Equivalents in Medicinal Plants around Oil and Gas Facilities in Ughelli and Environs, Nigeria

Abstract

The natural radionuclide contents in some medicinal plants commonly found around oil and gas facilities in Ughelli and nearby communities have been investigated. A class of such medicinal plants are those that are regarded as grasses and are usually taken for healing purposes. The plants investigated are lemon grass (Cymbopogan citrates), Spear grass (Imperata cylindrical) and Carpet grass (Eleusin indicageartin). The plants were assayed for their radionuclide contents by means of gamma spectrometry using a shielded and well calibrated NaI(Tl) detector coupled to a computer interfaced multichannel analyser, quantum Tm MCA 2100R. Results of the analysis showed that the radionuclides detected in the grasses around the oil and gas facilities belong to the primordial radionuclide series of 238 U and 232 Th as well as non serial 40 K. On the average, the values for lemon grass has 238 U (15.3 + 1.7 Bqkg -1 ), 232 Th (1.1 + 2.7 Bqkg -1 ) and 40 K(67.9 + 7.4 Bqkg -1 ). In spear grass, 238 U (15.8 + 2.4 Bqkg -1 ), 232 Th (1.7 + 4.3 Bqkg -1 ) and 40 K(69.3 + 9.4 Bqkg -1 ) were determined while carpet grass recorded 40 K (70.2 + 11.6 Bqkg -1 ) with 238 U(16.0 + 1.9 Bqkg -1 ) and 232 Th(1.6 + 4.2 Bqkg -1 ). The measured levels of the radioactivity in the samples translated to very low values of the annual effective dose equivalent, implying safe level of radiological health consequences. No significant difference was determined between radionuclide contents of samples of medicinal plants around oil and gas facilities and samples of the same species of medicinal plants from an undisturbed and virgin location in Nigeria where industrial activities, waste dump nor is farming practised. However, no trace of artificial radionuclide was determined in all the samples assayed in both areas, hence, measurements can be taken as representing baseline values of the radionuclides in medicinal plants in the areas.

Examination of Medicinal Plants for Radionuclides Absorption and Their Health Implications

“…These plants have a high potassium activity concentration because they can absorb potassium from the soil more readily than other elements (Tettey-larbi et al, 2013) and maybe as a result of fertilizer application by farmers to increase agricultural yields. When compared to the concentration reported by (Oni et al, 2011) for Ugheli and Ogbomoso, the 40 K concentrations for Cymbopogon citratus obtained in this study are significantly higher. Similar to this, Terminalia catappa had 40 K concentrations that were greater than the 145.59 ± 7.19 Bq/kg reported by (Njinga et al, 2015) but with elevated concentration of (Alade et al, 2020).…”

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) has promoted the integration of traditional medicine's beneficial components into national health care systems in an effort to stimulate the use of traditional medicine worldwide (Oni et al, 2011). This has served as alternative medical technique although, concerns about estimated dosages and the sanitary state of the medications produced using this method were addressed at various gatherings.…”

“…This has served as alternative medical technique although, concerns about estimated dosages and the sanitary state of the medications produced using this method were addressed at various gatherings. (Oni et al, 2011).…”

Estimation of Natural Radioactivity of Some Medicinal or Herbal Plants Used in Iraq

“…In Nigeria, there is shift of interest to the use herbal medicine for the cure of diverse diseases. Apart from the high cost of procuring available allopathic medicines for treating even common health disorders, other reasons for this shift are inaccessibility of health institutions in the rural or remote locations in the country and the growing awareness of adverse reaction to some allopathic drugs [6].…”

Enhancing the Instructional Delivery of Primary School Teachers through In-Service Training in Nigeria

“…Many teachers' colleges are non-existent again and many of the teachers in the system presently have their certificate through the distance learning programme provided by the National Teachers' Institute. He added that anyone who has participated in the grading of the examination scripts of this crop of teachers will sympathize with the primary education system [14].…”