Impact of abattoirs and local textile (Adire and Kampala) effluents on Yemoja River in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Discharge of untreated wastewater into water bodies pollutes the receiving waters. This study assessed the impact of abattoir and Kampala designers' effluent discharge on the water quality of the Yemoja River in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Twenty-seven water samples collected at three points, covering 180 m length, for 6 months were assessed for physicochemical parameters and metals and compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) permissible standards. Most discharge point levels were found to be higher than their corresponding upstream and downstream values. Temperature, turbidity, magnesium, alkalinity, DO, TSS, phosphate, lead, BOD and potassium were found to be higher than normal levels for river water as prescribed by the WHO and SON while parameters like TDS, TS, calcium, chloride, nitrate, sulphate, iron and COD were lower than the standards. The total coliform values were higher than both national and international permissible limits, indicating contamination by human sewage or animal droppings. The water quality index indicated polluted water that is unfit for consumption. Findings from this research indicate that butchering and tie-and-dye activities have impacted river Yemoja water quality. Therefore, wastewater from the abattoir and textile industries be treated before discharge into water bodies.

The Content and Toxicological Risk Assessment of Trace Elemental Impurities (Pb and Cr) in Snacks from Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria.

The monitoring of food contamination by trace elemental impurities (TEIs) are major health challenges in developing countries. The present study evaluated the content and toxicological risk assessment of TEIs in commonly consumed snack/junk foods from Ogun State, Nigeria. TEIs (Pb and Cr) were determined in sixty snack food samples purchased from Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria. The TEIs were analysed in quadruplicates using atomic absorption spectrometry with flame atomization. TEI data were subjected to simple descriptive and inferential statistics. The toxicological risk assessment of TEIs was evaluated for hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI) and cancer risk (CR) using the United States Environmental Protection Agency-Integrated Risk Information System (USEPA-IRIS) model. Data showed the varying Pb levels of 8.22 ± 1.57 mg/kg in sausage to 12.25 ± 4.27 mg/kg in cocoyam chips higher than the permissible limit of the Codex Alimentarius of the Joint World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization. The toxicological risk assessment revealed the HQs greater than 1.0 for Pb and Cr in most snack foods consumed by adults and children, indicating adverse health problems. The CRs of Pb (children) and Cr (adults and children) also breached the acceptable limit of 1.0 × 10-4, signifying possible lifetime development of cancer. It is therefore necessary to periodically monitor the TEIs in snacks to protect the public health.