ABSTRACT Soil is the natural basis for plants growth as it not only provides support, water and minerals, but also helps to aerate the roots for proper development. However, due to the ever-growing population, available land is becoming a challenge. Urbanization also leads to insufficient surface for food production, as the arable land is used for settlement. This has further been exacerbated by erratic climatic conditions. Due to such limitations, this has compelled other options to be cons...
ABSTRACT Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hazardous organic chemicals consisting of two or more aromatic rings. United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has identified 16 priority PAHs are carcinogenic and mutagenic. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that their levels not to exceed 50 ng/L in water. Nairobi city is the economic and industrial hub for Kenya with increasing industrialization and urbanization. This increase has led to water and air pollutio...
ABSTRACT African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) have been recommended as the most affordable source of minerals and vitamins for African families. They can be used to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies but have been underutilized due to lack of nutrition information, leading to consumption of the lesser nutritious exotic vegetables. Vihiga County is endowed with these AIVs but cases of micronutrient deficiencies remain a challenge. The potential of these AIVs as sources of micronutrients is ...
ABSTRACT The 2014 Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) and Micronutrient Survey reportshowed malnutrition among children aged 5-11 years in Kenya. In particular,malnutrition in Machakos County manifested as stunting (26.3 %), wasting (6.3 %),underweight (12.7 %), marginal vitamin A deficiency (VAD) (33.9 %), anemia (16.5%), zinc deficiency (82.5 %) and iron deficiency (9.4 %). African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables (AILVs) such as Vigna unguiculata and Amaranthus cruentus can be usedto fight ...
ABSTRACT Garage waste is a major source of environmental pollution since it contains heavy metals. These heavy metals end up being swept by rain water into rivers. When the water is used for drinking or irrigation the heavy metals end up in animal and human tissues causing adverse health effects. In soil, heavy metals exist in different forms which influence their mobility and bioavailability. These forms include those soluble in water, those exchangeable with other metal ions, the reducible...
ABSTRACT An increase in population results to an increase in the volume of grey water generated, thus decreasing the availability of fresh water. In Kenya and developing countries acute water shortages are extremely experienced consequently resulting to water rationing and increase in water prices by water vendors. Therefore treatment of the grey water generated, for reuse in toilet flushing and laundry work could reduce fresh water demands. This study therefore proposed to determine the effe...
ABSTRACT Pesticides bring a promise of higher yields of more food for the hungry and freedom from diseases spread by pests. However, pesticides are poisons and their residues do harm to human beings when the concentration is higher than the recommended maximum residue limits (MRLs). If a pesticide is left on vegetables, which are considered a cheaper source of natural nutrients, somebody could get sick or even get killed due to the poisoning. Therefore pesticide residues have become a high co...
ABSTRACT Vegetables are a major source of essential nutrients such as minerals, proteins, energy and roughage. Some vegetables such as tomato and sweet pepper can be eaten raw or cooked. These vegetables are affected by pests and diseases that are controlled using pesticides among which are fungicides such as dithiocarbamates (DTCs) that are toxic to human and animals at high concentrations. DTCs are commonly used in different combinations in Kenya and one of their metabolites, ethylenethio...
The Oil Palm Trunk (OPT) fiber was pretreated, using Tetraoxosulphate (vi) acid H2SO4, Hydrochloric acid HCl, and Trioxonitrate (v) acid HNO3, at temperature of 80 o C, and residence time varying from 15 to 45 minutes, and acid concentration between 1-2.5%. It was found that the optimum acid concentration and residence time for highest sugar yield, was 1% w/w and 30minutes for the three acids investigated. Hydrolysis with HCl gave the highest sugar yield. The effect of additives such as 0.5M ...
ABSTRACT Control of disease vectors by use of synthetic chemical pesticides has been associated with a series of problems, including resistance development, environmental pollution, and safety risks for humans and domestic animals. Plant-based products have been used for generations in traditional practices to control different arthropods. These have been used in space or personal protection either to repel the arthropods from distance or to deter them from blood-feeding on contact. In the p...
ABSTRACT Essential plant nutrients are necessary for plant growth, However, some of these nutrients are added as inorganic fertilizers due to high demand of food arising from fast growth in population which has necessitated the need to expand agricultural activities. This has lead to overuse of commercial inorganic fertilizers leading to drop in soil pH. Low pH reduces the availability of essential nutrients to plants and also low rate of decomposition of organic matter that is required to in...
ABSTRACT The greater Taita community lives in crowded parcels of land that are intensely used to generate household food and family income. Wundanyi division which is the district headquarters is divided into Upper, Medium and Lower zones and has a high population density of 92 persons per Km2. Each household is estimated to generate 95 % of economic income from agriculture. High population, overdependence on agriculture and low income can have adverse effects on soil fertility. The objective...
ABSTRACT Formaldehyde is one of the smallest organic molecules with a wide range of uses in the society. It is used in cosmetics as a preservative. Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers are contained in some cosmetics; hair products, shampoos, nail products, lip and dental care products, deodorants, antiperspirants, shaving products, swipes, among others. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry and in the manufacture of resins and adhesives, permanent press fabric treatments, tissue ...
ABSTRACT Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes. Consumption of contaminated water may lead to acute and chronic health effects. The most common water pollutants include heavy metals, pesticides, and anions such as fluorides, arsenic, arsenite, chromate and selenate, which cause various diseases such as brain, liver and bone ailments. Among the pollutants, fluoride is the most occ...
ABSTRACT The mesocarp (edible part) of Mangifera. indica L. (mango) is known for its contribution towards addressing nutritional challenges that face most of the developing countries. Based on the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) recommended levels by National Research Council (NRC) USA, mangoes would provide sufficient amounts of essential minerals, sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn). However, as a result of consumi...