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This study evaluates human health, pollution, and radiological risk assessment of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn), radioisotopes (238U, 232Th, and 40K) and its associated radiological indices from dumpsite soils in Ogun State, Nigeria, using a calibrated atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and highly shielded γ-ray spectrometry using NaI(TI) detector. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) complemented by X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to evaluate the mineralogical composition of the soils. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to apportion the source of PTMs and the radioisotopes. The mean concentration of Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn obtained were 22.35, 17.95, 20.83, 19.02, and 75.88 mg kg−1, respectively. The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K ranged from 49.71 ± 16.3 − 314.15 ± 55.2, BDL − 87.54 ± 7.38, and BDL − 3721.3 ± 231.6 Bqkg−1, respectively. The values obtained were above the global average value in most of the samples. According to the four-pollution and ecological risk assessment model, the dumpsite soils are strongly to low polluted and enriched with toxic metals in the order Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd. The estimated carcinogenic risk of the three carcinogenic PTMs for children and adults were higher than the acceptable limit (1 × 10−6). The results of the PCA and HCA results are consistent with the correlation coefficient analysis which showed that mixed natural, anthropogenic and lithogenic sources mainly from aggregation of lead-containing materials in the waste on the dumpsite, vehicular emission and industrial discharges are the main sources of Pb, Ni, and Cd in the three studied dumpsites. Thus, dumpsite soil poses great threat to health, increased pollution and enhances the radiological risk to the general population via human multiple exposure routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iraqi Journal of Aquaculture is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Belgrade is the property of University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Petroselinum crispum, a bright green biennial shrub is widely used traditionally as a food additive and herbal remedies for many ailments. This study therefore aimed to assess the toxic effects of its leaf extract using some biochemical, haematological parameters. Methods: The toxic effects were assessed by quantifying liver enzymes such as serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total serum protein and liver weight. Effects on haematological parameters were assessed by analysis of parked cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cells (WBC) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations. Histopathological studies were done on the liver and kidneys. Results: The extract caused significant increase in serum activity of alanine amino transferase and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels at the dose of 1000 mg/kg. Other biochemical and haematological parameters were not affected at lower doses. Conversely, the liver weight was not affected after eight weeks of treatment at the dose levels studied. The organs obtained for pathological study, were structurally unchanged under histopathological evaluation at lower doses but inflammatory and necrotic features were observed at doses ? 1000 mg/kg. Conclusion: The results indicate that the leaf ethanol extract of Petroselinum crispum was hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic at continued oral doses equal to or more than 1000 mg/kg, but no obvious toxicity when used at lower doses. Therefore, there should be caution in its administration to avoid overdosing and known interaction with some medications. In addition, the plant should be kept away from pets and domestic animals and should not be cultivated on soil irrigated with waste water due to their ability to bio-accumulate toxic metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenically enhanced naturally occurring radionuclides 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K present in the tar-sand soil samples were measured by gamma ray spectrometer using a highly shielded NaI (TI) detector with the aim of evaluating the environmental radiological hazards. Mineralogical analysis and characterization was carried out using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The results obtained showed that the average activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 4 0 K ranges from BDL↔76.00 ± 12.00, BDL↔204.48 ± 13.02 and BDL↔755.6 ± 40.15 Bqkg −1 respectively. Eleven other radiological and hazard parameters were estimated to know the complete hazardous nature of the samples. The values obtained for radionuclides and all its associated radiological and health hazard parameters were all higher than the world's average set by UNSCEAR. Five different minerals were identified and characterized as major and minor minerals. The mean radionuclides activity concentrations, radium equivalent and dose rate of measured radionuclides were compared with other literature values. RESRAD computer code was used to calculate the probability of excess lifetime cancer incurred by dwellers of the tar-sand deposit site, the level of which was determined to be 2.3 × 10 −3 ( 23 10000 ) . Spatial distribution of natural radionuclides in the study area was also investigated for radioactivity disequilibrium. Multivariate statistics were applied to establish the effect of mineralogy on radionuclides activity. Therefore, the tar-sand soil samples are considered to pose serious radiological hazard and cancer risk to human through the multiple routes of exposure and significant soil remediation action need to be taken for future use of the soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato is a vegetable crop commonly grown in Nigeria and consumed by most people. It contains vitamins and vital nutrients that are essential for good health. This study was conducted to determine the effect of magnetization of irrigation water on the growth, yield and nutritional qualities of tomatoes under deficit irrigation. Tomato seeds ('Roma VF' and 'UC 82B' varieties) were planted in 96 buckets (11 liters capacity), 48 buckets for magnetized water (MW) and 48 buckets for non-magnetized water (NMW), grown in a greenhouse and harvested 82 days after planting. The irrigation water was treated with 30 pieces of 10×25×50 mm neodymium magnets (1.2 Tesla). The tomato plants were subjected to deficit irrigation to determine the effect on the performance of tomatoes at 100% (1 liter), 80% (0.8 liters), 60% (0.60 liters) and 50% (0.50 liter) water requirement. Each treatment was replicated 6 times for both MW and NMW. The MW increased the growth of 'Roma VF' and 'UC 82B' varieties by 5.44-38.10% and the stem girth by 21.13-49.01%. MW increased the yield of 'Roma VF' variety by 110.00%, 36.00%, 6.26% and 24.00% for 100%, 80%, 60% and 50% of water application, respectively but increased the yield of 'UC 82B' variety by 56.52% for 100% water application. MW also improved vitamin A and C content by 7.89-27.94% and 0.45-19.06%, respectively. The concentrations of Lead were slightly higher in the tomato irrigated with MW than in the NMW but values of other heavy metals were not consistent and very close for both MW and NMW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]