A population-based-cross-sectional survey was carried out to investigate the potential risk of exposure to premium motor spirit (PMS) fumes in Calabar, Nigeria, among Automobile Mechanics (AM), Petrol Station Attendants (PSA) and the general population. Structured questionnaire was administered on the randomly chosen subjects to elicit information on their exposure to PMS. Duration of exposure was taken as the length of work in their various occupations. Venous blood was taken for methaemoglobin (MetHb) and packed cells volume (PCV). Mean MetHb value was higher in AM (7.3%) and PSA (5.8%) than in the subjects from the general population (2.7%). PCV was lower in PSA (30.8%), than AM (33.3%) and the subjects from the general population (40.8%). MetHb level was directly proportional, and PCV inversely related, to the duration of exposure. The study suggested increased exposure to petrol fumes among AM, PSA, and MetHb as a useful biomarker in determining the level of exposure to benzene in petrol vapour.

Four hundred (400) adult black-skinned snails, two hundred (200) each of Archachatina marginata and Achatina fulica with weight ranging from 50.42 g to 198.84 g and from 100.10 g to 184.00 g for A. marginata and A. fulica respectively selected based on active appearance, number of whorls and no injury on the foot and/or shell of a base population from a population gathered in the wild within the Niger Delta region were used for the study. Data collected on the selected snails were used to evaluate phenotypic correlations and multiple regression functions which were used for predicting body weights from quantitative traits. Results obtained from the study showed that A. fulica snails with 4 whorls are genetically heavier than A. marginata snails with 4 whorls. This is because there was large and significantly different (P<0.001) disparity in values of measured quantitative traits (mean body weights) among the two breeds. The results of phenotypic correlations among quantitative traits of the two breeds indicated positive, strong and very high significant (P<0.001) correlation coefficients (r p ) between body weight and all body components studied. Whereas for A. fulica snails, there were positive but lower significant (P<0.05) phenotypic correlation coefficients (r p ) between body weight and some body components studied. In fact, there were no significant (P>0.05) phenotypic correlation coefficients (r p ) between shell length and shell 'mouth' width (r = 0.250) and between shell 'mouth' length and shell 'mouth' width (r = 0.187) for A. fulica snails. The prediction equations evolved for body weights of growing snails with 4 whorls using quantitative traits from A. marginata and A. fulica indicated that these quantitative traits, namely; shell length, shell width, shell 'mouth' length and shell 'mouth' width best predicted body weight for A. marginata and A. fulica snails with 4 whorls. The quantitative or phenotypic traits of the two breeds of snail studied could be chosen to differentiate as well as characterize growing snails in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

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