Vol 16, No 2 , 2015-1, African Scientist

This study was carried out to isolate and identify bacteria associated with barbers’ clipper in barbers’ shops in Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State. A total of thirty (30) barbing salon operating within Ugbowo district were randomly selected for this study. Sixty (60) samples were collected from the different shops. Sterile swab sticks were used to obtain samples from the surface of barbers’ clippers and were immediately sealed to prevent contamination. Identification of isolates was done using Gram staining technique and biochemical tests.

This study was aimed at evaluating the water quality profile of Ekenwan River located in Edo-South, Nigeria and also to determine the antibiotics sensitivity pattern of its isolated bacteria. Water samples were collected from upstream and downstream stations of the river and they were designated as station A and station B respectively; standard analytical and bacteriological procedures were adopted. The pH of water samples for station A ranged from 5.11-5.86 while and station B ranged from 4.11-5.94.

This study was aimed at monitoring the quality of produced water from a flow station waste pit located in Ologbo in Edo State of Nigeria, in order to ascertain the levels of compliance to environmental standards. Samples were analyzed for physicochemical, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and microbiological qualities adopting standard analytical procedures.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between eye dominance, handedness and ear preference and to establish the consistency in the lateral preferences of the eye, hand and ear among the study population. Two hundred and ten (210) volunteer subjects, both male and female between the ages of 18-25 years were selected from the University of Benin, Ugbowo campus. The miles test, hand preference test and ear preference test were used to test for the dominant eye, hand and ear respectively.

Automobile workshops are known to be sources of release of hydrocarbons from spent engine oil and gasoline into the terrestrial environment where they may be accumulated by soil in fauna such as earthworms. These hydrocarbon wastes often contain benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. This study was carried out to determine the concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) in soil and earthworm from selected auto mechanic workshops from Isihor and Agbor Park areas in Benin City.

Groundwater consumption is increasing due to high susceptibility of contamination of other sources. In this study, the consumption, contamination and management of groundwater resource in Isiohor quarters in Edo State were evaluated. A total of 300 questionnaires were randomly administered and laboratory analysis was carried out to determine the physicochemical parameters of the water samples collected. The results obtained showed that 94.7% of the respondents depend on groundwater as against 5.3% that use harvested rainwater.

In Nigeria, the continuous discharge of industrial wastewater with non-complaint quality parameters as stipulated by the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) is a daunting challenge. This precarious situation has led to the continuous decline in our freshwater quality, with adverse environmental and health implications. Consequently, monitoring of wastewater discharged from industries is of utmost importance in order to check them and raise awareness, where necessary.

Maize (Zea mays) is an annual monoecious crop and the most important cereal in the world after wheat and rice with regard to cultivation areas and total production. Despite the various improvements in the drying and storage of maize, the growth of moulds is usually a common occurrence in stored grains. The grain is vulnerable to biodeterioration by mycotoxigenic fungi which include Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium.

Standard bacteriological methods and physico-chemical procedures were utilized in the determination of the isolation and enumeration of the culturable heterotrophic bacterial flora, MCPA utilizing bacteria and physico-chemical profile of top soils collected from a variety of edaphic sites under varying anthropogenic usages. The mean heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 3.5 × 104 - 1.15 × 105 cfu/g. No MCPA-utilizing bacterial counts were recorded for all the soils after seven days. The observed differences in the mean counts were not significant (P>0.05).

Industrial wastes like starchy wastes cause environmental pollution especially of waterways however, they can be used for biosynthesis of enzymes (amylases) thereby reducing their pollution impact on the environment. Amylases are starch degrading enzymes that have great importance in biotechnology and starch processing industries. This study aimed at optimizing Penicillium chrysogenum biomass and amylase production in cassava whey media using organic and inorganic nitrogen supplementations. Biomass yield of P.