarachi, Donatus Genevieve, for their support and to everyone who contributed to the success of this research work; God bless you all.

Adrar, located in an arid desert environment in southwest Algeria, relies exclusively on groundwater from the Continental Intercalaire aquifer for its water supply. This study aims to assess the quality of this groundwater for human consumption, irrigation, and industrial use and identify the hydrogeochemical processes driving its mineralization. To achieve this, 18 wells were analyzed using conventional laboratory methods. Quality indices applied include the drinking water quality index for potability and the irrigation water quality index for agricultural suitability. Corrosion and scaling potential were evaluated using the Langelier index, Ryznar index, Larson-Skold index, Puckorius index, and aggressive index. The results indicate that 44.44% of the water is suitable for drinking, 50% is of medium quality, and 5.56% is unsuitable for drinking. For irrigation, 31.25% of wells provide good-quality water, while 68.75% are classified as doubtful. Most of the analyzed waters are corrosive, with a tendency toward scaling and CaCO 3 precipitation. Hydrochemical analyses, including Piper diagrams, identified two water types: Ca-Mg-Cl (50%) and Ca-Cl (50%). Based on the Gibbs diagram, bivariate plots, and saturation indices, the groundwater's mineralization is primarily attributed to water-rock interactions, such as the dissolution of silicate rocks, halite, and gypsum, along with cation exchange. Additionally, human activities significantly influence water chemistry. This study provides scientific foundations for sustainable groundwater resource management in Adrar, including water quality and exploitation. This work helps inform strategies for the preservation, rational use, and treatment of water, ensuring sustainable water access for domestic, agricultural, and industrial needs.

Addressing fluoride and nitrate contamination in groundwater is crucial for safeguarding public health. Fluoride contamination in groundwater can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis, along with potential neurotoxic effects. Nitrate contamination can lead to methemoglobinemia in infants and increase cancer risk due to the formation of nitrosamines. The major goal of this study was to examine groundwater quality in the Chickkaballapur urban (CBU) and Chikkaballapur rural (CBR) parts of the Chikkaballapur taluk (CBT), Karnataka, and to investigate the potential health hazards associated with the presence of fluoride and nitrate contaminants. Hazard quotient and total hazard index (THI) calculation methods, as suggested by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, were used in the present study to evaluate non-carcinogenic risks for individuals of various age categories, including men, women, and children (MWC). A total of 112 samples from rural areas and 41 samples from urban areas of Chikkaballapur taluk were collected during the post-monsoon season. According to the study's findings, groundwater samples from CBU and CBR surpassed acceptable fluoride concentration limits by 41% and 40%, respectively, while samples from CBR exceeded acceptable nitrate limits by 17%, set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (1 mg/L for fluoride and 45 mg/L for nitrate). All CBU samples remained within the acceptable nitrate limits. The total non-carcinogenic health risks for MWC ranged from 0.34 to 2.18, 0.40 to 2.58, and 0.46 to 2.95, respectively, for CBU, and from 0.16 to 6.51, 0.19 to 7.69, and 0.21 to 8.80, respectively, for CBR. Furthermore, a significant percentage of the groundwater samples that were collected in CBU (60.98%, 68.29%, and 75.61%) and CBR (48.21%, 62.50%, and 73.21%) exceeded the THI limit for MWC (THI = 1). Hence, based on the health risk assessment, it is evident that children in the study area have greater health risks than men and women.

Background: The consumption of foods with a high concentration of heavy metals has increased the chances of incurring cancer and health disorders. In this study, the risks associated with ingestion and consumption of heavy metals in vegetables was evaluated. Methods: Ten different vegetables were purchased from the Ubani market, in Umuahia – Nigeria. The vegetables - Gnetum africanum , Vernonia amygdalina, Talinum triangulare , Solanum macrocarpon , Ocimum gratissimum , Gongronema latifolium , Pterocarpus mildbraedi , Telfairia occidentalis , Amaranthus hybridus , and Piper guineense , respectively were randomly selected and used to screen for heavy metals. The vegetable samples were air dried, ground and digested with acid, separately using standard methods. The heavy metal contents of the acid digests were analyzed using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The risk assessment of human health was interpolated with standard models. Results of the heavy metal showed that th...

The risk of expired biological fungicides and organic enhancers pharmaceutical compounds in the environment are very poorly understood. But their effects on growth population trends are very clear. Developing countries are the preferred hazardous trades for expired biological fungicides and organic enhancers and their management is an enormous economic problem. The aim of our study is the capacity evaluation does Ethiopia has with incinerators or entombment for expired biological fungicides and organic enhancers, the kind of attitudes the people have in this regard, the evaluation of the government policies on expired biological fungicides and organic enhancers management and the information given on the leaflet translated in Amharic, or in Tigrigna, Somali, Oromo, Afar language on what the patient has to do with the expired biological fungicides and organic enhancers. The data collection methods for this study are the questionnaires, surveys, health personnel's interview, student's interviews and incinerators and landfilled study sites. As results of our research, we concluded Ethiopia has no sufficient capacities on annihilate the expired biological fungicides and organic enhancers management. The rural population used the household trash for the expired pesticides, without any special packing. We suggest the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education should develop education programs on expired biological fungicides and organic enhancers.

The study aimed to appraise groundwater quality in the Mekong Delta using a groundwater quality index (GWQI) and estimate human health risks associated with groundwater consumption. Groundwater samples were collected at sixty wells distributed in An Giang, Kien Giang, Hau Giang and Dong Thap provinces. Twelve water quality parameters were measured, including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, coliform, nitrate (NO3ˉ), nitrite (NO2ˉ), ammonium (NH4 +), sulfate (SO4 2-), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd). The results were compared with the national regulation on groundwater quality. The findings of this study indicated that groundwater in the Mekong Delta was contaminated with microorganisms and some heavy metals (Fe, Mn, and As). This was related to anthropogenic activities, such as improperly treated domestic wastewater and agricultural and industrial wastes. Based on the results of GWQI, 30% of the total groundwater samples in the Mekong Delta were classified as very good for drinking purposes. However, over 26% of all samples were unsuitable for drinking. In terms of risk assessment, children were rather susceptible to cancer risks and adverse health effects through drinking As-contaminated groundwater than adults. The cancer risks of consuming As-contaminated groundwater for children and adults were up to 4.28×10-3 that is higher than the acceptable risk. The highest aggregate hazard quotient of heavy metal-contaminated groundwater for children and adults was 9.54, which means that they could suffer adverse health effects. Groundwater is an indispensable source of freshwater in the Mekong Delta; thus, home water treatments are recommended to protect public health, and an in-depth groundwater quality and health risk assessment should be conducted.

The extraction and processing of naturally occurring phosphate deposits have significantly intensified the mobilization of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), resulting in their pervasive release into the environment. Accordingly, this study investigated the environmental impact of phosphate mining at Sebaiya East area (Egypt), analyzing 24 surface sediment samples for PTEs via ICP-OES, supported by statistical analysis (descriptive and multivariate), pollution indices (individual, composite, and ecological), and health risk assessments (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic) to understand the release, distribution, accumulation, and geochemical behavior of contaminants. The median values of PTEs were lower than their maximum concentrations, highlighting localized hotspots. Cd’s average level consistently exceeded all geochemical reference values. The individual contamination grades, based on average Igeo and CF values, ranked as Cd > As > Cr > Ni > Zn > Cu > Pb. Samples showed overall contamination (mean PLI: 1.79, mean Cdeg: 20.45, mean PINemerow: 4.29), with 29.2% severely polluted (PLI > 2) and 37.5% highly contaminated (Cdeg ≥ 24), localized near mining activities. The mean RI value of 383.9 indicated a considerable ecological risk (300 < RI < 600) throughout the study area. Weak Pearson correlations observed for As and Cd with other PTEs indicated distinct geochemical behavior and anthropogenic origins. PCA revealed the mixed origin of Pb, Cu, Zn, As, and Ni in PC1 (weathering of local bedrock and diffuse deposition from mining activities) and the anthropogenic origin of Cd in PC2. Cr and As posed the highest carcinogenic (CR: 3.64E+02) and non-carcinogenic risks (HQ: 3.04E+05), respectively, exceeding safety thresholds.

Nowadays there are several problems which are concerned about environment. One of the most important environmental issues today is groundwater contaminated with heavy metals especially arsenic (As) because of their severe toxicity even at low concentrations. Long time ago until nowadays in Thailand people who have lived in this agricultural area generally consume groundwater from their wells located in their farm because they don't concern about negative effects from heavy metal contamination in groundwater. It is possible that arsenic contaminated in shallow groundwater may cause a potential health effect to consumers. This study aimed to assess the level of the human health risk from lead contaminated in shallow groundwater wells at Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand. Twelve wells randomly selected for water sampling and Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) used to find out the concentration of arsenic contaminated in shallow groundwater. In addition, questionnaires were completed by face-to-face interviewing with local people who consume shallow groundwater to find their intake rate and finally risk assessment. The results showed that only one well was acceptable level for non-carcinogen which had the Hazard Quotient value of arsenic were lower than one (HQ<1) while the others 11 wells were adverse concern with non-acceptable level which had the Hazard Quotient value of arsenic were higher than one (HQ>1). For carcinogenic effect, the acceptable risk was 10 -6 , this value means the probable possibility that about 1 cancer patients among 1,000,000 people happen. The result showed that all wells were acceptable level of cancer risk (cancer risk < 10 -6 ) while only one well was carcinogenic concern (cancer risk > 10 -6 ).

 Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) contamination levels were estimated by using profound methods such as contamination factor, degree of contamination and index of geo-accumulation.  Assessment of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for children and adults were investigated in the study region.  Principal component analysis of potentially toxic elements were studied and also generated their spatial distribution maps in the investigated region.

Environmental Health Risk Assessment (EHRA) is a Study to learn condition of sanitation facility and Risk behavior to society health. This Study aims to get description of Environmental Health Risk at Kokoa Hamlet, Marannu Village, District Lau, Maros Regency. Type of study that used is descriptive. Respondents in this study is all of household at Kokoa Hamlet, Marannu Village, District Lau, Maros Regency as much as 72 Households that taken with total sampling method. The result of research is obtainable that environmental health hazard at Kokoa Hamlet, Marannu Village, District Lau covers the hazard of clean water (42,7%), domestic waste water (93,8%) and trash can ownership (90,2%). As for some of unhealthy behavior who gives exposures hazard chance is washing hand without soap (44,4%), defecation anywhere (88,7%), no sorting and processing household rubbish (91,7) along behavior is not treating mineral water (30,6%). It can be concluded that environmental health risk rate at Koko...

In Nigerian urban and suburban areas, the practice of using dumpsites as agricultural land is widespread, due to the fact that decomposed and composted wastes improve soil fertility. The presence of heavy metals in these dumpsites poses serious health risks to humans. The purpose of this study is to compare the concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, and Zn) in Amaranthus hybridus leaves grown on soil obtained from three distinct dumpsites in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria. It also looks at the possible health risks associated with eating Amaranthus hybridus. After a period of four (4) weeks after planting, plant samples were selected at random, prepared, and examined using an Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) Buck Scientific VG990 Model to detect the heavy metal. The following is a breakdown of the different heavy metal content found in the leaves of Amaranthus hybridus cultivated on the different landfill soils, Zn: Anyigba Market (0.4540 mg/kg) > Redeem (0.4286 mg/kg) > Anokwu1 (0.3520 mg/kg) > Control (0.281 mg/kg); Cu: Redeem (0.1640 mg/kg) > Anokwo1 (0.1287 mg/kg) > Anyigba Market (0.0947 mg/kg), and Control (0.0467 mg/kg); Pb: Anokwu1 (0.1820 mg/kg) > Anyigba Market (0.0960 mg/kg) > Redeem (0.0580 mg/kg) > Control (0.0267 mg/kg). Every element that was examined for samples taken from dumpsites had levels that were greater than those of the control. There are potential health hazards associated with the ingestion of Amaranthus hybridus grown on soil obtained from these dumpsites, and this is due to the fact that its hazard quotient for Zn, Cu, and Pb, as well as its hazard indices, exceed unity (1). Strict regulations prohibiting the cultivation of food crops on dump site soils, should be enforced by the government and local authorities, to prevent the accumulation of toxic heavy metals in edible plants.

Lead (Pb) is very stable in soil and is highly toxic to human and animals. Pb contamination of vegetables cannot be under estimated as these food stuffs are important components of human diet . Pb is a neurotoxin that can affect almost every organ or system in the human body. It can reduce cognitive development and intellectual performance in children and damage kidneys and reproductive system [2]. Most of the accumulated Pb is sequestered in the bone and teeth [3], causing brittle bones and weakness in the wrists and fingers. Pb that is stored in bones can re-enter the blood stream during periods of increased bone mineral recycling. Mobilized Pb can be redeposited in the soft tissues of the body and can cause musculoskeletal, renal, ocular, immunological, neurological, reproductive, and developmental effects [4].

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) represent a significant global occupational health challenge, particularly in agricultural sectors characterized by labor-intensive tasks. Kenya's horticultural industry, a major economic pillar and employer, relies heavily on manual labor for flower and tea production, yet remains understudied regarding ergonomic hazards and their health impacts. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of ergonomic risk factors and WMSD prevalence among horticultural workers in Kenya's primary production regions. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, the research combined quantitative cross-sectional surveys with qualitative in-depth interviews. Data were collected from 372 workers across four large-scale flower and tea farms in Naivasha and Kericho counties, representing field workers, packhouse operators, and tea pluckers. The study utilized the standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to determine 12-month and 7day prevalence rates, while the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) tools provided objective ergonomic risk evaluations of primary tasks. Binary logistic regression analysis identified predictors of WMSDs, and thematic analysis of interview transcripts explored contextual factors influencing musculoskeletal health. Findings revealed an alarming 12-month WMSD prevalence of 89.8%, with significantly high rates in specific body regions: lower back (76.9%), shoulders (68.0%), and knees (59.4%). Task-specific analysis showed tea pluckers had the highest shoulder pain prevalence (82.0%), while field workers reported greatest knee (67.1%) and lower back (81.0%) symptoms. Ergonomic assessments classified most tasks as high risk, with flower harvesting (REBA=11) and tea plucking (REBA=10) scoring in the 'very high risk' category. Regression analysis identified high ergonomic risk exposure as the strongest predictor of lower back pain (Adjusted Odds Ratio=4.19, p<.001), with extended work hours (>10 hours/day) also significantly associated (AOR=2.05, p<.01). Qualitative analysis revealed three key themes: normalization of pain as an inevitable aspect of employment, economic precarity driving workers to prioritize productivity over safety, and insufficient organizational attention to musculoskeletal health compared to other occupational hazards. The study demonstrates that WMSDs constitute a severe health crisis among Kenyan horticultural workers, directly linked to identifiable ergonomic risk factors exacerbated by socioeconomic and organizational dynamics. These findings underscore the urgent need for multifaceted interventions including ergonomic tool modifications, revised work organization strategies, enhanced regulatory frameworks, and comprehensive worker education programs to address this significant public health and occupational safety challenge in Kenya's vital agricultural sector.

Pharmaceuticals and hormones (PhACs) enter the aquatic environment in multiple ways, posing potential adverse effects on non-target organisms. They have been widely detected in drinking water sources, challenging water companies to reassure good quality drinking water. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of sixteen PhACs in both raw and treated drinking water sources in the Metropolitan Area of Turin-where Società Metropolitana Acque Torino (SMAT) is the company in charge of the water cycle management-and evaluate the potential human health risks associated to these compounds. Multivariate spatial statistical analysis techniques were used in order to characterize the areas at higher risk of pollution, taking into account the already existing SMAT sampling points' network. Health risks were assessed considering average detected concentrations and provisional guideline values for individual compounds as well as their combined mixture. As reported in the just-issued Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184/UE, in order to establish priority substances, a risk assessment of contaminants present in raw drinking water sources is required for monitoring, identifying potential health risks and, if necessary, managing their removal. The results showed negligibly low human health risks in both raw water sources and treated water.

Ensuring the safety of commonly sold food items is essential for food regulation and consumer protection. This study investigated the levels of potentially toxic metals contamination in local and Thai-imported rice samples sold in the Nigerian market for safety assessment. Rice samples obtained from Oja Oba market, Ile-Ife, SouthWest Nigeria were digested and analysed for Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn) and Cadmium (Cd) using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results showed that metal concentrations in local rice is in the order: Cu (5.31 mg/kg) > Zn (2.32 mg/kg) > Pb (1.19 mg/kg) > Cd (0.69 mg/ kg) ≈ Co (0.69 mg/kg) > Mn (0.38 mg/kg). The imported rice samples followed a similar trend: Cu (3.13 mg/kg) > Zn (1.88 mg/kg) > Pb (1.02 mg/kg) > Cd (0.60 mg/kg) > Co (0.53 mg/kg) > Mn (0.25 mg/ kg). Notably, Pb and Cd concentrations in both rice types exceeded Codex Alimentarius Commission permissible limits (0.2 mg/kg for Pb and 0.4 mg/kg for Cd). The Hazard Index (HI) values of the local and Thai-imported samples at 1.769 and 1.471 exceeded the safety threshold of 1, with Cd and Pb in both samples contributing significantly. The Cancer Risk (CR) values of Cd (1.04E-6) and Pb (1.48E-5) in the local samples as well as 9.06E-7 and 1.27E-5 respectively in the Thai-imported sample were below critical limit, raising no carcinogenic concern. However, the overall health risk assessment for the samples suggests potential non-carcinogenic health risk over prolonged consumption.

Water quality management represents a paramount public health issue, especially within areas where surface water resources are particularly susceptible to contamination. This investigation evaluates the efficacy of health risk mitigation provided by the Halabja Water Treatment Plant (HWTP) located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The facility processes water sourced from Sirwan river, employing methodologies such as sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. The primary aim was to ascertain the removal efficiency of trace elements (such as., As, Pb, Cd, and cr) throughout various treatment phases, also the health hazards of tap water consumption have been assessed. Water samples were systematically collected every month two years (2022-2023) at three distinct phases: raw water, treated water, and tap water. Analytical techniques encompassed trace element quantification alongside health risk evaluation utilizing hazard quotient indices (HQ). The results indicated a significant reduction in turbidity (from 59 NTU; in raw water to between 0.1 and 5 NTU in treated water) as well as in heavy metal concentrations, such as Cd levels diminished from 0.48 µg/L in raw water to 0.018 µg/L in treated water, In contrast, arsenic concentrations were reduced from 2.951 µg/L to 2.503 µg/L. Nonetheless, occasional exceedances of WHO standards were detected in tap water, with lead concentrations peaking at 9.4 µg/L in November, suggesting potential recontamination during the distribution process. Hazard indices remained below the critical threshold of 1 for most metals, signifying manageable health risks. The highest hazard index for Pre-treated water was recorded at 0.61 (in September), which subsequently declined to 0.15 following treatment. These findings underscore the success of HWTP in diminishing contaminants, while simultaneously highlighting the necessity for improved distribution infrastructure and the implementation of advanced treatment technologies. This study contributes to the optimization of water treatment methodologies and emphasizes the critical importance of ongoing monitoring to ensure safe drinking water.

Shells fired during World War I exhibited different explosive compounds and some of these weapons also contained a wide variety of chemical warfare agents. At the end of the war, for safety purposes, the large quantity of weapons remaining on the former front needed to be dismantled and destroyed. A large amount of the remaining shells was destroyed in specific sites which led to the contamination of the surroundings in Belgium and France. In the 1920s, 1.5 million chemical shells and 30,000 explosive shells were destroyed in a place close to the city of Verdun, in the East of France. In this paper, the risk for human health related to the consumption of foodstuffs produced on this site was assessed. To this end, food products of plant and animal origin were sampled in 2015-2016 and contaminant analyses were conducted. Human exposure was assessed using a specifically built methodology. The contaminants considered in this study were trace elements (TEs - primarily Zn, As, Pb and Cd),...

Background: Quarrying activities have been shown to influence the geochemical properties of surrounding soils, potentially affecting edible plants' nutrient and heavy metal composition. Talinum triangulare (waterleaf), a commonly consumed leafy vegetable in Nigeria, may indicate environmental contamination due to its widespread cultivation and consumption. Objectives: This research focused on assessing the proximate and mineral composition of waterleaf samples from a quarry site in Eleme and a non-quarry site in Igwuruta, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, to assess the influence of quarrying on nutritional quality and heavy metal content. Methods: Waterleaf samples were collected from both sites, sun-dried, and analyzed for proximate composition (carbohydrates, protein, moisture, ash, fat, fiber) using AOAC methods. Mineral and heavy metal contents (potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, copper, manganese, zinc, iron, lead, cadmium, nickel) were determined via atomic absorption spectroscopy and flame photometry. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results: Quarry site samples showed slightly higher carbohydrate (56.34%) and ash (8.47%) contents but lower protein (11.85%), moisture (5.67%), and fat (6.53%) compared to control samples (54.10%, 13.30%, 6.39%, 7.34%, 7.62%, respectively). Fiber content remained consistent (~11%). Essential minerals like potassium, calcium, and iron were present appreciably, with quarry site samples showing elevated levels of copper (1.58 mg/100g) and manganese (5.35 mg/100g). Notably, lead (0.21 mg/100g), cadmium (0.52 mg/100g), and nickel (0.38 mg/100g) were detected exclusively in quarry samples (dry weight). Approximate fresh weight conversions (assuming 90% moisture) yield cadmium (0.052 mg/100g) and nickel (0.038 mg/100g) exceeding WHO/FAO limits (0.02 mg/100g for Cd, 0.1 mg/100g for Ni), while lead (0.021 mg/100g) is within limits (<0.1 mg/kg). Conclusions: Although waterleaf remains an important nutrient source, heavy metals from the quarry site sample indicate health risks. Regular monitoring of crops grown in such industrially impacted areas is recommended. Keywords: Heavy Metals; Mineral Composition; Proximate Analysis; Talinum triangulare; Nutritional Quality; Food Safety; Environmental Contamination; Quarry Site; Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; Flame Photometry; Health Risks; Bioaccumulation.

The study was carried out to assess the concentration of heavy metals in water and Tengra fish (Mystus vittatus) of the Surma River, the largest water basin ecosystem covering the northeastern parts of Bangladesh. Water and Tengra fish (M. vittatus) samples were collected from a total of six sampling stations in which three sampling stations were in Sylhet district and the rest three were in Sunamganj district. Samples were collected from February 2017 to June 2017 on a monthly basis. Water and Tengra fish (M. vittatus) samples were analyzed for the detection of heavy metals viz., lead (Pb), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for the detection of heavy metals after digestion of the samples. Pb and Cr were detected from both water and Tengra fish (M. vittatus) samples collected from all the six sampling stations of Sylhet and Sunamganj district. But, Cd was not found both in water and Tengra fish (M. vittatus) during the study period. This study concluded that the detected concentrations of metals (Pb and Cr) in the studied Tengra fish (M. vittatus) muscles were accepted by the international legislation limits and are safe for human consumption. But in water, Pb is the only metal that potentially poses the ecological risk to the water body as it exceeds the acceptance level recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). Consequently, close monitoring of metals pollution of the Surma River is recommended with a view to minimizing the health risk of the population that depend on the river for their water and fish supply.

Air pollutants of concern include particulate matter (PM) in fine size fractions. Thus far, a few studies have been conducted to study the adverse health effects of environmental and occupational air pollutants among informal vendors in big cities in South Africa. Informal vendors in these cities may experience higher exposure to road dust, cooking fumes, and air pollution. This exposure assessment was part of a health risk assessment study of vendors. The objective of this exposure assessment was to determine the differences between outdoor and indoor informal vendors' personal PM 2.5 exposures during trading hours. A walkthrough survey was conducted to map the homogeneous exposure groups (HEGs) at vendor markets for sampling purposes, and one market was selected from each of the three identified HEGs. Twenty-five informal cooked food vendors from both indoor (inside buildings) and outdoor (street or roadside vendors) markets in the inner city of Johannesburg, South Africa, participated in the study. HEG-1 were vendors from indoor stalls who used electricity and gas for cooking (10 vendors), HEG-2 was composed of informal outdoor vendors at a fenced site market who used open fire for cooking (10 vendors), and HEG-3 (5 vendors) were roadside vendors who used gas for cooking. Cooking vendors from outdoor markets recorded higher TWA concentrations than indoor market vendors. The vendors' PM 2.5 concentrations ranged from <0.01 mg/m 3 to 0.77 mg/m 3 . The mean concentrations of PM 2.5 were found to be 0.12 mg/m 3 , and 0.18 mg/m 3 for HEG-2, and HEG-3, respectively. HEG-2 recorded the highest PM 2.5 TWA concentrations, followed by HEG-3 and HEG-1. All concentrations were below the South African occupational exposure limit. The findings point to the need for further research into the health risks associated with outdoor cooking vendors, particularly those who utilize open fires.

According to the best of our knowledge, there are no critical studies to date about associations between the work environment and prevalence of respiratory diseases and their symptoms among urban informal vendors in South Africa. This study followed a risk assessment methodology to assess the risks associated with the occurrence of respiratory health problems among 617 indoor and outdoor market vendors in the inner city of Johannesburg, South Africa. A walkthrough survey using a checklist was conducted in 16 Markets for identification of respiratory risk factors and description of sanitary conditions. Face-to-face interviews were conducted amongst informal food vendors using a previously validated questionnaire to collect information on demographics and occupational and respiratory health. In addition, a single day area air pollution monitoring of PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , CO, and CO 2 was conducted in two stalls (indoor and outdoor). The Chi-squared test of association and frequency distribution were used to analyse data. Female vendors aged between 30 to 39 years dominated the trade. The results revealed that a majority of the vendors' work shifts are longer than the recommended eight hours per day (73%), six to seven days per week (90%), and most of them have been working for six to ten years (41%). Poor sanitary conditions were observed in 75% of the markets. The concentrations of air pollutants at the outdoor markets were much greater than those in the indoor markets. All air pollution concentrations were below the recommended national and international standards. The risk of outdoor vendors developing any symptoms were extremely greater than those of indoor vendors, especially cooking vendors. Upper respiratory symptoms were the highest amongst the vendors. The results demonstrated a significant association between work-related risk factors, such as type of work location, duration, type of cooking fuel or heat, vendor training, frequency of hand hygiene practice, and using of a mask, and the upper respiratory symptoms. Based on the findings, there is a need for formalization of the trade, improvement in infrastructure, respiratory health care assessments, and sustainable educational programs.

Introduction: Informal street vending is a form of informal employment, and occupational conditions for people within this group have been proven to be detrimental to their health. Two independent reviewers carried out a systematic evaluation of the existing literature in South Africa on environmental and occupational exposures, as well as the health effects faced by informal street food vendors. Methods: 354 published publications were reviewed and 9 were included, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: The evidence showed that informal street vendors are exposed to workplace risks that affect their health and wellbeing. Non-enclosed vendor stalls and frequent use of open fires were among the risk concerns. Vendors are vulnerable to gastrointestinal diseases such as salmonellosis and respiratory infections such as influenza and COVID-19 due to inadequate access to water, waste disposal facilities, and basic hyg...

The overall unemployment rate in South Africa was impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which led many people to resort to informal work such as street trading opportunities in big cities. However, this work is located in the same cities where air pollution is of concern. Furthermore, literature has indicated the lack of regulation of the informal trading sector as compared to the formal sector. An analytical cross-sectional study is proposed to be conducted amongst all of the informal food street vendors (indoor/inside buildings and outdoor/street pavements stalls) in the inner city of Johannesburg, South Africa. By adopting a total sampling method of 746 vendor stalls, this study’s key focus is on inhalation as an occupational exposure. In addition, the study aims to assess the respiratory risk factors amongst informal food street vendors’ stalls and their impact on vendors’ respiratory health. The risk factors to be assessed include the five common air pollutants: stre...

This research study assessed the degree of contamination of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from soil matrices of Nigeria Maritime University premise. Soil samples were further sieved using a nylon sieve (<125µm diameter). The samples were prepared in triplicates. Reagent blanks were included to check contamination. Twenty-five top soil samples were collected and analysed for PTEs using FAAS. The pollution level in soils were assessed using pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI). The mean values of the toxic elements in soil from the study area decreased in the order Cd < As < Fe < Pb < Co < Ni < Cu < Zn < Cr < Mn. The ranges were as follows: Cd (0.13-0.95 ppm); As (0.49-4.50 ppm); Fe (6.42-24.80 ppm); Pb (5.96-31.45 ppm); Co (2.93-51.80 ppm); Ni (4.27-82.48 ppm); Cu (7.42-84.90 ppm); Zn (9.10-184.36 ppm); Cr (29.80-234.00 ppm) and Mn (84.30-486.00 ppm). All the toxic elements were higher than crustal average values used as background values except Cr and Fe in some samples. Ni, As, Co and Cr were higher than FAO/WHO guidelines whereas only Cr was higher than EU standard in some soil samples. The PIs of Cu, Zn, Cd and Mn were within low to high contamination, Pb, Ni, Co, As and Cr were within low to middle contamination while Fe is categorized as low contamination. Pollution Load Index showed that the soil in the study area can be classified as unpolluted to moderately polluted and ranged from 0.28 to 2.76. The toxic elements showed Eir of <40 and indicated low ecological potential risk index except Cd, Co, Fe, As and Ni that showed low to moderate ecological potential risk. Cd contributed highest to the Ecological Risk (PERI) which ranged between 18.24 and 109.67 and indicated moderate risk.

Aim: The present study was aimed to determine the concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Mn, Cu and Cd) in waterleaf (Talinum triangulare), lettuce (Lectuca sativa) and spinach (Amaranthus hybridus) from three farmlands. Study Design and Place of Study: The research was carried out at Kwadon in Yamaltu Deba local Government of Gombe State, Kwadon is located between latitude 10.270ºN and longitude 11.28ºE. Methodology: The heavy metal concentration in the vegetables was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: The result showed that the heavy metals concentration in the vegetables across the farms ranges from 2.0–34.4 mg/kg for Mn, 0.025 mg/kg for Cd, 1.7–23.7 mg/kg for Cr, 0.2–1.0% for Cu. The concentration of Mn and Cr are higher than the permissible limit of FAO/WHO in vegetables. To assess the health risk associated with the heavy metals concentration from these vegetables, daily intake of metal (DIM), health risk index (HRI), and target hazard quotient (THQ) w...

BackgroundLittle is known about prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis and chronic nasal symptoms among adults in Vietnam. We aimed to estimate the prevalence, risk factor patterns and co‐morbidities of allergic rhinitis and chronic nasal symptoms in one urban and one rural area in northern Vietnam.MethodsA cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was conducted from August 2007 to January 2008 in urban Hoankiem and rural Bavi in Hanoi among adults aged 21‐70 years. Of 7008 randomly selected subjects, 91.7% participated in Bavi and 70.3% in Hoankiem.ResultsAllergic rhinitis ever or chronic nasal symptoms were reported by 50.2%. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis ever was considerably higher in Hoankiem compared to Bavi, 29.6% vs 10.0% (p &lt; 0.001). Allergic rhinitis ever and chronic nasal symptoms were both significantly associated with asthma and respiratory symptoms, respectively (p &lt; 0.001). Exposure to gas, dust or fumes at work was significantly associated with aller...

In this study, variations in physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contamination in water-sediments of a natural stream in the Durgapur industrial zone have been investigated. pH, COD, Cl -, CN -and heavy metals, viz. Pb, Hg and Fe concentrations in channel water, are higher than Indian standards. Metal concentrations in sediments are many folds higher than background value, where Pb, Cd, Hg and Cr contents exceed the sediment quality guidelines. Contamination factor (C f ) value of channel water follows the order of Hg > Pb > Fe > Cr > Cd > Cu > Ni, whereas enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index (I geo ) values in channel sediments are in the order of Hg > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd > Fe > Cu. The assessment of contamination index (C d ), modified contamination index (mC d ) and pollution load index indicates that channel water and sediment samples in the study area are strongly contaminated by heavy metals. Sediment samples based on PELQ and ERMQ are highly toxic, with high degree of potential ecological risk at all the monitored stations. Multivariate analysis infers that heavy metals in channel water and sediments are majorly sourced from industrial discharge.

Vegetables constitute essential diet components by contributing carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, iron, calcium and other nutrients that are in short supply. The present study was conducted to evaluate vegetables such as leafy (spinach), melon (gourd, long gourd and pumpkin) and solonaceous (brinjal) for their potential to accumulate different heavy metals like Cadmium (Cd), Manganese (Mn), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn). The content of these metals was measured by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Mean values were recorded against each vegetable for accumulating heavy metals. It was observed that maximum concentration of Mn (137.3 mg/kg), Cr (6.62 mg/kg) and Fe (968.25 mg/kg) was found in spinach, exceeding the allowed threshold 2.2 mg/kg, 2.3 mg/kg and 425 mg/kg respectively, as set by WHO/FAO. While melon showed great potential to absorb Ni (5.05 mg/kg) which elevated safe limit 0.1 mg/kg and Cu (65 mg/kg) was within the safe range. Brinjal displayed maximum absorption of Zn (41 mg/kg), which did not cross the WHO reference limit 73 mg/kg. In case of Cd both gourd and brinjal showed equal concentration of 0.39 mg/kg but was not at the safe limit 0.241 mg/kg. However levels of Pb were below the FAO/WHO recommended limits in all the vegetables. Low concentrations of Pb indicate that these plants contribute less toxic effects of metals. Overall this order of absorption was recorded as leafy˃melon˃solonaceous. Human DIM has also been computed and was observed below recommended values by the FAO/WHO. However, to prevent any chronic health risk and extent of heavy metal contamination, steps must be taken to reduce human activities at the sites. Regular monitoring of heavy metals in the vegetables grown in wastewater irrigated areas is also necessary.

Mining activities have increased the potential risks of metal pollution to the groundwater resources in arid areas across the globe. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the health risk associated with nickel (Ni) in the groundwater sources of a mining-impacted area, South Khorasan, Eastern Iran. A total of 110 stations were included in the study, comprising 62 wells, 40 qanats, and 8 springs in summer, 2020. Initially, the collected samples were tested for temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC). Subsequently, the samples were filtered and treated with nitric acid (HNO 3 ) to measure the concentration of Ni using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Hazard quotient (HQ) and non-carcinogenic risk assessments were employed to evaluate the potential risks of Ni to the inhabitants. The findings revealed that the concentration of Ni ranged from 0.02 to 132.39 μg l -1 , and only two stations exhibited Ni concentrations above the WHO standards (20 μg l -1 ). The results demonstrated that 98.21% of the sampled locations had HQ values below one, indicating negligible risk, while 1.78% of the stations exhibited HQ values of one or higher, representing a high non-carcinogenic risk for water consumers. Overall, the concentration of nickel in the groundwater of South Khorasan exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) limit solely in the Halvan station, posing a non-carcinogenic risk for the residents in that area, and therefore, additional efforts should be made to provide healthier groundwater to consumers in this region. Keywords Groundwater, Vulnerable consumers, Hazard quotient, Risk assessment, South Khorasan, Noncarcinogenic risk A reliable and sufficient water supply is crucial for sustainable human development and overall well-being. However, uncertainties related to future climate change are raising concerns about the already limited freshwater resources available 1 . The global demand for water resources is increasing by 1% annually due to population growth, economic development, and changing consumption patterns 2 . Water scarcity presents a significant challenge for both developed and developing nations around the world and is further compounded by population growth and increasing global temperatures 3 . The lack of treated potable water will extend beyond surface water sources such as groundwater, rivers, streams, and wells in the future. Studies conducted by the FAO in 93 countries indicate water instability in these regions, where water use exceeds its replenishment. Groundwater is of utmost importance due to its natural availability and potential to meet increasing demands as a substitute for surface water 4 . Globally, groundwater resources constitute a significant portion of the world's water supply 5 . Iran, with its unique geographical location, scattered topography, and air mass, is classified as one of the world's arid regions, relying on groundwater sources for over 90% of its freshwater supply 6 . The underground systems such as qanat, despite their old structure, are still being used to supply fresh water in such arid regions Therefore, the harvested water via underground systems such as qanat, spring, and well contain many toxic contaminants, including nickel that cause health-related problems in consumers. The presence of heavy metals in soil and water poses threats to aquatic ecosystems, agriculture, and public health. The accumulation of heavy metals in the food chain can significantly contribute to carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and the birth of malformed babies 7 . Prolonged exposure to heavy metals, which can exist in toxic concentrations in water, has resulted in severe health damage to vital organs such as the brain, liver, bones, and kidneys, where they tend to

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) is currently not only a health problem in enterprises across six European regions which are Catalonia (ES), Lombardy (IT), South-West Bohemia (CZ) Upper Austria (AU), Estonia (EE), Provincie Noord-Brabantv(NL), but also impacts negatively on productivity and on the competitiveness of enterprises. This project, granted by Innovation 4 Welfare (I4W), will provide a high value to enterprises in the participating regions. However, although EU-legislation has established new and highly innovative technical standards the area of "physical ergonomics, specifically aimed at protecting the "working population" from biomechanical and organizational risks for WMSDs, it is still not easy for users to find a suitable tool or strategy for identifying hazards and assessing risks for purposes of WMSDs prevention effectively. Additionally, there are no criteria or guidelines for teaching users how to select the best method for a specific case. Hence, this project proposes to develop a set of toolkits to help users find the most suitable and effective solution to the problem at hand. Developing toolkits based on a collaborative platform for preventing WMSDs will not only help companies improve and maintain healthy and safe working conditions, but will also promote the creation of new solutions in the field of WMSD and injuries prevention. As a result, it will significantly enhance worker health, life quality and productivity, as well as reduce sick leave absences and economic/social costs connected to work-related muscular disorders and injuries. This paper seeks to illustrate the methodology of developing toolkits for hazard identification, risk assessment and prevention of WMSDs based on a collaborative platform. In order to demonstrate this, the paper presents an analysis of the approaches and the implementation plan for toolkits development. Additionally, the paper closes by suggesting that an essential element for successful prevention of WMSDs is the interaction between the workers and the policy makers, knowledge providers.

This study investigated the ergonomic hazards and musculoskeletal disorders among bank-tellers in Akwa Ibom State. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population was estimated at about 300. Two hundred bank-tellers were used as sample for the study. Hence, 200 copies of questionnaires were administered and 175 copies were retrieved yielding a return rate of 87.5 per cent. A validated and self-structured questionnaire titled "Ergonomic Hazards and Workrelated Musculoskeletal Disorders (EHWRMD-AKS)" was used for data collection. The questionnaire had a reliability coefficient of 0.82 which was established using Pearson product moment correlation. The study was guided by two research questions and six null hypotheses tested at .05 level of significance. Descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation and percentage were used to analyse the research questions and demographic data. Inferential statistics of z-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square were used to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The result revealed a significant difference in the ergonomic hazards among bank-tellers in Akwa Ibom State based on age (F{3,171} = 25.42; P< 0.05), gender (z = 5.99; P<0.05) and years of experience (F{3,171} = 8.59; P< 0.05). It also showed a significant difference in work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among bank-tellers in Akwa Ibom State based on age (F{3,171} = 12.38; P< 0.05), gender (z =3.68; P<0.05) and years of work experience (F{3,171} = 5.26; P< 0.05). Among the findings were that most of the bank-tellers had prolonged period of sitting (3.47± 0.86) and used the computer for a prolonged time (3.62±0.63). 25.14% of the bank-tellers suffered waist pain and 17.71% suffered back pain. It was therefore recommended that bank management should make concerted efforts to reduce rising prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders among bankers and bank-tellers by having ergonomics in mind when procuring office equipment, and by creating adequate breaks in the work schedules.

A gasolina é uma mistura complexa de substâncias, dentre elas estão hidrocarbonetos como o benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e xilenos (BTEX), sendo esses compostos emitidos para a atmosfera, com destaque ao benzeno, por ser comprovadamente carcinogênico. Objetivamos avaliar as concentrações de BTEX no ar de postos de revenda de combustíveis no Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, e calcular o risco de câncer associado a estas exposições. Foram realizados dois tipos de amostragem (fixa e móvel) adaptadas da metodologia nº 1.501 do Instituto Nacional de Segurança e Saúde Ocupacional (Estados Unidos), em seis postos de revenda de combustíveis na Zona Oeste da cidade. A amostragem fixa foi feita próxima às bombas de combustível, enquanto a móvel foi realizada através da coleta do ar na zona respiratória dos trabalhadores (frentistas), conforme estes se deslocavam pelo posto. As amostras foram analisadas por cromatografia gasosa com detecção por ionização em chama. Com os resultados das amo...

The aim of this study was to evaluate contamination levels and the frequency of detection of organochlorine (OCPs) and organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), pyrethroids, carbamates and polychlorinated biphenyls (seven PCB congeners) in a total of 534 samples of cow's, sheep's and goat's milk and dairy products from Croatia. Concentrations above the limit of quantification (LOQ) were measured for fourteen OCPs, nine OPPs, six pyrethroids, one carbamate and PCBs with a total of 172 results, and no concentrations exceeded the maximal residue levels defined by the European Union. The mean concentrations of pesticides and the sum of seven PCBs were determined in the ranges 0.92-17.4 µg/kg and 1.38-2.74 µg/kg. Pesticides were quantified in 27% of samples, and seven PCBs were quantified in 5.23% of samples. Among the three pesticide groups, the highest numbers of quantified results were found for OCPs (12.1-20.8%). The highest frequencies of detection were found for the sum of 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its isomers (DDTs), hexachlorobenzene and seven PCBs. The sum of seven PCBs was quantified within the range of 3.3-6.67% of samples per milk type and dairy products. Among the OPPs, the highest frequency of detection was found for chlorpyrifos in cow's milk. Based on the estimated daily intakes, chronic risk characterisation showed no risk for adults or ten-year-old children for the consumption of cow's milk and dairy products.

Pesticides and herbicides are being used worldwide to meet the food needs of the growing population and tackle the negative effects of climate change in agriculture. These agrochemicals find its way through water into our water bodies and food consumed on a daily basis. The active principle is usually assessed for toxicity and safe limits of tolerance determined by toxicology regulatory bodies. However, lack of good farming practices leads to overuse and alarming levels of these chemicals to be introduced into our ecosystem affecting humans and all life. Even though the active principle may be tolerable there have reports where the formulations used to prepare agrochemicals inadvertently increase the potency and toxicity of the preparations. Assessment of genotoxicity of agrochemicals therefore becomes of utmost importance before introducing them into the fields. Toxicity effects may be immediate, leading to massive cell death and or organ dysfunction or lead to DNA damages and epig...

One of the main issues in industrialized nations is work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD), which are linked to demanding and repetitive work environments. Repetitive actions and work without leisure can lead to musculoskeletal problems. To prevent this occurrence, promoting healthy lifestyle self-care management is essential. The main objective of this case study was to assess the risk of workrelated musculoskeletal disorders in professional physiotherapist and their workplace self-management. Case Description: a case of a 39-year-old male assistant professor cum clinical practitioner with 12 years of experience in the profession, who engages in using the computer for 6 hours a day for his academic and clinical documentation purposes, was assessed in the workstation. He complains of neck and shoulder pain after engaging in front of the computer for more than one hour, which he manages during the routine practice. He manages his pain by doing simple exercises like chin tuck-in and shoulder bracing by taking a short break every hour while working on a computer. Musculoskeletalrelated pain was analyzed using the VAS score (visual analogue scale), and the level of the risks was analyzed using the rapid entire body assessment (REBA) scale. The case study showed that professional physiotherapists have a high risk of MSDs due to their engagement in multiple tasks and less attention to body posture. Regular exercise in the workstation and ergonomic workplace awareness would prevent the occurrence of work-related MSD.