The contamination of the environment with heavy metals is one of the challenges that constitute Nigeria’s environmental problem with urbanization being one of the major causes; due to the unavailability of proper waste dumpsites and landfills for infrastructural development thereby resulting in the polluting rivers and streams. The cultivation of vegetables along channels and rivers that transcend major cities have been a source of concern globally in recent decades due to accumulation of heavy metals and introduction of heavy metals into the food chain. This study therefore assessed the level of concentration of heavy metals namely; Aluminum, Iron, Lanthanum, Manganese, Chromium, Rubidium, Antimony, Scandium, Barium, Samarium and Zinc in Okra (Abelmoschus esclentus) samples obtained on farmlands along the bank of river Ngadda and Alau dam cultivated through irrigation. The samples were analyzed using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) analytical technique with the aim of assessing their level of accumulation with heavy metals. The objective was to ascertain the food safety status of the vegetable by comparing the values obtained with maximum permissible limit (MPL) recommended by FAO/WHO for vegetables. The study results show that the concentration levels ranged from below detection limit (BDL) for Aluminum, Chromium, and Antimony (843 ± 16 ppm, 1.3 ± 0.2 ppm and 0.26 ± 0.03 ppm respectively) to Barium (7 ± 1.0 to 12 ± 1.0 ppm, Iron 11 ± 0.4 to 303 ± 36 ppm), Lanthanum (0.203± 0.03 to 1.93± 0.05 ppm), Manganese (22.9 ± 0.2 to 40.2 ± 0.2 ppm), Rubidium (7 ± 1 to 13± 1 ppm), Scandium (0.02± 0.00 to 0.05 ± 0.01 ppm), Samarium (0.02 ± 0 to 0.24± 0.01ppm), and Zinc (8± 1.0 to 24±0.1 ppm). This result also indicates that the maximum concentration value of Manganese exceeds the 25.95 ppm value of MPL recommended by FAO/WHO for vegetables therefore the consumption of Okra (Abelmoschus esclentus) cultivated from the study site has a potential health risk due to the presence of Manganese above recommended value.

The determination of radiological health hazard indices from soil samples has been carried out to assess the environmental impact assessment of gold mining activities in Angwan Kawo community in Niger state, Nigeria using NaI (TI) gamma ray spectroscopy. The radionuclide concentrations were determined using the sodium iodide [NaI (TI)] detector with a low background configuration. The results obtained show that the activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K ranged from (20.43±0.04 to 86.45±3.83) (Bq/kg), (19.79±0.83 to 69.80±2.60) (Bq/kg) and (52.63±1.07 to 714.32±16.25) (Bq/kg) at the goldmine and (30.54±0.48 to 82.39±5.83) (Bq/kg), (54.63±0.83 to 114.92±2.91) (Bq/kg) and (290.74±7.08 to 600.44±16.24) (Bq/kg) at the processing zone, respectively. The results obtained were compared with the world mean values of 35, 30 and 400 Bq/kg, for 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 k, respectively. To assess the radiological hazard of the gold mining site the radiological hazard indices i.e., absorbed dose (D), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin) and gamma representative index (I) were calculated and found to be below the internationally recommended values. Based on this study finding, for the purpose of protection of mine workers and the public it is highly recommended that these sites should be regularly monitored and controlled in order to avoid any radiological impact to the population.

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique was used to investigate the abundance and distribution of rare earth elements (REE) in soil around Kaduna Refinery. The aim of the study is to assess the rare elements potential of Nigeria for economic exploitation. Five REEs (La, Dy, Eu, Yb, and Lu) were detected in varying concentrations ranging from a minimum of 0.6 µg/g (Lu) to a maximum of 249.0 µg/g (La). The elements existed with trends consistent with the natural pattern of REEs in soil, showing significant Eu and Dy anomalies which characterize upper plains and flood plains. The levels of REEs in soil in the study area were generally slightly above background levels, with minimal (La, Dy, and Eu), moderate (Yb), and significant (Lu) enrichments and trending: Lu ˃Yb ˃ Eu ˃ Dy ˃ La. The abundance of the REEs investigated cannot establish a potential of Nigeria for economic exploitation of the mineral, hence, rare earth project in the study area is not viable at the moment.

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Umbilical cord blood (UCB) which is useful in supportive and definitive management of inherited and acquired disorders is usually discarded in our environment. We sought to establish reference values for some haematological parameters of UCB in Makurdi, Nigeria to assist clinicians better interpret results of haematological parameters of UCB. This was a prospective quantitative study that involved analyzing UCB of qualified women to determine its complete blood count, fetal haemoglobin concentration, clotting profile and fibrinogen concentration. Reference ranges of these parameters were thereafter calculated using normal distribution method. The effects of maternal and fetal factors on these parameters were assessed using the Student t-test and ANOVA. The mean total white blood count (TWBC) was 12.3±3.7 x 109/L. Female births had significantly higher TWBC than male births (13.2 ± 3.3 x 109/L vs 11.0 ± 3.8 x 109/L, p=0.003). Babies that weighed 3.0-3.5kg also had significantly higher TWBC (18.9x109L) than those that weighed 2.4-2.9kg (8.7x109/L) p=0.010.Female births had significantly higher haemoglobin concentration (Hb) (13.9g/dl) than male births (11.9g/dl) p=0.001. Similarly, older women aged 32-41 years had significantly higher Hb (13.4g/dl) than those aged 18-24 years (11.6g/dl) p=0.002. Also, women that had more than two children had higher Hb than those who had one or two, (14.7g/dl vs 12.3g/dl) p=0.030. Babies that weighed 3.0-3.5kg at birth also had significantly higher Hb (16.2g/dl) than babies that weighed 2.4-2.9kg (12.3g/dl), p=0.003.The reference values of the haematological parameters of cord blood in our study were similar to what was reported from other developing countries. This study has provided data on haematological parameters of UCB for clinical use in our environment and we recommend routine UCB analysis in order to aid early detection of some inherited and congenital disorder.