EQA - International Journal of Environmental Quality

Accumulation of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils around the industrial area of Aba, Nigeria

Mon, 22 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The simultaneous accumulations of heavy metals and polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have gained considerable attention since soils contaminated with PAHs were frequently reported to contain high amounts of heavy metal. The present study was carried out to assess heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils around the industrial area of Aba. Samples were collected from Ogbor hill and Umuobo village. Umuobo village, served as the control. Heavy metals analyzed were lead, cadmium, iron, argon, manganese, mercury, zinc and copper using atomic absorption spectrophotometer method. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon analyzed were naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene,fluorine, phenanthrene, benzo (b) fluoranthene, benzo (k) fluoranthene, benzo (e) pryene, dibeno (a,h) anthracene, Indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene, benzo (b) triphenylene and benxo (ghi) perylene using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) method. The statistical methods used were standard error of mean, two way analysis of variance and multiple unpaired T-test of variance. Iron recorded the highest concentration in all the sampling points with the mid slope having the highest concentration of 295.83±1.15 mg/kg, while cadmium has the lowest concentration in all the points, with the valley bottom having the lowest with 0.01±0.02 mg/kg. The control recorded a very low concentration of the heavy metals in both sampling sites. The highest was at the crest with the concentration of 0.7±0.00 mg/kg (15-30 cm) in Iron. Mercury and argon were not detected in crest, mid slope and valley bottom of Ogbor hill. For the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, indeno (1, 2, 3-cd) pyrene recorded the highest concentration at both the crest and mid slope, with 2.53±0.43 ppm and 1.02±0.03 ppm respectively, while Benzo (e) pryene recorded the highest concentration at the valley bottom with 0.68±0.28 ppm. The control also recorded the lowest concentrations of the entire polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. The highest concentration was recorded at the crest with 1.86±1.64 ppm (15-30 cm) of Indeno (1, 2, 3-cd)pyrene. It is recommended that the industry owners/operators should ensure that effluent treatment plants are installed in their facilities, and should be operated at optimum conditions and manned by qualified personnel.

Solid Waste Management practices among industries in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

Temiloluwa E. Makinde, Adewumi I. Badiora, Oluwasola T. Omotoso — Mon, 22 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

This study examined the profile of industries in Ota, Ogun State; determined the types of waste produced in the industries; identified and assessed the agencies responsible for managing industrial waste; examined the different storage and disposal methods employed and assessed how environmentally friendly the storage; collection and disposal methods of wastes in the industries. These were intended to provide information that will assist policymakers and industries management to develop an environmentally friendly waste management practice in the study area.

Total enumeration was used in the collection of primary data from industries. A total of 102 questionnaires (80.9%) were retrieved and used for data analysis. The study established that 66.8% of the industries were manufacturing industries being the most abundant while 1% was the service industry. Also, the largest amount of waste generated in the study area was metal/steel. Next to it were paper and nylon. Findings further revealed that the most commonly used method of waste collection was big waste bags (40%) and the least being garbage bags and old metal containers (12%). In addition, 27% of the industries practiced the recycling method of waste disposal while 9.1% and 2.1% still dispose of their waste in vacant plots/open spaces and dilapidated/uncompleted buildings. The study concluded that the solid waste management practices among industries in Ota; Ogun State were not adequate thereby causing diverse impacts that are detrimental to the ecosystem.

Youth unemployment and its main determinants in Ethiopia

Tesfaye Denano, Sibera Sintayehu, Asfaw Netsanet, Anjulo Eyasu — Mon, 22 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Unemployment is a major social problem in Ethiopia. Throughout the world, the youth is the locomotive of national development. However, recently youth unemployment is both a national and global problem. The main objective of the study was to identify the determinants of youth unemployment in the Wolaita Zone. The study adopted cross-sectional data on youth unemployment. The primary data was collected from 379 sample respondents through an interview questionnaire in the Wolaita zone. To achieve the objective, the study has employed a binary logistic regression model. The descriptive statistics analysis results revealed that about 78.1 % of the youth are unemployed while 21.9 % are employed. Based on the result of the logit model eight out of nine independent variables were found significant determinants of unemployment; from which, age, sex, alcohol-abusing, access to credit use, and educational level negatively affects youth unemployment whereas, marital status, Job information, migration positively affects unemployment. The econometric results suggested the need for the government goes board on creating job opportunities for young youths. It also recommended that the government should facilitate the formalization of familiar employment which reduces the problem of youth unemployment, especially among skilled and educated youth and all secondary schools should have an active partnership with employers. As well as the government must increase the availability of initial working capital, the identification of profitable business areas, and provision of practical training for young youths to be engaged in their own business.