Kingsley E. Okpara

The presence of phthalate esters (PEs) in water treatment facilities has drawn a lot of interest because of the possible health risks. This research provide data on 6 PEs in the raw and finished water of three waterworks located in Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. Given that drinking water is a major way that people can be exposed to PEs, the fate of target PEs in the three conventional drinking water treatment plants was also analyzed.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are environmentally active organic pollutants that can cause endocrine disruption in humans. This study evaluated the human health risk associated with the dermal exposure to the levels of six common PAEs in sediments collected from U-Tapao River. A gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC–MS) analytic method was used for the identification and quantification of PAEs. The human health risk was carried out using hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI).

The accumulation of metals in different environmental compartments poses a risk to both the environment, human and biota health. The combination of both Phyto and nano remediation techniques have been gaining more attention in this regard. This technique leverage on the unique and specific absorption qualities of plant roots, and employs these inherent processes with the bioaccumulation, translocation, and pollutant degrading capacities of the whole plant as well as cost effectiveness, and potential to treat a broad range of contaminants.

Industrial processes, including scrap yards, can contaminate surface waters with heavy metals, posing a risk to aquatic habitat and human health. Thus, the concentrations, ecological and health risks of heavy metals in surface water and sediment of the Ogun River in Lagos was investigated. Surface water and sediments collected from the Ogun River were analyzed for some physicochemical parameters and heavy metals using standard procedures.