Heavy metal contents of some crops and farm soil irrigated along the Bindare stream in Chikaji Zaria were investigated. The results of the analysis indicate that the crops contained substantial amount of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Zn and Fe) compared to similar crops irrigated far distance from the stream. The concentration of the heavy metals (Zn, Cr and Fe) in the crops and the farm soil were found to be below the FAO/WHO safe limit, while the concentration of Pb was higher than the FAO/WHO safe limit. This suggest that the crops and the farm soil along the stream were contaminated by these heavy metals as the stream receives industrial waste discharges. Contamination factors and Geoaccumulation index for Pb, Cr, Zn and Fe in the areas under investigation were carried out. The results revealed that the soils are currently polluted with Pb and Zn.

Pollution of the environment may occur through the industrial and commercial activities of man. This happens when substances resulting from human activities enter the environment. The environment is said to be polluted when the concentration of these substances attain levels that may cause discomfort and/or harm to man, fauna, and fl ora of his environment. The pollution of the environment has been found to result from man's determination to match desire with

Iron (III) and Chromium (III) complexes with a tetradentate phenolic Schiff base wereprepared by refluxing method. The phenolic Schiff base was formed by the condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and hydrazine monohydrate in methanol. The resulting precipitates were isolated by filteration and purified by recrystallisation. The Schiff base and the metal (III) complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, m.p,FT-IR, molar conductivity and magnetic measurements. Sharp range in melting/ decomposition temperature shows the compounds are probably pure. The IR spectra of the Schiff base and the metal (III) complexes are compared and discussed. Elemental analysis results for CHN revealed 1:1 Metal-Schiff base ratio and the magnetic data suggests an octahedral geometry in the complexes.Both the complexes were paramagnetic and electrolytes. The in vitro antimicrobial studies revealed an improved activity in the metal (III) complexes compared to the Schiff base which may be attributed to an improved stability of the metal (III) complexes. The radical scavenging activity of the phenolic Schiff base was determined using DPPH method and the results were analyzedby probit analysis using SPSS 16.0 software. The lower IC 50 value of 2.98 μgml-1 obtained indicates the promising use of the Schiff base as antioxidant.

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