Sequestration of p-nitrophenol from liquid phase by poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) containing thioamide group.

In this paper, the adsorptive performance of synthesized thiourea (TU) modified poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) (TU-P(AN-co-AA)) polymeric adsorbent for capturing p-nitrophenol (PNP) from aqueous solution was investigated. TU-P(AN-co-AA) was synthesized via the redox polymerization method with acrylonitrile (AN) and acrylic acid (AA) as the monomers, then modified chemically with thiourea (TU). Characterization analysis with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental microanalysis for CHNS, zeta potential measurement, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis and thermal analyses were carried out to determine the morphology and physico-chemical properties of the synthesized polymer. The characterization results indicated successful surface modification of polymer with TU. The performance of TU-P(AN-co-AA) for the removal of PNP was investigated under various experimental parameters (adsorbent dosage, initial adsorbate concentration, contact time and temperature). The results demonstrated that the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model best described the equilibrium and kinetic data, respectively. Thermodynamic studies showed that the uptake of PNP by TU-P(AN-co-AA) was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The results of the regeneration studies suggested that the TU-P(AN-co-AA) polymer is a reusable adsorbent with great potential for removing PNP from wastewater.

What health professionals at the Jos University Teaching Hospital insert in their ears.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine if health professionals in our hospital insert objects in their ears and the complications which follow. METHODOLOGY: In this prospective cross-sectional study, validated questionnaires were filled by health professionals working in our Teaching Hospital and analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and forty one questionnaires were analyzed involving subjects aged 25 to 59 years with a mean of 42 years (SD = +/- 12.5). There were 94 males and 47 females with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Thirty four (24.1%) nurses participated in the study followed by Resident doctors (n = 22, 15.6%) and Intern doctors (n = 20, 14.2%). One hundred and twenty nine (91.5%) individuals 'clean' their ears with majority of them (n = 48, 37.2%) doing so occasionally. Multiple objects were inserted into the ears by 32 (24.0%) subjects and single objects by 98 (76%). The commonest object inserted into the ears to effect 'cleaning' was cotton buds in 115 cases. Twelve (9.3%) subjects recorded ear injuries in the process. Seven (53.3%) subjects with injuries inserted objects into their ears daily. Seven subjects recorded injuries with the use of match sticks. Sixty three (44.7%) subjects had accumulation of cerumen. Cotton buds (n = 29) were the commonest method for cerumen removal. Complications recorded from the removal of cerumen were otalgia (n = 2) and vertigo (n = 1). CONCLUSION: Health professionals in our centre have a practice of inserting various potentially dangerous objects into their ears.

Levels, dietary intake and risk of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in foods commonly consumed in Nigeria.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are non-reactive flame retardants listed among the persistent organic pollutants. This study assesses the levels and health risk of PBDEs in foods commonly consumed by the adult population in Southwest Nigeria. Eight different food categories were collected and extracted using standard QuEChERS protocol prior to analysis by gas chromatography with micro electron capture detector. Aquatic foods had the highest maximum concentration of the eight PBDEs congeners, 748 pg/g; followed by 80.3 pg/g and 54.9 pg/g in edible oil and meat products, respectively. Dairy products had the lowest concentration (0.46 pg/g). The estimated average dietary intake of PBDEs by an adult was 131 pg/kg bw/day. Based on the levels of PBDEs found in common foods consumed by the adult population in Southwest Nigeria, there is unlikely to be a health risk. However, there is a need to investigate the dietary intake of PBDEs in other food categories, especially by vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly.