July 2011

Trace element concentrations of soils of Ife-Ijesa area South-western Nigeria

  Accumulation of selected trace elements on the surface and sub-soil of the Ife-Ijesa area of southwestern Nigeria was investigated. This was with a view to ascertaining the levels of these elements on some agricultural land that have been receiving chemical fertilizers and pesticides for high crop productivity in the study area. From the nine selected soil types, composite soil samples were taken to the...

Author(s): Aderonke A. Okoya, Olabode I. Asubiojo and Adeagbo A. Amusan

July 2011

Preliminary phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of Agave sisalana Perrine juice (waste)

  Phytochemical and antimicrobial properties of the aqueous and methanolic extract of theAgave sisalana Perrine juice (waste) were investigated to evaluate its medicinal properties. The phytochemical screening reveals the presence of saponins, glycosides, phlobatannins, terpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides in the aqueous extract of the A. sisalanaPerrine juice (waste). Steroids were...

Author(s):   Ade-Ajayi A. F., Hammuel C., Ezeayanaso C., Ogabiela E. E., Udiba U. U.,  Anyim B. and Olabanji O.

July 2011

Chemical fractionation of heavy metals in soils around the vicinity of automobile mechanic workshops in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

  The study of heavy metals in environmental niches is essential, especially with their potential toxicity to human life. Metal toxicity depends on chemical associations in soils. For this reason, determining the chemical form of a metal in soils is important to evaluate its mobility and bioavailability. In this manner sequential extraction was used to fractionate seven heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Fe and...

Author(s): M. M. Achi, A. Uzairu, C. E. Gimba and O. J. Okunola

July 2011

Occurrence of paraquat residues in some Nigerian crops, vegetables and fruits

  Pesticides constitute the major source of potential environmental hazard to man and animal, as they are present and concentrated in the food chain. Paraquat (1,11-dimethyl-4,41-bipyridylium dichloride) is one of the most highly toxic herbicide to be marketed over the last 60 years. Although, Paraquat (PQ) has been banned or severely restricted in most countries, its use continues in some, especially in...

Author(s): Akinloye, O. A., Adamson, I., Ademuyiwa, O. and Arowolo, T. A.