LEAF SPOT DISEASE OF MUSTARD PLANT AND ITS VARIATION ON PREVAILING ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION LEVELS | PLANT CELL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Environmental pollution is a major issue that is so important to our existence and threatens our fragile environment. It is expected that air pollution would have a pronounced impact on vegetation close to industry. The microbial group is directly and indirectly affected by air contaminants. Pathogenesis may be impaired by interactions between air pollution and plant pathogens in mustard plants. The vulnerability to microbial pathogens of plants growing around contaminated sites may be altered and disease production may be impaired.

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DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN SOIL FROM SELECTED DUMPSITES IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Composite samples were collected from the six refuse dumpsites and analyzed for heavy metals concentrations using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS VGB 210 system). The concentrations of the heavy metals in (mg/Kg) were in the following order: Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn>Ni>Co>Cd>V>Pb. The values of the heavy metals observed in the different dumpsites were lower than their corresponding average value in shale. However, the values from the different dumpsites showed some relationship with industrial activities. In each of the metals, the highest values were obtained in parts of Port Harcourt where there is serious presence of industrial work. The contamination factor (CF) revealed that dumpsites soils were not contaminated with any of the heavy metals and do not seem to pose danger presently. Therefore, more regulatory activities by the relevant agencies should be put in place as to forestall future occurrence of accumulation that might pose danger to the environment.

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“PRIMITIVE KNOWLEDGE”? REFLECTIONS ON UBUNTU AND DAOISM ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE ZAMBEZI RIVER BASIN

Plato lamented nearly 2500 years ago that land degradation in the city of Athens had stripped it off the lush hills of Greece. Among the key forms of degradation are deforestation, drought, siltation of rivers, destruction of water catchment areas, soil erosion, poaching and pollution due to industrialization. This destruction has been going on unabated despite awareness creation through education and also legislations. The greed of humanity for exploitation of the environment for profits has exposed the soft underbelly of human civilization giving rise to phenomena like global warming, floods, drought and now diseases associated with environmental degradation are a threat to the survival of mankind.

Ubuntu is a philosophy that recognizes the humanness of Africans whereby the sense of collectiveness imbues the collective responsibility to others. “We are, therefore I am”. However, this restriction of ubuntu to humanity only is problematic since it negates the special relationship homo sapiens have towards the flora and fauna. Traditional African knowledge systems utilizes proverbs, cultural beliefs, taboos, totems, shrines as ways of promoting man’s tolerance towards the environment whereby mankind is just but a mere caretaker. African philosophy encourages a collective sense of responsibility to conservation. In most African communities, the practice of meshing environmental seasons and animal identities with that of clan names, family lineage names, environment seasons creates a sense of human/animal similitudes which encourages a communal commitment to conservation of flora and fauna.  Majority of the communities living in the Zambezi river basin are grappling with challenges posed by climate change. These communities had and still have their own indigenous knowledge systems that enabled them to live harmoniously with the environment.

On the other hand, according to the earliest Daoist texts, when human nature is aligned with the rest of nature, order and harmony are inherent. Thus, according to Daoism we should therefore aspire to being simple and unadorned, with no illusions about our own significance in the cosmos. Here, Daoism treats humanity simply as a part of nature and not as a master of nature. This paper examines how, since time immemorial, ubuntu and Daoism has been used to conserve the ‘natural’ environment in the process making its use sustainable which could come in handy especially in addressing the challenges posed by environmental degradation in the Zambezi river basin.

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ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATIONS IN SURFICIAL WATER OF SILVER RIVER, SOUTHERN IJAW, BAYELSA STATE, NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Water samples were collected from three different locations along the Silver River, Bayelsa State and were analyzed for the concentrations of selected heavy metals. This was done with the aim to determine if the concentrations of the metals exceeded the minimum requirement for drinking water by WHO. The result showed that the examined metals; cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (N), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and mercury (Hg) concentrations were between 0.714±0.131-2.414±0.648, 1.742±0.214-3.812±1.136, 1.694±0.331-3.725±1.203, 0.443±0.06-2.717±0.782, 2.171±0.520-3.691±0.669, 5.167±2.063-8.239±2.411, 2.891±0.897-4.489±1.093, 0.349±0.062-2.891±1.033 and 0.0011±0.00-0.0024±0.00 mg/L respectively. All the values observed for the individual heavy metals except Hg were higher than the WHO value for domestic water. The contamination factor index analyzed from the concentrations of the heavy metals showed different degrees or levels of contamination – pollution of the water by the individual metals examined. Therefore, the water is not good for human consumption. The government should make practicable efforts to stop the input sources of these metals into the Silver River water body.

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Determination Of Chemical And Gross Organic Pollutant Levels In Leachates From Approved Waste Dumpsites, Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study was aimed at the determination of chemical and gross organic pollutants levels in leachates from some selected and government approved dumpsites in Port Harcourt metropolis. Leachates from the 3-selected dumpsites were analyzed and compared with the seasons, controls and established standards using descriptive statistical designs. Integrated samples were collected during both wet and dry seasons and analyzed for DO, BOD, ORP, Salinity and pH. The use of 2-way ANOVA, t-test, graphs and mean variation were applied to explain trend and variations. The results show that there was no significant difference in temporal dimension (seasonally) but high level spatial variation (stations) in most parameters occurred. Most chemical/ gross organic pollutants showed higher level concentrations during the dry season. Though some of the parameters were relatively low compared to standard limits; the study revealed that these dumpsites remain major polluting sources to the surrounding surface and ground water regimes. In order to recover these dumpsites from acute contamination, state government should ensure the use active remediation processes and treatment to reduce the effects of pollution to the ecosystem.

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