Ecological pollution features and health risk exposure to heavy metals via street dust and topsoil from Nkpor and Onitsha in Anambra, Nigeria.

The manuscript presents the investigation results on the pollution and risk of metal mines, and it is considered an important report on environmental pollution near mines in Nigeria, with archival value. The research involved soil sampling and heavy metal analysis for about 12 months in three metal mines. Based on these results, the paper provides information on pollution levels and hazards using well-known methods like pollution and ecological risk indexes. The increasing population in urban communities attracted by various industrial, economic and social activities causes contamination of atmospheric environment that can affect human health. We investigated heavy metal distributions, correlation coefficient among elements, ecological indices and probable health risk assessment in street dust and topsoil from Nkpor and Onitsha urban suburb, Nigeria. The mean concentration of heavy metals in car dust from Onitsha and Nkpor suburb follows thus: Fe > Mn > Cu > As > Pb > Ni > Cr. The decreasing trend of heavy metal in rooftop dust from both area: Fe > Mn > Cu > Pb > As > Ni > Cr whereas metal contents in topsoil were: Fe > Mn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr > As for both areas. The degree of pollution indices was characterized by contamination factor (CF), geo-accumulation factor (I-geo), pollution load index (PLI), Nemerow (PN), ecological and potential ecological risk index (ER and PERI) which indicated low pollution in the urban street environment. The results of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) showed that the estimated heavy metals displayed sources from atmospheric deposition, natural origin and anthropogenic sources. Risk assessment revealed that ingestion of dust and soil was the significant route for heavy metals exposure to the populace followed by inhalation, then dermal contact. Considering all factors, non-cancer risk was more prominent in children than adults and no significant health hazard could be attributed to both aged groups as of the period of study except for As and Ni that needs constant monitoring to avoid exceeding organ damaging threshold limit of 1 × 10-4.

Groundwater pollution and risk assessment using indexed-based models: a case study of Igbo-Etiti area, eastern Nigeria.

Water is one of the most abundant resources on earth not evenly distributed. Due to the high shortage of water sources in Igbo-Etiti and intensive agricultural practices in the area, assessment of groundwater pollution and its potential risk to contamination is imperative, as its remediation when contaminated is extremely challenging. Vertical electrical sounding (VES) and physicochemical analysis were carried out in twenty (20) locations and five groundwater samples, respectively, with the aim to evaluate the groundwater pollution indices and the ecological and human health risk associated with its pollution. The VES results delineated five geologic layers and ten characteristic curve types. The fourth layer with the aid of the VES results constrained by the borehole lithologic information on the water bearing geologic unit was delineated as the major exploitable aquifer layer. Results of groundwater vulnerability to pollution classified the area into low (15%), moderate (60%), and high (20%) vulnerability. Physicochemical analysis results on the studied groundwater revealed acidic (pH 4.6) to alkaline (pH 7.2) groundwater conditions. Pollution index of groundwater results delineated a moderate to very high pollution index, with cadmium and arsenic consistently identified as the heavy metals contaminating the groundwater. Ecological risk assessment revealed a moderate to very high integrated potential ecological risk, while human health risk results delineated a target hazard index greater than one in all the studied groundwater samples. This study will serve as a guide to the residents and society in sustainable development decision-making that will preserve the quality of the study area groundwater.

Occupational health intervention for work-life balance and burnout management among teachers in rural communities.

This study examined the efficacy of the occupational health model of rational emotive behavioral on work-life balance (WLB) and burnout management (BOM) among public school teachers. The study was a pretest-posttest randomized control group design. The participants were 141 teachers in rural communities in Enugu state Nigeria drawn with emphasis on inclusion criteria. Two instruments were used for the data. Data were analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance. The result showed that rational emotive occupational health coaching (REOHC) led to a significant increase in the management of WLB and burnout among teachers compared to their counterparts in the control group. At the follow-up stage, REOHC proved to be effective over a period of 3 months. REOHC is a therapeutic intervention strategy that is valid and reliable over time in the management of WLB and BOM among teachers. The researchers are optimistic that the extension of REOHC to other related social and psychological-based self-defeating belief by social workers, psychologists, counselors, and employers of labors can enhance their productivity and emotionality in the home and workplace.

A blended rational emotive occupational health coaching for job-stress among teachers of children with special education needs.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Heightened stress tends to undermine both teachers' efficacy and students' outcomes. Managing job stress in teachers of children with special education needs is continually recommended due to the increased demands for the teachers to adapt curriculum content, learning materials and learning environments for learning. This study investigated the efficacy of blended Rational Emotive Occupational Health Coaching in reducing occupational stress among teachers of children with special needs in Abia State, Nigeria. METHOD: The current study adopted a group-randomized waitlist control trial design with pretest, post-test and follow-up assessments. Participants (N = 83) included teachers of children with special education needs in inclusive and specialized schools. The bREOHC group was exposed to intersession face-to-face and online REOC program weekly for twelve (12) weeks. Data were collected using Single Item Stress Questionnaire (SISQ), Teachers' Stress Inventory and Participants' Satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ). Data collected at baseline; post-test as well as follow-up 1 and 2 evaluations were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, t-test statistics, repeated measures ANOVA and bar charts. RESULTS: Results revealed that the mean perceived stress, stress symptoms and the total teachers' stress score of the bREOHC group at post-test and follow up assessments reduced significantly, compared to the waitlisted group. Participants also reported high level of satisfaction with the therapy and procedures. CONCLUSION: From the findings of this study, we conclude that blended REOHC is efficacious in occupational stress management among teachers of children with special education needs.

Impacts of sunspot number and Geomagnetic aa-index on climate of Wet Zone West Africa during solar cycles 22-24.

Using the facilities at Heliophysics Science Division of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA, we attempted to investigate the impact of solar magnetic activities on the climate of Wet Zone West Africa. The solar activity data namely, Sunspot Number (SSN) was obtained from the Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels; and Geomagnetic aa-index was obtained from World Data Center, Kyoto, Japan. Surface Air Temperature (SAT) and Rainfall data [for Port Harcourt in Nigeria and Abidjan in Cote D'Ivoire] were obtained from the HadCRUT-4 project of Climate Research Unit of University of East Anglia, United Kingdom. Firstly, we carried out Time Series Analysis of SSN and Geomagnetic aa-index spanning from 1950 to 2016. Secondly, we performed Regression Analysis on both solar activity data and climate variables to estimate the impact of solar magnetic activity on the Wet Zone West African climate. The Time Series Analysis showed that SSN variation was in-phase with Geomagnetic aa-index in all the solar cycles studied. Thus, Geomagnetic aa-index can be used as a proxy for studying solar magnetic activities. Performance of Regression Analysis showed that SSN regressed on SAT and Rainfall amounted to an average of 0.49 and 0.02% respectively throughout Solar Cycles 22-24. Furthermore, a regression of Geomagnetic aa-index on SAT and Rainfall yielded an average of 0.145 and 0.125% respectively. Our models showed that the variability of SAT and Rainfall in Wet Zone West Africa during Solar Cycles 22-24 are far less than 1%. Hence, the influence of SSN and Geomagnetic aa-index on SAT and Rainfall is less than 1%; and could cause 'very small' effect. These weak impacts are proofs that the variability of SAT and Rainfall were most probably not effected by SSN and Geomagnetic aa-index. Consequently, the variability of SAT and Rainfall in Wet Zone West Africa could not be attributed to SSN and Geomagnetic aa-index. We therefore, attempt to conclude that climate variability in Wet Zone West Africa is most probably not driven by solar magnetic activity, but could be attributed to anthropogenic activities.

A group-focused rational emotive behavior coaching for management of academic burnout among undergraduate students: Implications for school administrators.

BACKGROUND: High-stress level affects students' health and many of them experiencing high levels of stress are at risk of burnout. School administrators are often concerned about the experiences and negative effects of burnout among students and staff. Burnout is described as a psychological reaction to chronic stress. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of a group-focused intervention (rational emotive behavior coaching, REBC) on academic burnout among undergraduate students attending public universities in Southeast Nigeria. METHODS: A group randomized controlled trial design was adopted for this study. A total of 52 convenient samples of undergraduate students (with a high degree of burnout symptoms) took part in the research. We used a group REBT program manual for the management of burnout which was complemented with REBC techniques. Data were gathered with the aid of the perceived stress scale (PSS-10) and Oldenburg Burnout inventory-student (OLBI-S). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and paired t test at .05 probability level. RESULTS: Results showed that the group-focused REBC program significantly alleviated burnout symptoms among students in the treatment group compared to students in the control group as measured by OLBI-S subscales: exhaustion (F(1,51) = 41.789, P = .000, (Equation is included in full-text article.), ΔR = 0.634, SE = 1.00), and disengagement (F(1,51) = 196.036, P = .000, (Equation is included in full-text article.), ΔR = 0.869, SE = 0.69). The students who benefitted from the group-focused REBC program maintained reduced symptoms of burnout after three months when the researchers conducted a follow-up as measured by OLBI-S subscales: exhaustion (F(1,51) = 34.012, P = .000, (Equation is included in full-text article.), ΔR = 0.467, SE = 1.21), and disengagement (F(1,51) = 108.941, P = .000, (Equation is included in full-text article.), ΔR = 0.765, SE = 0.85). CONCLUSION: This research indicates that group-focused REBC can be applied to reduce burnout symptoms among undergraduate students. The group-focused REBC intervention may be adapted to overcome employee burnout and school administrators' burnout. Researchers may need to investigate the possibility of storing and harnessing data from studies on REBC and burnout and delivering computer-based/internet REBC program following evidence-based computing strategies and principles.

Effect of rational emotive behavior therapy on stress management and irrational beliefs of special education teachers in Nigerian elementary schools.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: From a rational emotive behavior therapy viewpoint, stress-related disorders originate from irrational beliefs and self-defeating philosophies and attitude. Individuals affected by stress are different from those ones with neurotic problems mainly because the stressed individuals have irrational beliefs about specific, short-term, or more readily identifiable events, in contrast to the more mundane and diffuse difficulties faced by neurotic persons. The present study aimed to examine the impact of a rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) intervention on the stress levels and irrational beliefs among special education teachers in elementary schools in Nigeria. METHODS: We employed a group randomized controlled trial design for this study. Eighty six participants recruited from elementary schools in the South-eastern part of the country were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (n = 43) or no-intervention control group (n = 43). We used the REBT Stress Management Manual to conduct the intervention. Stress levels and irrational beliefs were assessed using self-report questionnaires. Participants in the treatment group took part in the REBT program for 12 weeks and a follow-up program for 2 weeks. Analysis of the data was completed through a 2 × 3 within × between-subjects repeated measures analysis of variance, and independent samples t test. RESULTS: Results showed that the REBT group experienced a significant mean decline in stress levels and their beliefs shifted to rational ones both at post-treatment and follow-up. In contrast, the participants in the no-intervention control group showed no improvements at either posttreatment or follow-up sessions. CONCLUSION: Rational-emotive behavior therapy is an effective therapeutic modality that can be applied by REBT clinicians for the management of stress. Additional clinical assessments will be necessary to further confirm the impact of an REBT intervention on teachers' stress management and irrational beliefs in Nigerian elementary school setting.

A rational-emotive stress management intervention for reducing job burnout and dysfunctional distress among special education teachers: An effect study.

BACKGROUND: Job-related burnout and distress are adverse stress responses which affect individuals in their occupational environment. This study aimed at investigating the effect of a rational-emotive stress management program on job burnout and dysfunctional distress among special education teachers in Nigeria. METHODS: A pretest-posttest randomized control group design was used. The participants in the study were 54 special education teachers. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. Participants were allocated to either the treatment group (n = 28 [59.1%]) or the waitlist control group (n = 26 [48.1%]), respectively. A rational-emotive stress management manual was used to deliver the intervention. We statistically analyzed the data collected at three-time points with repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: At baseline, the job-related burnout symptoms and distress scores of participants were high. However, an intention-to-treat analysis showed that the rational-emotive stress management intervention program was efficacious in reducing the levels of job-related burnout symptoms and dysfunctional distress among participants assigned to the treatment group, compared to a waitlisted group at post-treatment and follow-up meetings. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of a rational-emotive stress management intervention in reducing the level of job-related burnout and distress in a sample of special education teachers in Nigeria. Occupational health counsellors and other clinicians with sufficient knowledge of rational-emotive behavior therapy framework are urged to employ this approach in assisting other employees in managing job burnout symptoms, and distress.

Effects of a rational-emotive health education intervention on stress management and irrational beliefs among technical college teachers in Southeast Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Stress is the product of how an individual reacts and adapts to the specific demands and threats they encounter while carrying out given tasks. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a rational-emotive health education intervention (REHEI) on stress management, and irrational beliefs in a sample of technical college teachers in Southeast Nigeria. METHOD: The study design was a pretest-posttest control group. Repeated measures analysis of variance, paired t test and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze the data collected. RESULTS: The REHEI significantly reduced teacher stress in those teaching staff exposed to the treatment intervention, relative to a waitlist control group. Furthermore, the REHEI program significantly decreased irrational beliefs about teaching in those teaching staff exposed to the treatment intervention compared to a waitlist control group. CONCLUSION: The REHEI program can be used to coach teachers on how to manage and cope with stress and overcome irrational beliefs in teaching.

Geoelectric Evaluation of Aquifer Potential and Vulnerability of Northern Paiko, Niger State, Nigeria.

This study was carried out using vertical electrical sounding (VES) to evaluate the groundwater potential and the aquifer protective capacity of Northern Paiko. Sixty vertical electrical soundings were obtained across the study area using Schlumberger electrode configuration. Three to four geoelectric layers were delineated from the interpreted results. The stratigraphy of the subsurface shows: topsoil (62.8-3082 Ωm), weathered layer (15.2-80 368 Ωm), fractured layer (191-236 672 Ωm), and the fresh basement (79.9-308 865 Ωm). The weathered layer was delineated as the major aquiferous horizon. From the results, the resistivity, thickness, and longitudinal conductance maps were drawn. It was observed that groundwater potential is low in about 76.7% of the study area. This study has also shown that the aquifer protective capacity of most parts of the study area is poor (83.3%), thus rendering the aquifer vulnerable to contamination.

Solar quiet day ionospheric source current in the West African region.

The Solar Quiet (Sq) day source current were calculated using the magnetic data obtained from a chain of 10 magnetotelluric stations installed in the African sector during the French participation in the International Equatorial Electrojet Year (IEEY) experiment in Africa. The components of geomagnetic field recorded at the stations from January-December in 1993 during the experiment were separated into the source and (induced) components of Sq using Spherical Harmonics Analysis (SHA) method. The range of the source current was calculated and this enabled the viewing of a full year's change in the source current system of Sq.