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The study assessed three physical properties of effluents from selected food processing centres and their effects on receiving water bodies in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state. Three replicates of both effluent and water samples from effluent-receiving water bodies were collected in 2023 and 2024 from Native Delicacy, Crunches, Chicken Republic and Kilimanjaro. The samples collected were taken to the Soil and Environmental Management Laboratory of Ebonyi State University for analyses of temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and mean separated using F-SLD (p<0.05). The results revealed that the effluent temperatures for all the study centres in the dry season ranged from 28.0 - 29.5oC and were higher than that of wet season values. The receiving water bodies' temperatures were lower than the effluent temperatures but higher than WHO standards in all the study centres. The TDS and TSS of effluent studied showed a significant difference in all the food processing centres and were higher in the dry season compared to the wet season in the receiving water bodies. The TDS value ranged from 46.80 - 55.60 mg/L in the dry season and 31.00 - 50.20 mg/L in the wet season though the values were higher than that of control and were within WHO standards. The study showed that the receiving water bodies were poor in quality and there is a need to treat them before use. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on industrial pollution in Abakaliki. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative impact of operations in informal auto mechanic workshops is a major public health concern, and its effect on surface water pollution cannot be overlooked. This current work evaluates the environmental impact of automobile waste on surface water quality in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria. A total of 108 surface water samples were taken in 2022 and 2023 from Abakaliki, Onueke, and Afikpo streams, and WHO as controls using standard analytical methods. Data sets were analyzed using Fisher's Significance Least Difference (F‐LSD) at the 0.05 probability level. The study showed that surface water appearance was slightly brown, and the observed upstream is acidic in nature, the midstream is alkaline, and the downstream is natural. Water samples from Abakaliki, Onueke, and Afikpo streams were observed to be hard since their concentration levels were above the WHO standard. Furthermore, the high concentrations of heavy metals (Pb and Mn) as well as the oil and grease content indicate that the surface water in the area of study is polluted and its overall quality is degraded. The study therefore concluded that automobile waste had a negative influence on the surface water quality in the study area. Based on these new findings, it is recommended that automobile waste be properly treated and disposed of to avoid their adverse effects on surface water quality. In addition, given the uncontrolled development of these informal auto workshops across the nation in recent years, there is a need for the execution of environmental standards connected to automobile service activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe environment has been damaged due to anthropogenic activities related to the production and consumption of cattle. The present study investigated the pollution potentials of slaughterhouse effluents on groundwater qualities in Ebonyi State Southeast Nigeria, with the specific objectives to determine the effect of slaughterhouse effluents on both microbiological, physicochemical and heavy metal parameters on the quality of groundwater. Eighty-four well water samples were taken in 2022 and 2023 from slaughterhouse locations, and a control location for the determination of physicochemical properties and microbiological contents using standard analytical methods. Datasets were analyzed using Fisher’s Significance Least Difference (F-LSD) at 0.05 probability level. The study recorded higher levels of physicochemical, BOD, COD, Salinity, bacterial and fungal counts in the slaughterhouses well waters when compared to the control well water. With the exception of chloride, ammonia, copper and electrical conductivity, all water parameters were significant in both years. The result of the study also demonstrated that, with the exception of ammonia, lead, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, salinity, salmonella spp, shigella spp, E. coli, and other coliforms, the majority of the analysed parameters were within the World Health Organisation recommended standard. In addition, as compared to the first year of study, the well water parameters were generally higher in the second year. In order to prevent groundwater pollution, the present study suggests that slaughterhouse effluents be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner through the segregation of waste materials to prevent groundwater pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insatiable demand for rock supplies has enticed numerous building and construction enterprises to participate in stone quarrying. This paper examines the environmental impact of quarrying on air quality in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. To achieve the main aim of the study, an objective was set to detect air pollutants at the quarry sites. A total of 220 air samples were measured from six points around the quarry locations and recorded in situ for analysis. The samples were measured three times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening) for three days. Gas monitors were used to monitor air pollutants. The generated data were subjected to completely random design (CRD) sampling techniques. The separation of means and tests was performed using Fisher's Least Significant Difference (FLSD) at a significance probability level of 5%. Based on statistical analysis, the findings detected significantly higher concentration levels of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide in the quarry areas than the value detected in the control area. The findings also confirmed higher noise levels in the locations. It was also observed that the concentration levels of the parameters differed from point to point and at different times of the day. This really means the occurrence of a high rate of air pollution in the study locations. Based on the above findings, it is highly recommended that air pollution control equipment be installed at quarry sites in order to reduce gaseous (pollutant) emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of perovskite, i.e. Sm0.8Sr0.2Fe0.8Co0.2O3-δ (SSFC1), Sm0.8Sr0.2Fe0.5Co0.5O3-δ (SSFC2), and Sm0.8Sr0.2Fe0.2Co0.8O3-δ (SSFC3) were (i) synthesised by employing a sol gel method with subsequent calcination at 1000 °C for 10 h and (ii) investigated for its activity towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline medium. The synthesised perovskites were examined by X-ray diffraction to determine the crystal structure of the material while the textural properties were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphology and microstructure were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The SSFC2 perovskite exhibited the highest catalytic activity, with a Tafel slope of 112 mV and an overpotential (η) of 0.400 V (V vs. RHE) to achieve 10 mA cm−2, as well as good stability in 0.1 M KOH in that it only showed an increase of 40 mV over a 2-h potentiodynamic scan. These SSFCn (n = 1, 2, or 3) perovskites exhibit extreme flexibility in their composition and allows for a simple approach in doping to enhance their activity for the OER, which make them good candidates for the OER in alkaline solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]