Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 16 (3), pp. 001-010, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Adsorptive Removal of Toxic Dye Ponceau-S Using Chitin as a Bio-Based Adsorbent

D. S. Shirsath and V. S. Shrivastava*

Nanochemistry Research Laboratory, G. T .Patil College, Nandurbar-425412, India.

Accepted 6 February 2025

There are numbers of applications of chitin for the removal of basic dyes and other colored organics from industrial effluents. In present research article there is focus on the preparation of bioadsorbent chitin and its application for the removal Ponceau-S dye from the aqueous solution by using chitin as an organic bioadsorbent. Chitin was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Different parameters have been studied such as initial dye concentration, pH, contact time and adsorbent dose etc. In experimental study it is seen that the higher percent removal of Ponceau-S dye at optimum pH 3.5. Kinetics and equilibrium studies were also carried out by using the chitin which fit for Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm and kinetic study follows second order mechanism.

Key words: Chitin, Ponceau-S, organic bioadsorbent, colored organic, industrial effluents.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 16 (3), pp. 001-010, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

Challenges and Innovations in Urban Water Supply: A Study of Blantyre, Malawi

B. U. G. Mughogho1 and I. B. M. Kosamu2*

1Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, Private Bag 303, Blantyre 3, Malawi. 2Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, Private Bag 303, Blantyre 3, Malawi.

Accepted 28 January, 2025

The provision of potable water in the cities of developing countries has been of concern for a long time. Most of the urban population, especially in unplanned settlements, relies on small-scale informal service providers. The challenge with such an arrangement, however, is that it has been associated with high charges, provision of poor quality water, unreliable and intermittent water supply, and a general deterioration of water infrastructure. Based on the literature and data on the institutions, organizations and demographics of Malawi, this paper argues that privatization of water supply in developing countries may not work for all income groups. However, there are other modes of delivery which if formalized and institutionalized may extend the coverage to the low-income neighbourhoods in a transparent and inclusive manner, and may be offered at affordable rates e.g. State-Civil Society, State-Informal Sector and the State-Civil Society-Informal Sector partnerships. This paper also argues that national authorities in Malawi need to spearhead public policies that will effectively regulate the operations of water service providers.

Key words: water supply, unplanned settlements, institutions, privatization, developing countries.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 16 (3), pp. 001-015, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

Regulatory Frameworks for Biotechnology in Eastern and Central Africa: An Overview

Godliving Mtui

Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35179, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected].

Accepted 9 January, 2025

This review examines the biosafety systems of selected countries in the Eastern and Central Africa. The biosafety systems are meant to safeguard human health, animal health and the environment against any possible risks posed by development and application of modern biotechnology. Though the focus is in the Eastern and Central African region, the study gives an overview of worldwide biosafety frameworks as guided by the Cartagena protocol on biosafety. The Eastern and Central African countries covered in this study are Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). An attempt is made to assess the current status on the countries’ compliance to biosafety international conventions, institutional arrangements and regulatory regimes. A critical look is given to the existing biosafety frameworks, pinpointing their weaknesses and giving suggestions on what could be done to address the shortfalls. The study shows that Kenya is leading the group by having all the requirements in place, followed by Uganda. Tanzania has cleared the legal frameworks hurdles, but it is rather slow in processing applications of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for containment and confined trials. Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC are still in the process of formulating their biosafety laws. The challenges facing the operationalization of the biosafety systems are financial constraints, insufficient trained human resources, poor facilities, low awareness and insufficient political will by some governments. It is argued that while biosafety frameworks stand to safeguard safe application of modern biotechnology, they should not have too stringent regulations, lest they impede the development of modern biotechnology in the Eastern and Central African region.

Key words: Biosafety, Cartagena Protocol, genetically modified organisms, regulatory regimes, institutional framework, liability and redress.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 16 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Ecological and Social Factors Influencing Livelihoods in Tanzania's Coastal Communities

Majule A. E.

Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA), University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35097, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 8 December, 2024

This study explored the implications of both ecological and social economic characteristics on community livelihoods and environment in distinct villages namely Mwanambaya and Kwala in Mkuranga and Kibaha districts respectively. Both districts located in coastal areas of Tanzania experienced pressure on natural resources appearing in different ecological settings. Data were collected using different tools and the analysis employed SPSS package. Results showed that agriculture production is the main source of livelihoods by 78 and 74% of respondents in Mwanambaya and Kwala respectively. Fertile soils, available water, more and suitable pasture, more vegetation with large trees attracted pastoralist in particular Wasukuma and Maasai tribes to Kwala area. Exploitation of different natural resources including cutting trees for charcoal and building, overgrazing contributed to land degradation mostly in Kwala by 40 and 20% of respondents in Mwanambaya. This study has established that community livelihoods in both urban and rural areas of Tanzania depend on natural resources organized in a form of an ecological gradient. This organization allows for different livelihood systems to interact and thus creating impacts on ecosystems and social economic undertakings. In order to sustain ecosystems productivity, establishment and implementation of village land use plans is a necessity. This will further address conflicts over resource uses that may arise due to livelihood systems interactions.

Key words: Agriculture, coastal region, ecological gradient, livelihoods, Ruvu river, Tanzania.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 16 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing the Impact of Spent Oil Application Timing on the Agronomic Performance of Zea mays

Kelechi L. Njoku*, Modupe O. Akinola and Temitope O. Busari

Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 18 December, 2024

The effect of spent oil pollution on the growth and performance of Zea mays at different stages of growth was investigated in this study. It involved addition of different quantities of spent oil to soils where Zea mays plants at different stages of growth were growing on. The plants showed differential response to quantities of spent oil added to the soils and the times of application. Plants exposed to spent oil pollution one week after germination had the highest level of growth inhibition and the highest chlorophyll content. The leaf area development of the plant was inhibited by the exposure of the plant to spent oil pollution as observed seven weeks after germination. The application of spent oil to the soils three and five weeks, respectively after the germination of the seeds of Z. mays had similar effects on dry matter accumulation of the plant. Statistical differences occur on the growth and performance of the plants exposure to spent oil pollution at different stages of growth (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001). The results from this study showed that generally Z. mays may suffer greater inhibition of growth and performed poorly when it is exposed to spent oil pollution at tender stage of growth.

Key words: Spent oil, time application, growth, performance, Zea mays.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 16 (2), pp. 001-017, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Climate Change, Food Security, and Health Outcomes in Tanzania's Southern Highlands: A Multidisciplinary Analysis

Richard Y. M. Kangalawe

Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35097, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. E-mail:
[email protected]. Tel: +255-22-2410144. Fax: +255-22-2410393.

Accepted 9 January, 2025

Tanzania like many African countries is highly vulnerable to global environmental change, particularly climate change. The impacts of particular concern are related to food production, human health and water resources. Agricultural production, which is essential to ensure food security, is weather-dependent, which has occasionally subjected the country to food shortage and insecurity in years with low rainfall. Food security varies spatially and temporally depending on rainfall patterns and other multiple stress factors such as soil conditions, types of crops grown, socio-economic and cultural factors. The southern highlands of Tanzania which are the grain basket for the country are highly vulnerable to impacts of global change, especially decrease in the amounts of rainfall. In some parts, extreme events (for example, floods) have destroyed infrastructure hence affecting food distribution and access by the affected communities. Environmental change has also impacted on human health in various parts of Tanzania. The rise in mean temperatures is an important factor for increased incidences of malaria in the highlands that were traditionally free from malaria. Long-term climate records for the southern highlands of Tanzania confirm that the climate of the region is changing. Temperatures have steadily increased over the last forty to fifty years, and are closely associated with increasing prevalence of malaria and other health risks as confirmed by existing hospital records.

Key words: Food security, human health, climate change, environmental change, multiple stress factors, southern highlands of Tanzania, multidisciplinary approaches.