By Abdullahi U. Danbakaba
Protecting the natural resources against environmental pollutants can lead to sustainable environment, healthy dieting and lifestyle as well as promotion of life expectancy among citizens in Nigeria and other developing countries.
This was part of the submissions of a researcher in the Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, School of Infrastructural, Process Engineering and Technology, Federal University of Technology Minna, Engr. Dr. Sadeeq Abubakar Mohammed while presenting a public lecture titled, “Human Exposure to Carcinogens and Associated Health Risks: My Concern and Contributions” on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at the University Auditorium, Main Campus, Gidan Kwano.
Dr. Sadeeq who identified water, soil and air as the three major cardinal agricultural determinants that support life also said that heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceutical and agrochemical residues, battery, biomedical wastes are the environmental pollutants threatening the natural resources thus reducing life expectancy of citizens in the country.
Dr. Sadeeq, who developed a method for removing heavy metals and pigments from textile and tannery waste water using carbon further expressed concern that solid wastes wrongly disposed by some institutions and wastewaters from textile, tannery and pharmaceutical industries composed of a wide range of chemicals which are released into our water-ways and eventually used for irrigation of some agricultural products that we consume today, account for a number of ailments manifesting in many people such as cancer, skin lesions, bone diseases, cardiovascular, renal dysfunctions, retarded growth, physical, muscular and neurological degenerative processes.
In his quest to remedy the situation, Dr. Sadeeq disclosed that he adopted a technology used for conversion of biomass wastes into hydrochar known as hydrothermal carbonization needed for adsorption.
In order to significantly reduce human exposure to high concentrations of heavy metals and other organic tenable through food chain, the researcher advised that full implementation and proper utilisation of the techniques of his research work must ensue, adding that biomass waste can be turned into business opportunity; hence, creating jobs and providing quality crops for healthy growth and development.
He further stressed the need for the legislative arm of government to come up with blueprints on feasible policy and laws capable of safeguarding the vulnerable from excessive exposure to chemical pollutants, also called on the authorities to enforce the rules and regulations governing the establishment of industries with a view to checkmating their activities and ensure that violators are brought to book.
In his remarks,shortly after the presentation, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Bala FSSSN,who described the development as depressing, thanked Dr. Sadeeq for his presentation, stressing that the development ought to be formally presented to the authorities owing to the magnitude of danger it poses to the societal existence.
Photo Credit: Elijah Yisa