Nimusiima Alex, F. Nalwanga, I. Mugume, B. Ogwang, P. Waswa
{"title":"A community perspective of flood occurrence and weather forecasting over Kampala City","authors":"Nimusiima Alex, F. Nalwanga, I. Mugume, B. Ogwang, P. Waswa","doi":"10.5897/AJEST2021.3007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST2021.3007","url":null,"abstract":"Weather and climate issues have become increasingly recognized among the global challenges especially in the era of climate change. Kampala city has faced a number of flooding events in the past that have led to serious damages in many low lying areas of the city. A study was conducted in one of the flood prone areas in Kampala city to understand the community perspectives on flood occurrence and weather forecasting in the area. The main objective was to understand community perceptions on flood occurrence as well as use of weather information for early warning. Data was collected from 400 respondents using a structured questionnaire as well as focused group discussions. Results from the survey revealed that 99.8% of the respondents reported rainfall intensities to have increased in the last 5 years and as a result, 96% of these respondents stated floods as the main climate risk in the area. The most common impacts of floods in the community included loss of property, lack of safe and clean water and disease outbreaks among others. In response to floods, the community identified use of raised tables or stands and use of stones in the compound as the main coping mechanisms employed in the community. In terms of weather alerts, only 22% of respondents reported receiving the weather alerts issued by the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA). Of those who receive the alerts, 91% hear the information mainly on television. Therefore, the study proposes strengthening of collaboration between UNMA and the local leaders through the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) for provision of earlier weather forecasts that help reduce the negative flood impacts among communities. \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Weather alerts, flood forecasting, changing climate and community perspectives.","PeriodicalId":7483,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89932071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ecological status of a tropical river in Niger delta area of Nigeria, using aquatic insects","authors":"Enajerho Manuel, T. Gbarakoro","doi":"10.5897/AJEST2020.2918","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST2020.2918","url":null,"abstract":"Freshwater ecosystems are the major source of water, being used for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes. Water bodies are subjected to anthropogenic activities leading to degradation of the water quality. The aim of this study is to assess the health status of Isiokpo River. Aquatic insects were sampled from March to August 2017. Physico-chemical parameters were examined using standard laboratory procedures. A total of 21 taxa comprising of 543 individual insects were recovered. Stations 1, 2 and 3 recorded 53.41, 21.36 and 25.23% of the insect population respectively. A total of six Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) species were recorded in the study. The %EPT was 28.57, 33.33 and 30.77% in station 1, 2 and 3 respectively. There were significant differences in the distribution of dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrates transparency, flow velocity, and total dissolved solids across the various stations (p<0.05). The reduced level of dissolved oxygen in station 3 as well the dominance of Chironomus sp. are indications of the impact of anthropogenic activities. The study showed that the Isiokpo River is relatively unhealthy. \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Aquatic insects, Biomonitoring, Freshwater, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Water quality.","PeriodicalId":7483,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"125 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85276751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of mining on environment: A case study of Taita Taveta County, Kenya","authors":"I. Mwakesi, R. Wahome, D. Ichang'i","doi":"10.5897/AJEST2020.2926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST2020.2926","url":null,"abstract":"Research on the impacts of mining on the environment was conducted on nine purposive selected mining sites in Kamtonga and Mkuki, Taita Taveta County, Kenya. The FOLCHI method was adopted to quantify the environmental impact of mining activities in gemstone mining sites. The affected environment surrounding the pits was broken down into three components such as Topography, Vegetation and Air. The effect of the three components impacting factors, both directly and indirectly, from the mining activities was then calculated for each Environmental Component and computed averages (magnitude) presented in table format. The findings showed that mining activities contributed to environmental and landscape changes, leading to loss of indigenous-trees, shrubs, grassland, forests, natural ecosystems and agricultural and grazing land. Mining activities contributed to air pollution. Even with the existence of environmental regulations and policies, the environment is still abused in Kenya, as a result, the country has lost considerable amount of forest cover due to mining activities. Government and non-governmental organizations should advocate for afforestation, re-afforestation and restoration of forests. Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Audit should be conducted in line with mining regulations in Environmental Management and Coordination act 1999 (amended 2019) in Kenya. \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Mining activities, environmental elements, waste piles, sustainable livelihoods, air pollution, forest restoration.","PeriodicalId":7483,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74901039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessment of leachate contamination potential of landfills in Ibadan, Nigeria","authors":"S. Adesogan, Baldwin O. Omonigho","doi":"10.5897/AJEST2021.3009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST2021.3009","url":null,"abstract":"Environmental pollution leads to poor health and has been a worrisome experience to humanity for the past few decades. This research was conducted to determine the pollution potential of landfill leachates (LFL) in Sub-Saharan Africa, using Ibadan as case study. Survey of landfills in the metropolis was undertaken; the two major active unlined landfills (Ajakanga and Awotan), were considered for this study. During sampling, eighteen parameters of interest were analyzed. The leachate pollution indices (LPI) of each landfill were calculated. The LPI of Awotan landfill is 17.55 while that of Ajakanga is 15.67. With the exceedances of the 7.378 standard LPI value, all landfills in the metropolis is recommended to be closed down in line with international best practices and new sanitary landfills set up in their stead. Based on the sub-LPI values obtained, biological treatment would be the most viable treatment option for the LFL produced. The findings from this study are applicable in landfill management in other countries within the African sub-region; thereby contributing to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Leachate pollution index, landfill, sustainable development goals, Ibadan, Nigeria, assessment.","PeriodicalId":7483,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"51 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89318471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mustapha Ouhsassi, E. Khay, A. E. Laghdach, F. Abdelouahab, Abdeltif El Ouahrani, M. Idaomar, J. Abrini
{"title":"Characterization of cyanobacteria microcystins (cyanotoxins) blooming in the Dams of \u0000Northern Morocco","authors":"Mustapha Ouhsassi, E. Khay, A. E. Laghdach, F. Abdelouahab, Abdeltif El Ouahrani, M. Idaomar, J. Abrini","doi":"10.5897/AJEST2020.2967","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST2020.2967","url":null,"abstract":"Cyanobacteria thrive in eutrophic freshwaters and impose a serious problem for the management of water bodies. Some Cyanobacteria species impose even a risk for public health due to the production of intracellular toxins. This study is a qualitative approach to determine the degree of toxicity and the toxicological aspect of cyanotoxins in order to setup a monitoring program for cyanobacteria blooms and the management of cyanotoxins thriving in three water bodies in Northern Morocco. Water samples were collected from three major water reservoirs/dams near the city of Tetouan (SMIR, BELMEHDI and NAKHLA). These water samples were screened for possible Cyanobacteria using specific culture media (BG13 & Z8). Three cyanobacteria species (Microcystis aeruginosa, Pseudanabaena galeata and Oscillatoria tenuis) were isolated, purified and lyophilized. Using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, nine types of microcystins were characterized namely: (MC-LR); (MC-YR); (MC-LA); (MC-FR); (MC-RF), [Mser7]MC-LR; [Dha7]MC-LR; MC-YAba; and [Mser7]MC-YR. Our results strongly recommend and urge different stakeholders to consider the various health risks potentially generated by these toxins during water use and management. In addition, this study is a contribution to raise awareness of the toxicological aspect of the cyanobacteria inhabiting the water bodies of Northern Morocco. \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 Key words: Blue algae, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrum, bio-toxins, water dam.","PeriodicalId":7483,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"38 1","pages":"124-141"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84915142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}