Studies were carried out to assess the effect of distance of sanitary pits on the microbial and heavy metal levels in hand dug well water samples consumed by people living in Akwuke, Enugu South Local government area of Enugu State, using standard biochemical and spectrophotometric analysis. The well water samples were digested with aqua-regia and four heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn) were assayed in the well water samples at sampling distances of 3, 6 and 10 m respectively from the sanitary pits. The range of mean bacterial counts (cfu/g) for the four detected pathogenic bacteria; S. aureus, Klebsiella pnemeoniae, Echerichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis were 83 -3730, 510 -870, 50 -2535 and 240 -3420 Cfu/g at sampling distances of 3, 6 and 10 m respectively from the sanitary pits. The mean bacteria counts of the four detected pathogenic organisms in the well water sample at sampling distances of 3 and 6 m respectively from the sanitary pits were above the WHO recommended threshold limits for a safe drinking water. The mean bacterial counts of Salmonella enteritidis in the well water samples of sampling distance of 10 m from the sanitary pits was above the WHO recommended permissible limits. At sampling distances of 3, 6 and 10 m from the sanitary pits, the mean range of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in the well water samples were, 0.03 -0.3, 0.02 -0.05, 0.46 -1.71 and 1.63 -7.03 µg/g respectively. The mean levels of Pb and Cd in the well water samples at sampling distances of 3 and 6 m respectively How to cite this paper: Okeke, O.

Studies were carried out to determine asbestos fiber levels in cosmetic (talc powder) and non-cosmetic (gauze pad, plastic filler and ceiling tiles) products sold in market outlets within Enugu, metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria, using standard established procedures. The samples were pretreated based on its physical make-up and the asbestos fiber levels determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersing spectroscopy techniques. The mean range of asbestos fiber was, 0.

Studies were carried out to comparatively assess the proximate and mineral composition of Solanum aethiopicum L. and Cucumis sativus L. fruit samples grown in the South Eastern and North Central regions of Nigeria respectively, following standard analytical procedures and instrumentation. The mineral elements (Na, K, Zn and Ca) were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer after wet digestion of the samples while the proximate parameters (ash content, moisture content, crude fibre content, crude protein content, crude fat content and carbohydrate content) were determined in accordance with standard analytical procedures. The mean range of the moisture, crude fibre, crude protein, crude fat, ash and carbohydrate contents in the S. aethiopicum L. fruit samples grown in the North Central and South Eastern regions of Nigeria were 72.49 -88.23, 2.15 -3.67, 1.31 -1.85, 0.43 -0.76, 0.51 -0.84 and 3.18% -5.72% respectively. Additionally, the moisture, crude fibre, crude protein, crude fat, ash and carbohydrate contents in the Cucumis sativus L. fruit samples grown in the South Eastern and North Central regions of Nigeria, had mean range of values of 93.60 -98.76, 0.53 -0.77, 2.14 -2.84, 0.29 -0.46, 0.90 -1.14 and 3.88% -4.66% respectively. The range of mean values of Na, K, Zn and Ca in the S. aethiopicum L. fruit samples from the South Eastern and North Central regions of Nigeria were 0.36 -0.57, 1.92 -2.80, 0.84 -1.

This study compared the physicochemical parameters and heavy metal levels in soil samples from selected anthropogenic sites within Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria using standard analytical methods. Soil samples at depths (0-20 cm) and (20-40 cm) were collected from waste dump sites, metal scrap dumps, fuel filling stations and auto-mechanic workshops and analyzed for physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal levels. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for heavy metal determination while conventional analytical methods were employed for physicochemical parameters evaluation of the soil samples. At soil depths 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm the respective mean range of pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter and organic carbon contents in the soil samples were, 6.33-6.74, 101.46-123.21 µS/cm, 6.41%-8.35% and 13.73%-16.14% for auto-mechanic workshops; 6.92-7.43, 56.46-60.02 µS/cm, 1.53%-2.20% and 11.93%-12.60% for fuel filling stations; 7.14-7.84, 70.81-77.71 µS/cm, 3.81%-4.12% and 8.57%-9.24% for metal scrap dumps; 6.54-6.81, 94.40-100.71 µS/cm, 8.83%-10.75% and 18.26%-20.81% for waste dump sites. The pH of the top soil samples from auto-mechanical workshop was below the WHO recommended limits for agricultural purposes. The physic-chemical characteristics of the soil samples decreased with soil depths indicating therefore that anthropogenic activities greatly influence the soil characteristics at the top soils than How to cite this paper:

Studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of distance of sanitary pits on the physicochemical properties of hand-dug well water samples consumed by people living in Akwuke community, Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, using standard analytical procedures and instrumentation. The mean range of pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, nitrate and sulphate in the well water samples at the determined sampling distances of 3, 6 and 10 m from the sanitary pits were 5.9 -7.24, 1.92 -6.63 NTU, 122.03 -303.91 µs/cm, 100.00 -261.90 mg/L, 1.21 -4.68 mg/L and 28.89 -49/61 mg/L respectively. The investigated mean physicochemical parameters of the well water samples were generally observed to increase with decrease in the distance of the well water samples from the sanitary pits. The levels of the determined physicochemical parameter of the well water samples at sampling distances of 3, 6, and 10 m respectively from the sanitary pits were statistically significant. The mean pH values of the well water samples at sampling distances of 3 and 6 m respectively from the sanitary pits were below the WHO recommended threshold limits for safe drinking water. Additionally, the mean values of turbidity and total dissolved solids of the well water samples at a sampling distance of 3 m from the sanitary pits were above the WHO permissible limits. The pH, turbidity and total dissolved solids are How to cite this paper: Ezeh, E.