Browsing by Author "Udensi, Justina U."

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    Determination of reduced glutathione and glutathione S-transferase of poultry birds exposed to permethrin insecticide
    (U. P., 2012) Ezeji, Ethelbert U.; Anyalogbu, Ernest A.; Ezejiofor, Tobias N.; Udensi, Justina U.
    The experiment was carried out to determine the effect of a permethrin insecticide on reduced Glutathione (GSH) and Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in the liver and serum of poultry birds. Six weeks old poultry birds (broilers) weighing between 400-600 g, divided into four groups of five birds each. The poultry birds were exposed for 30 days to different concentrations (1, 5 and 10%) of a locally manufactured insect powder called ‘Rambo’ which contains 0.6% permethrin. The control group had no insecticide added to their feed. The levels of reduced glutathione in the treated groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05) in both the serum and liver of the poultry birds. Liver and serum Glutathione S-transferase activity was significantly lower (p<0.05) in 1, 5 and 10% insecticide concentrations as against the control. The total liver protein was significantly higher at all levels of pesticide exposure compared with the control while serum protein content was significantly higher at 5 and 10% insecticide concentrations. Results of this experiment confirmed the use of GST as a biomarker in ecological evaluation of environmental pollutants.
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    Studies on the recovery potentials of a disturbed aquatic ecosystem: Focus on pre-and post-dredging analysis of Nworie River, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
    (U. P, 2014-06) Udensi, Justina U.; Iwuala, Moses O. E.; Nwigwe, Harriet C.; Onyedineke, Nkechi E.; Okereke, Joseph N.; Mgbemena, Ifeyinwa C.
    A study was done to monitor the recovery potential of Nworie river system, in Imo State, Ni- geria from July 2010 to January 2012. Water samples were collected from 5 Stations prior to, during and after dredging. Station 1 was the dredging point, Stations 2 and 3 were 250m and 500m upstream of the point, while Stations 4 and 5 were 250m and 500m downstream of the dredging point respectively. The physicochemical parameters of the water before dredging were assessed to be within acceptable limits of established water standards; pH 6.5-7.8, Tem- perature 27.6-29.9 °C, Conductivity 34-196us/cm, Turbidity 0-76NTU, TDS 22.1-127.4 mg/l, TSS 9-51mg/l, Nitrate 1.2-33.6mg/l, Phosphate 0.2-3.7mg/1, Sulphate 0-33mg/l, DO 4.3- 9.4mg/l and BOD5 9.5- 10.9mg/l. During the dredging, the water physicochemistry changed noticeably with indices outside the permissible limits of the standards. The pH values de- creased drastically to 4.6, DO to 1.3mg/l, Nitrate to 1.2mg/l, temperature increased to 30.2°C, Turbidity 620NTU, TSS 349mg/l, Conductivity 498 μs/cm, TDS 298.8 mg/l, BOD5 19.1mg/l, Sulphate 33mg/l and Phosphate 0.92mg/l. Three months after the dredging, the values for the parameters returned to their pre-dredging concentrations. However, during the rainy season, as the leachates and silts from the spoils were washed into the river, the recovery of the river sys- tem was prolonged to about 9 months. This implies that the effects of dredging on the river are short term, but improper disposal of dredge spoils compounded the impacts.