Chapters authored
Enhancement of Soil Health Using Biochar
Over the years, the carbon-rich biochar has been used for the purpose of environmental conservation and reservation. Typically produced from varieties of materials ranging from sewage, farm produce, energy crops and agricultural waste or residues, the properties usually considered in the application of biochar include the chemical composition, porosity and stability. Contemporarily, the use of biochar has extended to its utilization in the industry, agriculture, forestry, and the natural environment. Soil fertility depends on the holistic process of managing the soil and likewise maintaining a robust biodiversity. This process involves the application of natural carbon-rich materials like biochar as soil amendments. The rapid absorption tendency of biochar, both on organic and inorganic materials has contributed immensely to the removal of excess antimicrobials from the environment. Biochar has been known to be a good enhancer of the soil due to its rich content of carbon and other nutrients good enough for the soil. Other striking effects of biochar on the soil and environment include the enhancement of the uptake of nitrogen, improvement of the soil structure, mitigation of greenhouse gases, conservation of the environment and enhancement of soil microbial community.
Part of the book: Applications of Biochar for Environmental Safety
Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Groundwater and Its Implications for Public Health Education: A Case Study of an Industrial Area in Southwestern Nigeria
Heavy metals’ presence in groundwater has garnered a lot of attention recently due to their impact on ecosystem and human health. Thus, this chapter was designed to assess the effects of heavy metals contamination in groundwater and its implication for public health education in selected communities located in an industrial area in Ogun state, southwestern Nigeria. Fifty groundwater sources were identified using a handheld global positioning system and analyzed for physicochemical and heavy metals properties. Four-hundred participants were selected and interviewed using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. The results indicated that there were high quantities of heavy metals in the groundwater that were above the allowable limit set by national and international regulations. A larger percentage of the respondents’ drinks water from groundwater supply. The majority of those surveyed were poorly informed on the effects of heavy metal contamination. The following ailments were experienced by the respondents in the last 6 months: frequent watery stool, difficulty in breathing, and skin infection. Few of the respondents reported the following occurrences in their household in the last 1 year: still birth, stunted growth in child, and death due to cancer. Therefore, there is a requirement for immediate public health education and health promotion activities among the local populace.
Part of the book: Groundwater