The levels of some heavy metals in spent engine oils and in the fingernails of auto-mechanics were studied. Engine oils and fingernails were collected from auto-mechanics who had practiced between ≤ 5 years, ≤ 10 years and ≤ 15 years in 3 auto-mechanic workshop clusters. Pb, Ni, V, Cd, and As levels were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The mean levels of Pb, Ni, V and Cd in spent engine oils were 14.31, 2.25, 0.38 and 2.07 ppm respectively, and these far exceeded their permissible exposure limits. The mean levels of heavy metals in the fingernails of auto-mechanics who had practiced for ≤ 5 years, ≤ 10 years and ≤ 15 years were all considerably below their pathological thresholds. Thus, auto-mechanics in the study area are exposed to unsafe levels of Pb, Ni, V, and Cd, but no immediate threat of their toxicities in the study population exist. However, a progressive bioaccumulation of the heavy metals was observed with increase in years of practice.

The effect of modified proprietary poultry feed on cholesterol excretion in laying birds was evaluated. The study sort to lower the cholesterol content of eggs at the point of their physiological formation via a modification of the proprietary feed fed to laying poultry birds. This was with a view to lower the net cholesterol content in their eggs, thereby lowering the cholesterol levels available in such eggs for intake upon consumption. A 20% rice bran modification of the proprietary feed was made. Animal subjects were divided into experimental and control groups and the mean total cholesterol in their faecal droppings where determined before and after varying their feeding programs. Whereas the experimental group was fed with the modified feed, the control group was maintained on the unmodified feed. Enzymatic colorimetric method was used for the determination of mean total cholesterol in the dried faecal droppings of each group of birds under investigation. The results showed that the mean total cholesterol excretion before and after the modified feed regimen were 5.97±0.16 mg/g and 9.99±0.47 mg/g respectively and were found to be significantly different when compared using a t-test at p > 0.05 and 49 degree of freedom The results also showed that the modified proprietary poultry feed increased total cholesterol excretion in the faecal droppings of laying birds fed with the modified feed by 67.3%, and this was found to be statistically significant at p > 0.05. Hence, a 20% rice-bran modification of the proprietary feed yields a modified feed with a proven potency in elevating total cholesterol excretion while producing no drastic deviation from the proximate composition of the unmodified proprietary feed and is thus likely to have no adverse effect on the productivity of laying birds.

The bioactive ingredients in most malarial drugs only reduce plasmodium load during chemotherapy. No anti-malarial drug replenishes the red blood cells destroyed by Plasmodium. This creates a need to incorporate bioactive components with haematinic property in malaria therapy. This study aimed to assess the effect of T. occidentalis leaf extract on packed cell volume (PCV) of rats with malaria-induced anaemia. Anaemia was induced in the rats by inoculating them with Plasmodium berghei. The effect of the plant extract on the PCV of the rats was determined alongside a negative and a positive control. Also, the effect of varying doses of the extract on PCV of the rats was determined. T. occidentalis leaf extract produced a 22 % increase in the post-inoculation PCV of rats. The negative and positive control groups showed a 37 % and 25 % decrease, respectively, in PCV. Also, PCV increased with increase in extract dose administered.

The sixteen (16) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), compounds listed by the US EPA for priority attention were quantitated in moss samples in the study area to ascertain atmospheric pollution levels of these compounds. PAHs compounds in the digested samples were identified and quantitated by the gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) technique using column injector in splitless mode. In many of the samples the machine returned Nd, revealing low levels of PAHs contamination in the area. Concentrations of PAHs in the samples ranged from, not detected (Nd) to 7.89 ng/g. Naphthalene, a two-ring PAH showed the most dominance, occurring in 12 of the 15 samples, while benzo[a,h]anthracene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and benzo[ghi]perylene were not detected in any of the samples. Ankpa and Gaadi recorded 0.00 ng/g total PAHs concentration/site, while sample from Modern Market showed highest total PAHs concentration of 11.54 ng/g. Application of molecular ratios in source identification revealed that the PAHs fluxes in the samples derived from both pyrogenic and petrogenic origins.

It has long been established that the quality and nutritional composition of vegetables vary according to the conditions under which they are stored or prepared. For this reason, the current research was designed to probe the effect of cooking as well as refrigeration time on the β-carotene, riboflavin and ascorbic acid contents of cabbage, lettuce, pumpkin, water leaf, onions, garden egg and Irish potatoes. Methodology: The vegetable leaves and potato tuber were cooked in boiling water for 40 minutes to determine their β-carotene and riboflavin content, and 45 minutes for ascorbic acid content. Furthermore, portions of the samples were refrigerated for a period of 3 days and 7 days, and their β-carotene and ascorbic acid content assessed. Determinations were done using standard AOAC methods and methods reported by previous researchers. Results: The amount of β-carotene in untreated samples ranged between 1,200 mg/100g in potato to 17,310 mg/100g in water leaf and between 504.00 mg/100g to 10,729 mg/100g in the same samples respectively after boiling for 40 minutes. The riboflavin content ranged between 3.80 mg/100g to 130.00 mg/100g in pumpkin and onions respectively. After boiling for 40 minutes, this dropped to within a range of 2.00 mg/100g to 74 mg/100g in both samples respectively. The ascorbic acid content was generally below that of β-carotene but higher than riboflavin and ranged between 504 mg/100g to 10,729 mg/100g and 39 mg/100g to 180 mg/100g before and after boiling for 45 minutes respectively. The β-carotene in cabbage was least affected by heat treatment with a percentage loss of 21.30% whereas ascorbic acid in onions was most affected at 82.21%. Refrigeration also showed marked impact on the vitamin content with the β-carotene and ascorbic acid content completely lost in lettuce after refrigeration for 7 days, whereas it showed no impact on the β-carotene content of cabbage after 3 days. The ascorbic acid content of garden egg was reduced by 80.01% upon refrigeration for 7 days while the β-carotene and ascorbic acid contents of lettuce were completely lost after the same duration of time. Generally, the contents of the vitamins decreased with increasing refrigeration time.