Solomon A Akpafun’s scientific contributions

This study was designed to evaluate the perceived effects of exposure to occupational noise pollution on hearing loss among cement factory workers in Edo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study, and 183 factory workers, mainly males working at different departments in the factory, were sampled. A well-designed and structured questionnaire was used to obtain personal and scientific information from the participants. The questionnaire was sectionalized into four major aspects. Background noise levels and those of the work environment were measured using a calibrated Wensen WS 1361 type 2 digital sound level meter. Student t-test was used to analyse the test of association between hours at work and hearing loss, whereas the prediction of hearing loss was determined using a multinomial logistic regression model. All statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. The results revealed that a larger proportion of the participants demonstrated a higher level of awareness of the effects of noise on health. A greater number of participants revealed a higher percentage on the general use of hearing protection devices, and further revealed was that most of the participants presented a high frequency of hearing loss. Participants from the storage and transportation (ST) department had the lowest prevalence of hearing loss at PTA512 and PTA346 when compared with participants from other departments. No significant relationship was established to exist between the hours at work and hearing status for both ears at PTA512 and PTA346. The multiple regression analysis revealed no significant relationship between the selected predictors and hearing loss for both ears at PTA512. However, age was revealed as a significant predictor of hearing status at PTA346 for both ears because a positive relationship was established between age and hearing status.

The perceived occupational and environmental health challenges arising from the exposure of cement dust pollution on Bua cement factory workers were investigated in this study to establish if there is any significance of cement dust exposure on workers’ health. The study was designed as a cross-sectional type of research that adopted a purposive group based strategy for sampling. 110 cement factory workers with a minimum of two years work experience were selected for the study. 90 respondents were randomly selected from a community situated at about 21km away from the factory and used as control. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection and SPSS statistical package was used to analyze the data. Inferential statistics was used to test the hypotheses at p <0.05, ascertain correlation of the variables and authenticate the analysed results. The result revealed that 15 types of ailment were reported among the sampled respondents with factory workers recording higher percentage occurrence of ailments than respondents from the control. Factory workers were more susceptible to the itemized ailments recorded when compared to respondents from control. Significant difference in the prevalence of perceived health ailments between factory workers and control was established. Workers from storage and transportation section were revealed to have higher percentage (77.3%) compliance level on the use of safety gadgets during work hours than workers from other sections. Also, a significant relationship between the perceived health risks associated with cement dust exposure and the health of factory workers was established. The researchers made reasonable recommendations to forestall further health complications that might arise from working on a cement production factory.

This study was carried out to evaluate the level of environmental awareness of stakeholders in the urban and rural settlements in Delta State, southern Nigeria so as to infer the depth of environmental education that would be embarked on. Five major stakeholders in the state that constituted the major strata of sampling were selected. A total of 14 communities; 7 in the urban/semi urban local governments and 7 in the rural local governments were studied using the stratified sampling technique. Descriptive statistic was adopted for the study and questionnaires were administered to stakeholders. The study revealed that contrary to findings from a number of studies in other part of the globe, students were more knowledgeable on environmental issues followed by public/civil servants and traders/businessmen among stakeholders from the urban settlements. Stakeholders younger in age were not more knowledgeable than older stakeholders in the rural settlements about environmental problems. Male stakeholders had higher percentage level of awareness than their female counterparts. A higher percentage of stakeholders from the rural settlements are still not aware on the environmental terms sought for in this study than stakeholders from urban settlements. This study recommends that given the current level of environmental degradation experienced on a daily base in Nigeria and the limited awareness level of stakeholders on environmental issues, government at various levels should through wider publicity in the ministries of environment and education intensify the campaign on environmental education.

This study was designed to examine the perceived environmental effects of gas flaring and its associated health impact on residents in Kwale communities, Southern Nigeria. Three research objectives guided the study. Descriptive survey design and purposive sampling technique was adopted for the study. 750 household respondents from five different communities in Kwale axis were used for the study and an 18 item self-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. The instrument for data collection was administered to the respondents in the communities. The study revealed that gas flaring impact on the social, economic and environmental quality of the communities as 79.6% of the respondents positively affirmed the finding. A reasonable percentage (89.6%) of the sampled household respondents consent that gas flaring impact on the environmental activities as well as health of residents in the study area. Furthermore, 68% of the respondents confirm that gas flaring has a devastating effects on the vegetation and agricultural activities of the residents as some of them reported cases of stunted growth of crops, withered crop leaves, defoliation of plant and wrinkling of plant leaves. A higher percentage of respondents confirmed cases of critical gas flaring health related sick suffered by either themselves or family members and some of the respondents as well complained of excessive heat radiation and increase in temperature. Based on the findings, sustainable strategy for natural gas utilization was recommended in order to curtail the negative impacts and convert the excessive gas for economic and environmental benefits.

Introduction: Medical waste includes all types of waste with potential characteristics to spread diseases, generated from healthcare institutions. Objective: The study was carried out to assess the status and challenges of medical waste management practices in Delta State University Teaching Health Institution. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was carried out between March and August 2019. Multistage sampling approach comprising of purposive sampling and case study approach was employed for the study. The approach involved estimating the quantity of medical waste generated and the evaluation of waste management strategy used by the healthcare institution. A total of 240 respondents were sampled. Collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 21. Result and discussion: Average total weight of waste generated from the departments was estimated to be 948.366 kg/day. Medical waste generation rate was 13.598 kg/patient/day with an average bed per day generation rate of 1.133 kg/bed/day. Kitchen department had the highest generation rate of (254.448 kg/day) whereas the least generation rate was from NET (9.11 kg/day). It was observed that segregation of waste at source exist but poorly implemented and monitored as medical waste was still being mixed and dumped with general wastes that were collected, transported and disposed. Segregation was not carried out in line with NHCWMP standards. Waste generated were collected on a daily base and transported to a designated place for temporary storage. Lidded plastic container, storage house, hand cart, waste skip and wheeled trolley were mainly used to store and transport waste. The institution lack sufficient waste containers to handle volumes of medical waste. The result revealed that higher percentage of waste handlers were poorly educated and irrespective of the availability of PPE; they were observed to be wrongly used by waste handlers. Land fill was revealed to be the most preferred final disposal option but occasionally incineration and open pit burning were also adopted.Conclusion: This study has helped to establish a baseline data on medical waste management strategy in Delta State University Teaching Health Institution

This paper is aimed at investigating how municipal solid wastes are disposed in Nigeria, so as to design an environmental friendly approach to the management of waste in order to effectively control the resultant environmental implications of solid waste. This study involved both personal observation and oral interview of the inhabitants. Also published and unpublished materials were reviewed. Findings of the study revealed that solid wastes that are generated in the study area are mainly from market places, homesteads, factories, workshops, hospitals, seaports, post-primary, and tertiary institutions. Pedestrians and hawkers generate a lot of waste on the roadside and streets. Each commercial place in the study and household generates a specific amount of commercial/domestic waste on a daily basis. In terms of the problems facing solid waste disposal in the study area, the findings revealed that, there is no public system of primary collection from the source of waste generation. The waste discharged here and there is later collected by municipal sanitation workers through street sweeping and drain cleaning. There is no practice of storing the waste at source in a scientifically segregated way. Irregular street sweeping was also observed to be prevalent. Solid wastes in the study area are collected through traditional handcarts or tricycles, which carry only a small quantity. Open sites, masonry bins or concrete structures are used for temporary bulk storage, which necessitates multiple handling of waste. Most of the transport vehicles are old and open. They are usually loaded manually. The fleet is generally inadequate and utilization is inoptimal. The disposal of waste in the study area is the most neglected aspect of solid waste management services, and the current practices are grossly unscientific. Almost all municipal authorities deposit solid waste at a dump-yard situated within or outside the city haphazardly and do not bother to spread and cover the waste with inert material. This paper therefore considered and answered some basic question: What are the types of waste generated? How are the wastes disposed? What are the environmental implications of the waste disposal methods? And what new method of municipal waste management will be needed to effectively stored and disposed solid waste in a healthy and friendly manner.

The macrophyte water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was first reported on the Nigerian coastal waters in 1982. Since then, it spread rapidly and by 1985, it had colonized much of the creeks and lagoons. A coast-wide survey was carried out to determine the environmental factors influencing proliferation of water hyacinth. In addition to its impacts on the ecological, social and economic aspects of the environment and the effective use of the prevailing methods of control. The study area was divided into six zones from which field investigations were conducted. The study made use of both primary and secondary data. Primary data included direct personal observation and oral interview. While the secondary data included published and unpublished materials, it was discovered that the nutrient-rich environment contributed significantly to the rapid proliferation of the weeds. Its infestation impaired fishing, breeding and nursery grounds for microbes and parasites, impaired marine transport, human health and water quality among others. Efforts aimed at controlling it were taken, manual and mechanical extraction of the weeds seen to be the most adopted strategy at certain locations along the coastal fringe. But infestation in creek and lagoon environment remained untackled despite consernted efforts. The adoption of an integrated management approach where other methods failed, water hyacinth can be converted to usable materials such as paper production, rope and mat making, production of fish feeds, water purification and biogas production among others. This will go a long way at eradicating the weed as most of them will be used for beneficial purposes rather than constituting a problem to the environment. Copyright@ 2012 cepa J Contents lists available at

This research investigated the use of GIS in monitoring criminal activities from 2004 to 2010 in Asaba metropolis. Crime causes loss of lives and property as well as overwhelming fear of insecurity. These have serious consequences for economic and social development. Geographical Information System is a powerful tool that can aid the Nigerian Police in effective routine and unscheduled patrols using GIS produced maps which not only depicts crime hot spots, but also the fastest route to track down criminals. The study showed that the high density areas in Asaba with high socioeconomic interactions coupled with its political antecedents have the highest number and types of crime reported while the traditional areas have less of the crimes reported. However, kidnapping is a very new type of crime that was reported in the area. The analysis of variance used to test the research hypothesis revealed that there is spatial variability in the numbers and types of crimes reported in the different zones in the study area. @ cepajournal, 2012 J