Aim: This research was carried out to investigate physicochemical characteristics of soils in oil producing areas of Delta State, Western Niger Delta region of Nigeria as they influence corrosion of buried pipelines in the region. Study Design: Soil samples were collected along oil pipelines and at 500m away in three oil producing communities (Kokori, Otu-Jeremi and Okpai) in Delta State. Duration of Study: The study lasted for eighteen months. Methodology: Standard methods were adopted in the collection of samples and the determinationof the physicochemical properties of the samples. Results: The soil characteristics could influence soil corrosiveness towards buried pipelines. Soil characteristics determined were texture, soil pH, moisture content, temperature, nitrogen content, redox potential, electrical conductivity, phosphorus, sulphate, sulphide and chloride content and total organic carbon. The pH of all the soil samples was acidic (pH=5.54±0.16-6.32±0.29), soil from Okpai pipeline area had the highest electrical conductivity, chloride content and silt content of 148.00±3.02 µS/CM, 23.32±2.67 mg/g and 39.96±4.26 % respectively. Sulphate content of the soil samples was lower than 200ppm. The values were lower in soils along pipeline than soils in the farmland. Conclusion: The soil samples have the potentials of being corrosive towards buried metal pipes. There is need for safe practices in the region.

Aims: This study was to ascertain the bacteriological and physicochemical characteristics of fish pond effluents. Study Design:  Waste water samples were collected from six (6) different ponds, three (3) earthen ponds (A, B & C) and three (3) concrete ponds (D, E & F). Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in a laboratory in the Department of Environmental Management and toxicology, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria. The research lasted for six months. Methodology: Standard procedures were adopted for sample collection, microbiological and physicochemical analyses. Waste water samples were analyzed for total bacterial count, total coliform count and Escherichia coli (E. coli) count. Physicochemical parameters measured were pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature and many others. Results: Pond C which was an earthen pond was found with the highest bacterial, coliform and E. coli. counts  (2.8 × 105   ±0.01, 1.2 × 103  ±0.10 and 0.5 ×102 ±0.04 cfu/ml), and pond F, a concrete pond, recorded the lowest bacterial and coliform counts of (2.3 × 104  ±0.05, 0.2 × 103  ±0.00 cfu/ml respectively and insignificant E. coli count. The isolated bacteria species were Lactobacillus sp., E. coli, Klebsiella sp., Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Enterobacter sp. and Proteus sp. The occurrence of the isolated bacteria was highest in pond C with 71.43%. The values of turbidity and total hardness were above WHO and FEPA standards, while values of other physicochemical characteristics complied with WHO and FEPA standards. The antibiotics susceptibility test of the bacterial isolates revealed multiple antibiotics resistance. Conclusion: The study revealed that these ponds were disgustingly infected with pathogenic bacteria that could affect cultured fishes by causing diseases, lowering the fish yield and resulting into economic loss, threatening human’s health and contaminating the environment where the effluents are discharged into.

Introduction: The norm of pesticides use is very crucial in protecting the agriculturalists’ venture in seeds, fertilizer and labour as they provide a sure protection from damage by pests. The use of pesticides is thus, unavoidable and the associated environmental contamination owing to these toxicants and their deposits will remain a concern. Aim: The research aimed at isolating Carbofuran and Paraquat degrading bacterial species and assessing their growth capacities at different concentrations of these pesticides. Study Design:  Microcosms were set-up in test tubes in replicates (320 test tubes) and sacrificial sampling technique was adopted during growth test. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State/Three months. Methodology: Standard method was used to isolate Carbofuran and Paraquat degrading bacteria. Isolates were screened for their abilities to use Carbofuran and Paraquat as the only carbon source. Bacterial isolates were identified and subjected to the growth test at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% of Carbofuran (w/v) and Paraquat (v/v), respectively. Growth abilities were scored by turbidity and colour variations. Results: The growth abilities at different pesticide’s concentrations were significantly different at P=.05. Conclusion: This research revealed that the bacterial isolates were able to grow at various concentrations using these chemicals but best at 0.5% with higher growth rates in microcosms containing Paraquat. If these test microorganisms can grow in the presence of these toxicants, there is the likelihood that they maybe be able to reduce both Carbofuran and Paraquat hazards of contaminated areas. Thus, these bacteria can be used for the clean-up of these pesticides pollution in farms to ameliorate the problems of pesticide pollution in environment.

Aim: The study was conducted to determine the potential corrosiveness of selected soil physicochemical properties on pipelines. Study Design: Soil samples were randomly collected around five pipeline locations with control from a farmland. Duration of Study: The study lasted for three months. Methodology: Standard methods were adopted in the collection of samples and the determination of the physicochemical properties of the samples. Results: Metallic pipelines undergo more regular corrosion because they are used in environments like soil where they are chemically unstable. Soil physicochemical properties such as soil moisture, texture, pH and temperature, sulphate, chloride, redox potential and resistivity were determined. The pH of the five soil samples was acidic (pH =4.0 – 6.5), The highest moisture content was 22.88% while the lowest was 9.84%. The soil samples the potential of being corrosive to the buried galvanized-steel and cast-iron pipes. Delta Steel Company (DSC) roundabout had the highest sulphate content of 724.13 mg/kg while the lowest was Oleh with 156.14 mg/kg. The highest percentage of Total Organic Carbon was 0.52% and the lowest was 0.40%. Conclusion: Besides pipeline vandalization, pipeline corrosion may likely be one of the major causes of oil spillage in localized underground pipelines within the region. There is, therefore, an urgent need for computerized sensors to assist in the monitoring of underground pipeline integrity in Nigeria.