No abstract

The inadequacy of pipe borne water in Ibadan Metropolis is almost endemic. This inadequacy is both in quantity and quality of the public water supply. As an alternative to the water supply, small scale industrial concerns came up with 'PURE WATER': 0.5Litre water in nylon sachets, which are electrically heated, sealed at both ends and widely patronized by both low and middle class Nigerians. The objective of the study was to find out the quality of such pure water. Stratified, simple random sampling procedures were used to select 78 samples from 20 brands of sachet water from important hawkers/vendors. The samples were subjected to physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis. For chemical analysis, Hanna's 100 spectrophotometer plus chemical reagents were used. The water samples were assessed for coliform and other intestinal bacteria using MKC cowkery broth (MM) and Brilliant Green Bile Broth (BGBB). Multiple tube method was employed. The result showed that the physical parameters were within W.H.O limits for drinking water quality guidelines except for pH which ranged from 6.6-9.7. Some chemical parameters were also within the W.H.O guideline values. However; aluminum which concentration ranged from 0.00-0.34 mg/l, fluoride concentration ranged from 0.01-1.87 mg/I and cyanide concentration ranged from 0.000-0175 were not. Bacteriological analysis, showed that five (5) or 6.4% of the samples tested fielded bacterial growth. Bacteria produced included: Klebsiella sp., Streptococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The enforcement of the regulation guiding water quality before the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) to comply with the drinking water qualities guideline values as recommended by W.H.O, becomes urgent.

SUMMARY

The inadequacy of pipe borne water supplies in urban centres is a growing problem. As a result, communities resort to buying water from vendors. In recent years, sachet or bottled water became major sources of drinking water in the households and at work. This study aimed at assessing the chemical and bacteriological quality of packaged water sold in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State with a population over 3.2 million. A total number of 118 samples of water from several commercial brands sold in the city of Ibadan were selected by simple random sampling. These were of three categories, those that are packed and sealed in bottles by larger factories (bottled water), those sealed in nylon sachets by small scale industries (A Type), and those put in nylon sachets and manually tied by itinerary vendors (B Type). These samples were subjected to physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis. Hanna C 100 spectrophotometer and analytical quality chemical reagents were used for chemical analyses. MacConkey broth (MB) and Brilliant Green Bile Broth (BGBB) were used for bacteriological analysis using multiple tube method as described in APHA Standard Methods. The results showed that while the physical parameters were within WHO limits for drinking water quality guidelines values, 30 % of the samples showed rather poor quality. The pH values ranged between 6.6 -9.7 and aluminum ranged from 0.00 -0.34 mg/1, fluoride from 0.01 -1.87mg/l and cyanide from 0.0 -0.175 which were not within permissible limits. Bacteriological analysis showed that 5% of the 78 samples (A Type), and 28% of the 30 samples (B Type) tested showed positive coliform counts . The dominant bacteria were Klebsiella sp., Streptococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thus the bottled waters were satisfactory, but the sachet waters were found not satisfactory. Based n the results, it is recommended that the enforcement agencies in the country (NAFDAC and the Ministry of Health) need to get the producers of 'packaged water' to comply with the national drinking water guidelines. Communities on their part should be educated and enlightened on the ill effects of patronizing fake vendors.

Background: High rate of motor vehicle accidents have been associated with poor vision. Studies on drivers from elsewhere other than health institutions have found abnormal visual acuities. The aim of this study is to determine prevalence of refractive errors and the attitude to spectacle wear among drivers of public institutions studied. Methods: A cross sectional population study of all 99 motor vehicle drivers from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan between December 2003 and January 2004. Results: The ninety-nine motor vehicle drivers in the study comprised of 67 (67.7%) from the College of Medicine, and 32 (32.3%) from the UCH. All were males, aged 38 to 60 years, mean 50.1 + (SD= 4.8 years). Proportion of drivers with refractive errors was 16.7% (95% CI, 16.6-16.8) but only 56.3% of these wear glasses while driving (others did not including 3 out 4 who were bilaterally visually impaired without glasses). Relative frequency of RTA among drivers was 16.2%, the risk was marginally higher among drivers with refractive error (OR 1.2, 95% CI: 0.4-3.7). The commonest refractive error was simple hypermetropia present in 15 eyes. Hypermetropia was associated with increasing age of drivers (p<0.05). Majority (97.7%) of the drivers were presbyopic but only 32 (32.3%) were current wearers of spectacles. Conclusion:Refractive errors were present in 16.7% of drivers studied. But 43.8% of these (3 out 4 of whom were bilaterally visually impaired without glasses) do not wear corrective lenses while driving. There is need for periodic visual screening exercise and eye health education on drivers.Key words: Hypermetropia, astigmatism, drivers, refractive error Résumé Introduction: Taux élevé des accidents de la circulation routière est associé à une mauvaise vision. Des études sur les chauffeurs ailleurs en déhors des centres hospitaliers ont indiqué des acuités visuelles anormales. L'objet de cette étude est de décider la fréquence d'erreurs de réfraction et le comportement par rapport à l'utilisation des lunettes parmi des chauffeurs dans des institutions publiques. Résultats: Quatre-vingt dix-neuf chauffeurs des vehicles dans cette étude à savoir, 67 soit 67,7% de Collège de la médicine, et 32 soit 32,3% de CHU. Tous étaient du sexe masculin , âgés de 38 au 60 ans, moyen 50,1 +-(SD = 4,8 ans) La proportion des chauffeurs avec erreurs de réfraction était 16,7% soit 95% cl, 16,6 -16,8) mais seulement 56,3% de ceux qui portent des lunettes pendant qu'il conduissent (les autres ne le fait pas y compris 3 sur 4 qui sont bilatéralement des personnes qui ont des problèmes de vue sans des lunettes) fréquence rélative de ACR parmi des chauffeurs était 16,2%. Le danger est presque plus élevé parmi des chauffeurs avec des erreurs de réfraction (OR 1,2,95% cl ; 0,7). L'erreur de réfraction le plus ordinaire était tout simplement l'hypermétropie qui est present dans 15 yeux. L'ypermétropie était associeé à l'augmentation de l'âge des chauffeurs (P <0,05) La majorité soit ...