Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 16 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Extracellular Production of Metallic Nanoparticles through Bacterial Mediation 

Anuradha Prakash^1, Seema Sharma^2*, Naheed Ahmad^3, Ashok Ghosh¹ and Preety Sinha⁴

¹Dept of Environment and Water Management, A.N. College, Patna 800013, India
²Dept of Physics, A.N. College, Patna 800013, India
³University Dept of Botany, Patna University, Patna 800003, India
⁴Dept of Zoology, A. College, Patna 800013, India

Accepted 25 October, 2024

Abstract

Bacillus megaterium isolated from fluvial zone of North Bihar has been used for the extracellular synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs) viz silver, lead and cadmium. The synthesized nanoparticles got accumulated on the surface of the cell wall of bacteria. Bacillus megaterium was grown aerobically and the cultures were challenged with the solutions of silver nitrate, lead nitrate and cadmium nitrate in requisite ambience of laboratory. Cell lysate obtained, after the centrifugation of cultures were characterized through optical absorption by UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Micrography (TEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). These nanoparticles of Ag, Pb and Cd showed absorption peaks at ~ 435 nm, ~ 330 nm and ~ 410 nm respectively corresponding to the plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), cadmium nanoparticles (CdNPs) and lead nanoparticles (PbNPs). XRD Spectrum of these nanoparticles confirmed the formation of Ag, PbS and CdS particles by showing their respective characteristic peaks. TEM showed the production of these metal nanoparticles with particle size in the range of 10-20 nm.

Keywords: Extracellular; AgNPs; CdNPs; PbNPs; TEM; Selected Area Electron Diffraction.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (12), pp. 001-007, December, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Inorganic Nitrogen Dynamics in Vertisols: Influence of Drying Method, Storage Time, and Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratio

Nina D. O. And Sigunga D. O.*

Department of Soil Science, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333 – 40105, Maseno, Kenya.

Accepted 3 October, 2024

In order to monitor spatial inorganic N concentrations in soils over time, collected soil samples are composited and thoroughly mixed. The sticky characteristic of Vertisol when wet makes it difficult to thoroughly mix wet samples. There is the need for appropriate drying of Vertisol samples to facilitate thorough mixing and storage to retain mineral N content reflective of field status. We determined the effects of drying method, storage period and C:N ratio on inorganic N contents of tropical Vertisols. The treatments comprised of three soils with different C:N ratios, five drying methods inclusive of a check (method 1), and five storage periods including a check (period 1). Storage temperature was -10°C. In method 1, field-fresh soil samples were kept at -10°C and later used for mineral N extraction using 0.5 M K2SO4. Period 1 involved storing soil samples for two days from sampling date before mineral N extraction. Ammonium-N and NO3 -N were determined using colorimetric method. Method 1 x period 1, for each soil, resulted in NH4+-N and NO3--N contents significantly different from other treatments indicating that extraction for mineral N should be done on field moist soil not later than two days after sampling.

Key words: Drying method, mineral nitrogen, storage period, soil preparation, Vertisols.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (12), pp. 001-006, December, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of Selected Heavy Metals in Inland Waters of the Lower Niger River, North Central Nigeria

Olatunde Stephen Olatunji1* and Oladele Osibanjo2

1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa.
2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.

Accepted 23 August, 2024

The concentrations of some ferruginous ore associated heavy metals were determined in freshwater from River Niger. Water samples were collected from both upstream and downstream along the mainstream drainage channel, traversing past the steel production industry Ajaokuta between 2003 and 2005. The water samples were digested according to standard methods and tested for Cadmium (Cd), Manganese (Mn), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Cupper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Lead (Pb) using Unicam 969 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean concentrations (mg/L) of heavy metals were: Mn, 3.85 0.93; Zn, 2.72 ± 0.57; Cu, 2.17 ± 0.73; Cr, 2.08 ± 1.27; Ni, 0.78 ± 0.12; Cd, 0.05 ± 0.02; Pb, 0.03 ± 0.02. The concentration of Mn, 1.74 to 8.37 mg/L; Cu, 0.58 to 4.50 mg/L; Cd, 0.02 to 0.13 mg/L were variable and inundating. The variations in heavy metal levels between sampling stations were not significant (P > 0.05) with relative standard deviation from 2% for Cd and Pb to 12.7% for Cr. The order of dispersion (2 to 14%) showed that the measured metals are nearly homogenously distributed in the water with Cr, Mn, Cu and Zn having the highest concentration variations in the water samples. The concentrations of the evaluated heavy metals were within the guideline levels for freshwaters, and did not appear to have significant negative impact on the water quality.

Key words: Heavy metals, freshwater, concentrations, quality, variation, distribution.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (12), pp. 001-012, December, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Municipal Air Quality Governance: Designing an Effective Management Framework

J. C. Engelbrecht1* and Van der Walt I. J.2

1Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa.
2School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North West University, South Africa.

Accepted 23 August, 2024

Air quality problems have been an inescapable partner of global economic development, and such problems have prevailed since the industrial age. After the democratisation of South Africa in 1994, the government embarked on a law reforming process to bring all the laws of the country in line with the new constitution of South Africa. This process included air quality legislation. Air quality management in South Africa has undergone drastic changes with the implementation of the National Environmental: Air Quality Act (Act 39 of 2004). In the previous dispensation, the Air Pollution Prevention Act (1965), emphasised point-source control, but the new act shifted the emphasis from point-source control to reactively protecting the receiving environment. In keeping with the new approach, municipalities are now required to compile, implement and maintain air quality management plans. Although, this is an explicit requirement of the Act, no guidelines exist for regulating bodies regarding the content of such plans. In this paper, a framework for generic air quality management plans for municipalities is proposed. This framework was compiled using information gained during a literature study of two countries where the implementation of air quality management plans has brought about an improvement in air quality, as well as two other countries where despite implementation of such plans, air quality has deteriorated. The information gained from the literature study was used to compile questionnaires that were distributed to all metropolitan councils and district municipalities (N = 54) in South Africa. To obtain a comprehensive, contextualised view on the issue, industries (N = 1 290) were also included in the study. The main contribution of this study was the compilation of a framework for a generic air quality management plan to be used by municipal authorities. Due to the fact that lack of training has been identified as a critical gap in the successful implementation and maintenance of an air quality management plan, this study also makes a significant contribution to the identification of generic training outcomes.

Key words: Air quality management plans, air quality, municipality, local authorities, local government, framework, training outcomes.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (12), pp. 001-010, December, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Understanding Crop Raiding by Loxodonta africana in Eastern Zambia's Luangwa Valley: An Analysis of Environmental Influences

Vincent R. Nyirenda1,2, Willem J. Myburgh1 and Brian K. Reilly1

1Department of Nature Conservation, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680,
Pretoria, South Africa.

2Directorate of Research, Zambia Wildlife Authority, Private Bag 1, Chilanga, Lusaka, Zambia.

Accepted 17 September 2024

Elephant crop raiding is pervasive and widespread in elephant-agriculture landscapes. Due to rare investigations on underlying African elephant (Loxodonta africana) crop raiding processes and patterns, neither reliable predictive models nor empirical evidence on elephant crop raiding parameters are available or adequate to support intervening decisions by susceptible farmers and other stakeholders. By developing predictive models of binary logistic regression and employing questionnaire surveys, we examined the environmental factors influencing occurrence of crop raiding by interrogating effectiveness of counter-measures implemented by local farmers in Luangwa Valley, eastern Zambia. Farm sizes, vegetation types in peripherals of crop fields and types of counter-measures used by local farmers to restrain marauding elephants were the most important elephant crop raiding predictors. Smaller crop fields (≤4782.00 ± 342.00 m2) were more vulnerable than larger ones. Most crop fields (75.88%, n=236) surrounded by Brachystegia and Acacia dominated vegetation communities were damaged, largely due to high tree fruiting which were elephant attractants. Solar powered electric fences were more effective than other counter-measures. Though traditional methods were prevalent, they were less effective than other counter-measures. It was posited that additional capacity development of local farmers was required particularly, in participatory integrative land use practices to minimize elephant crop raiding.

Key words: Predictive models, elephant crop raiding, conservation, Luangwa Valley, Zambia.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (11), pp. 001-009, November, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The Impact of Air Pollution on Human Health in Rivers State, Nigeria: A Survey of Disease Prevalence

Nwachukwu A. N.1*, Chukwuocha E. O.2 and Igbudu O.3

Department of Physics, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 September, 2024

The effect of air pollution on diseases of the people of Rivers State, Nigeria has been studied by analyzing epidemiological data collected from the State Ministry of Health, Nigeria in relation to ambient Air Quality data of the State and National Ambient Air Quality Standard data. It was found that a total number of 30,435 disease cases were reported during 2003 to 2008, out of which 61 patients died. The diseases found to be prevalent in the study area as a result of air pollution were pertussis, pulmonary tuberculosis, cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), pneumonia, measles, chronic bronchitis, and upper respiratory tract infection (URT). The ambient air quality observed in the state (lead = 0.1115 ppm/year, particulates = 10 ppm/year, N-oxides = 2.55 ppm/year, SO2 = 1 ppm/year, VOC = 82.78 ppm/year) was far worse than the World Health Organization Air Quality Standard (Lead = 1 × 10-6 ppm/year, particulates = 105 ppm/year). This clearly indicates their unsafe levels and concomitant health risks. This study (survey on diseases) showed that air pollution has direct impact on health of the people. The intensification of environmental education, especially among rural dwellers in the state is very essential to overcoming the health as well as pollution problems.

Key words: Air pollution, air quality standard, environmental education, epidemiological data, health effects, Niger-Delta, rural dwellers, World Health Organization.