Effect of Acetaminophen (APAP) on Physiological Indicators in Lactuca sativa

This study analyzes the effects of acetaminophen (APAP) as a contaminant on physiological characteristics of lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.). Experiments were provided in an experimental greenhouse with semi-controlled conditions. The effect of different amounts of contaminant was evaluated by using regression analysis. Plants were grown in five concentrations of APAP: 0 µM, 5 µM, 50 µM, 500 µM, and 5 mM for 14 days in two variants, acute and chronic. The obtained results show that the monitored parameters were demonstrably influenced by the experimental variant. Plants are more sensitive to chronic contamination compared to acute. Significant (p < 0.05) deviation in photosynthesis and fluorescence was observed compared to the control in different variants. The highest doses of APAP reduced the intensity of photosynthesis by a maximum of more than 31% compared to the control. A reduction of 18% was observed for the fluorescence parameters. Pronounced correlation was described between chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and yield mainly under APAP conditions. The amount of chlorophyll was influenced by exposure to APAP.

Heavy Metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Fe, Cr, Mn, Zn) Contents in Ungulates of Ogun State Agricultural Farm Settlement, Ago - Iwoye, Nigeria

Heavy metals are natural components of the earth's crust which can neither be degraded nor destroyed and were known as trace elements as they occur in minute concentrations in biological systems. This study was aimed to investigate the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the commonly consumed duikers in an agricultural farm settlement. Commercially available four duikers (Cephalophus spp.) were collected for four weeks and four organs (skin, lungs, kidney and liver) from each sample were used. All the organs sampled were subjected to 7 heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Cr and Cd) tests using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (VGB 210 System) following standard procedure. All data were subjected to statistical analysis to find out the significant difference of heavy metal in each organ of and their accumulation effects. Heavy metals concentration in Cephalophus spp was in descending order of Cd (0.29±0.02 - 0.92±0.01) < Pb (0.52±0.03-1.08±0.06) < Cr (0.78±0.05-2.47±0.19) < Cu (5.05±0.30-13.35±0.54) < Mn (7.30±0.49-14.20±1.06) < Zn (75.52±3.04-125.28±10.57) < Fe (381.52±14.25-761.40±5.76). They accumulated the metals in ascending order Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cd > Cr > Pb for skin, Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Cd > Pb for liver, Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd for lung and Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cr > Pb > Cd for kidney. Variability of heavy metals in Cephalophus species may not be due to the differences in the animal diet and habitat, but, the level of acute or chronic contamination of their diet and habitat.