Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) represent a vital element in our economy in terms of addressing unemployment and the gross domestic product (GDP) of our country. Improving the success rate of SMMEs would save a lot of financial resources, thus understanding the financing options that complement success at different phases of the business is very important. This research sought to examine the extent to which the financing options chosen by entrepreneurs will have an impact on business success. The investigators adopted the progression of the ventures along the business life cycle stages as a benchmark for assessing success. The study focused primarily on SMMEs in the Eastern Cape Information Communication Technologies (ICT) sector. Data was obtained using an online survey which reached 50 small business owners/ business representative within the ICT sector in the Eastern Cape Province. The research study showed the role that internal financing options, such as personal savings, family, relatives and friends' financing, retained earnings, sale of existing assets and cutting down stock levels, play in the achievement of ICT SMME success. Moreover, examined external financing options such as Broad-Based Black Economic empowerment (B-BBEE) financing, bank loans, equity financing, government grants, trade credit, to SMME success. Key results revealed that the financial support of B-BBEE and personal savings have played a key role in the success of ICT SMMEs throughout the business life cycle phases. This occurs after an ICT SMME has advanced successfully over the start-up stage and aims for success in the development phase. The finding revealed that for these SMMEs to attain success at the development stage, they should finance their business investment projects utilising credit trade, bank loans, families, relatives and friends. The abovementioned financing options are only substantially linked to good advancement from the development phase onto the expansion phase. Also, suggestions have been made to the ICT SMME management to include B-BBEE finance, personal savings, bank loans, families, relatives and friends and trade credit as suitable funding choices for the ICT SMME's life cycle

Luyolo mahlangabeza

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection often linked to direct or indirect exposure to animals or unpasteurized dairy products. Atypical presentations in patients without classical risk factors pose significant diagnostic and management challenges. A 68-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of burning pain involving cervical and lumbar regions, associated with weight loss, decreased appetite, and subjective fever. Examination revealed paravertebral tenderness and left knee swelling with effusion. Previous MRI showed multifocal marrow edema and soft tissue thickening in the lumbar spine, suggesting infection or inflammation. The patient denies exposure to unpasteurized dairy products, raw meat, or animals. Brucella serology revealed positive IgG with Brucella melitensis titer 1:160, later confirmed by blood cultures. PET imaging demonstrated multifocal metabolically active arthritic changes involving the spine, shoulders, and knees. Arthrocentesis confirmed inflammatory arthritis due to brucellosis. The patient was started on doxycycline, rifampin, and a 14-day course of intravenous gentamicin. During hospitalization, management was complicated by persistent knee pain and swelling requiring multimodal analgesia. Spinal brucellosis in the absence of classical risk factors is an odd presentation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion in endemic regions. Advanced imaging and microbiological confirmation are pivotal procedures in diagnosis. Early recognition of atypical brucellosis is critical to prevent complications and improve outcomes.

Karishma

Kidney transplant kidney transplant ( KTx) recipients have increased susceptibility to a spectrum of infections including; bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. Many factors contribute to their infection potential risk, in terms of their immunosuppressive state, that result in suppression of their B‑and T‑lymphocyte repertoire, also to consider certain donor and recipient‑related factors, that make them at risk of specific type of infectious complications. In addition kidney transplant patients tolerate poorly infections, which may adversely affect their graft function, by inducing glomerular injury, hence early diagnosis, directed therapy, and careful dosing of antimicrobial agents is of paramount importance in reducing patient’s morbidity and mortality. We report a kidney transplant patient, who received her live related kidney graft 7 years earlier (in 2013), she has been with stable graft function in most of her follow up period, until she presented with pyrexia, dyspnea and fatigue associated with deterioration of her graft function.

Hani

Background: Numerous studies have linked uterine fibroids to hypertension, suggesting that this condition may be a risk factor unique to women. These days, fibroids are the main cause of myomectomy and hysterectomy. This study aimed to ascertain the relationship between uterine fibroids and hypertension in Saudi women. Methods: This case-control study was carried out between January 2023 and January 2024 on patients with uterine fibroids and non-uterine fibroids who had an appointment for surgery at the gynecological department of the Maternal and Children Hospital (MCH) Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia. Blood pressure readings and fibroid diameters are important factors in studying uterine fibroids. Results: The 140 individuals who were split into 70 cases and 70 control groups had average ages of 41.62±2.16 and 44±1.10. 95 participants had menorrhagia, which was the most common ailment in both groups. In contrast to the controls, the uterine fibroid cases had significantly higher rates of anemia (54.2%), OCP (12.8%), infertility (11.4%), and abortion (37.1%) (P<0.001). 48.5% of uterine fibroids had hypertension, compared to 17.1% of controls (P<0.001).Conclusion: There is a considerable relationship between uterine fibroids and hypertension. Anemia, infertility, and abortion are higher in uterine fibroid cases.

Karishma

The CuS@reduced graphene oxide (CuS/RGO) hybrid nanocomposite was synthesized by facile hydrothermal method and used as a photoelectrode material in photovoltaic applications. In the hydrothermal route, RGO is formed by the reduction of GO with simultaneous formation of CuS/RGO nanocomposites. The CuS/RGO nanocomposites was investigated using powder XRD, TEM, HR-TEM, Raman, XPS, DRS UV–Vis spectroscopy, Photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD and TEM results suggest that CuS crystalline with individual spherical like homogeneous nanoparticles sizes in the range of 45–35 nm, which is distributed throughout the RGO sheets. We further construct the flexible photoelectrodes by using CuS and RGO and studied the photovoltaic performance. Photovoltaic parameters, such as short-circuit photocurrent density, open circuit voltage, fill factor and conversion efficiency were found to be 16 mA/cm2 , 0.71 V, 70.1% and 7.81% respectively, for CuS/RGO photoelectrode. The improved photo conversion efficiency of CuS/RGO is due to enhancing the electronic injection ability and reducing the photogenerated charge recombination. These photovoltaic results indicate a simple methodology for the low cost and effortless synthesis of an alternative CuS/RGO photoelectrode in high performance photovoltaic devices.

Dr.k.k.saravanan

The phrase, "The world is ageing, but India has youth on her side," has been a soothing phrase. The average age of the Indian population will be 29 at the conclusion of this decade. As a result of this "demographic dividend," India is expected to account for a quarter of the world's additional increase in working population by 2040. There are 430 million people in our current workforce (ages 15 to 64). India will add 480 million people to its current workforce of 430 million in the next 20 years. Education is the most important tool for converting this demographic dividend into a sustainable economic resource and unlocking human capital's hidden potential. The suggested article attempts to identify gaps and loopholes in the education system utilising the basics of the Capability Approach as a comprehensive mechanism of evaluation and strategies to solve the aforementioned problems, allowing us to take advantage of our country's large demographic dividend.

Dr. amarjeet singh

Various quality control tests are employed for solid dosage forms such as uniformity, dissolution and drug contents in order to assess their pharmaceutical equivalence. The objective of the current study was to assess and contrast five distinct metformin hydrochloride brands that are offered for sale in the Libyan market. The physicochemical equivalence of the five brands of metformin hydrochloride tablets (500 mg) were determined through the evaluation of official and non-official standards according to the USP including uniformity of weight, friability, hardness, dissolution rate and drug content. All the examined brands available in the Libyan market passed the official weight variation, friability, dissolution and disintegration tests and were equivalent. The friability test was found within the specified limit. All the formulations were disintegrated within 09 - 15 min. The tested brands were non-equivalent to the innovator Glucophage® according to their dissolution evaluation. The percentage content of the active ingredient of five brands of metformin tablets showed values within the monograph specifications (95% - 105%). In conclusion, all the five brands available in the Libyan market which were evaluated in this study cannot be substituted with the innovator product in clinical practice.

Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

Coronaviruses are closely related virus causing several types of respiratory tract infections ranging from common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). There are many other ways in which Covid-19 will impact the existing public health issues. With the rising number of covid19 cases, it has been reported that people with the weaker immune system are at higher risk. We identified the mechanism of action of cyclophosphamide and its impact on the lung. Pulmonary side effects associated with cyclophosphamide are rare and dose-related. They manifest as early-onset pneumonitis, in patients with symptoms especially like cough and dyspnea. Acrolein in cyclophosphamide is the main component linked with the toxic effect. We hypothesize that use of cyclophosphamide, an antineoplastic agent and immunosuppressive agent used in treating many cancers and autoimmune disorders (like rheumatoid arthritis and ANCA vasculitis), induces severe lung toxicity which can be one of the contributing factors for the increased risk of COVID 19 complication. These factors are to be recognized to improve prevention and control of the disease.

Ankul singh

To improve education quality and governance, the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) has proposed four regulatory entities, including the National Accreditation Council (NAC). To build up India as a universal knowledge giant over the next ten years, the policy promotes equitable educational opportunities and transformative initiatives. To significantly improve the standards for higher education in India, quality control, accreditation, & ranking systems become crucial. With an emphasis on quality, employability, and lifelong learning, the National Education Policy-2020 (NEP-2020) seeks to create a flexible, value-based educational system that integrates 21st-century capabilities. India's higher education is currently at a critical juncture, requiring transformation to enhance its overall contribution to society and address social injustices. This involves examining how information is produced and how students are taught to promote sustainability and social responsibility. Higher education institutions must comprehend and address student expectations regarding quality because the service sector is expanding quickly due to liberalization, privatization, and globalization. As a result, evaluating service quality becomes crucial for future enhancements and feedback. The Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) legislation, 2018, was introduced by the Ministry of Human Resource Development toward the end of June with the goal of repealing the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956, which has been in place for seven decades. The HECI will interchange with the University Grants Commission (UGC), which has been the foundation of India's college and university structure. This transition analyzes the proposed bill and examines its shortcomings. This advocates that the current bill be unsuccessful in reporting the flaws of the previous official; instead, it merely reflects those issues and will not resolve the long-standing problems of low autonomy and subpar instruction in the higher education system. As the new regulator, HECI's strategy isn't very revolutionary. Regulators who encourage centralization of duties to reduce autonomy must be disregarded at moments when Indian institutions are striving to rank highly in the world.

Dr. awadhesh singh gautam

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious medical condition that has a high clinical burden on both the mother and fetus, despite having a low incidence during pregnancy and the postpartum period. VTE is a leading cause of death among pregnant women and new mothers worldwide, and its severity cannot be underestimated. The development of VTE is influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, as well as acquired conditions. Pregnancy-related changes, such as increased levels of coagulation factors and diminished fibrinolysis, can increase the risk of VTE. Additionally, older mothers, those who are obese, multiparous, or have undergone cesarean delivery, are at a higher risk of developing VTE. Owing to the lack of standardized guidelines and reliable data on VTE prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, authorities have developed risk scores that allow for a personalized assessment of the risk of thrombosis during pregnancy and postpartum, enabling a tailored approach to prevent thrombosis. Managing VTE during pregnancy poses significant challenges because the benefits and risks of anticoagulant treatment for both the mother and fetus must be carefully balanced. An interdisciplinary approach that includes obstetricians, neonatologists, physicians, and hematologists is essential to achieving optimal outcomes. This review explored the VTE updates in pathogenesis, presentation, complications, treatment options, and research gaps with proposal strategies to improve VTE outcomes and suggest further research.

Karishma

Plants have been used as medicine for the treatment of diseases for thousands of years. These herbal remedies, although natural, can cause some serious damaging effects on the vital organs of the body due to inadequacy in standardization and safety regulations. Mucuna pruriens Linn. belongs to the family Fabaceae and is used traditionally in various ailments. The present study reports the acute systematic toxicity and topical toxicity of methanolic extract of Mucuna pruriens (seeds) on albino mice and rabbits respectively. The test solution was injected intravenously into the tail as 1ml/20gm of the mice body weight. The observation was made immediately and after 1/2, 1, 4, 24, 48 and 72hours of drug administration. Mice showed normal activity till 72hours. The intracutaneous test is designed to evaluate local responses to the extracts of materials under test following intracutaneous injection into rabbits. The toxicological investigations of Mucuna pruriens with particular reference to intracutaneous toxicity in experimental animals displayed that it showed slight edema.

Dr. salman ahmed

Algae are used by human beings for food from ancient times, as they contain a wide range of elements. Using inexpensive, in-house bioassays for screening and monitoring of extracts where the aim of these bioassays is to provide a front-line screen that can be followed up by more specific and expensive bioassays. The phytochemical screening, assessment of toxicity and effects on growth parameters of Traticum sativum of ethanol and dichloromethane extracts of five macro-algal species (two green, two brown and one red) collected from Libyan coast were studied. The Brine shrimp lethality assay was conducted to determine the toxic effects of seaweed extracts on Artemia Salina nauplii larvae and this was to provide a front-line screen that can be backed up by specific and expensive bioassays once the active compounds have been isolated. The effect of seaweeds liquid fertilizer on growth parameters of Traticum sativum were examined using in vitro seed germination in petri dishes bioassay. Seed germination percentage, fresh and dry weight, shoots length and roots length were the parameters recorded in young seedlings post germination. Ethanolic and dichloromethane extracts of the five algae samples represented the presence of several chemical constituents. All extracts exhibited LC50 > 1000 μg per ml. In this study, all algal extracts are non-toxic according to Brine shrimp lethality assay so they may be considered as edible seaweeds. Different effects on growth parameters of Traticum sativum suggested the presence of micro-elements, macro-elements and different concentrations of plant growth hormones.

Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF RHIZOSPHERIC SOIL OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) AND ITS EFFECTS ON MAIZE DISEASE INCIDENCE (IN VIVO) IN KARNATAKA

Veerabhadraswamy al

In olden days in most of the family male members were meant for earning income to the family where as the female members looked after the house works. In most of the family it was followed. After some time it was felt that if the female members are involved in some works other than the family affairs it would be the support extended by them to their spouse and family members. Therefore, in some family the female members were allowed to work in some industries and agriculture. Most of the women members supported to the family members the work or job involved by the male members of the family. Being India a country having more than 65 percent of its population are residing in rural areas. They depend only on agriculture and allied industries of agriculture. Due to the failure of rainfall and problems of insects and the monsoon nowadays the farmer could not earn even the amount incurred by them to cultivate the produces. But the necessity of the family is going on increasing day by day. Further, the prices of the domestic utilities are also increasing like anything. It is very difficult to run the family with single earning. Therefore, it is necessary for both the male and female members in the family to bring income to meet their requirements. In urban areas, there is more number of industries, which provide employment opportunities to both of the gender. However, if consider the position of the village women, they do not have much awareness on industrial work. Further, they have only limited literacy knowledge, which paved them to engage only in agriculture labour, which further made them weak in their financial position, as there is only limited scope for income in the agriculture work. Hence, most of the family in the rural parts of the country led a very poor life, which worsens the younger generation particularly in education. To minimize the unemployment problems in the rural areas and to generate the income to the family in the rural parts, the central government introduced Micro Finance to encourage the rural public to generate income to their family by way of doing small business or involved in some self-employment activities. As a part of the development of women in the rural areas, Self-help groups were established in the year 1993-94 in Uthrapradesh. But the evolution of SHGs commenced in 1990s. Micro finance plays vital role in the empowerment of women particularly in the village areas by providing financial assistance through self-help groups in the local areas since 1990. Andhra Pradesh government emphasizes more on the development of women through Self-help groups. The banks are given direction to provide more volume loan to the self-help groups. More number of self help groups was established in all villages. NGOs and government create awareness among all women in the rural areas to form self-group even for each line and street in all villages of Andhra Pradesh. We happened to see number of SHGs is being established and functioning well. The self-help group members are involved in various activities like running a canteen, manufacturing pickles and handy crafts and cloth items, etc. The local banks are adopting the particular villages for providing loan to self-help groups. Though the Micro finance extends maximum support to the development of women and the self help groups, the members in self-help groups have different views about micro finance and face many issues in getting the loan and the repayment of the loan. In many occasions, the members in self-help groups are compelled by family members not to involve in SHGs activities because of various reasons. In some of the SHGs the income level of the members is very low when compared with the income from other SHGs. What are the actual causes? What is the role of micro finance in empowerment of women? To know all these reasons a thorough study is to be undertaken.

Dr tatayya bommali

Objective: To explore unusual association between Turner Syndrome (TS) and Hypopituitarism in a Tunisian cohort. Methods: We reported 6 patients with TS associated to Hypopituitarism, including three familial cases except the fourth sister who showed only a TS phenotype. Biochemical analysis, resonance magnetic imaging and cytogenetic analyses were performed. Results: The average age of our patients was 17.2 years (11-31 years). They were all referred for short stature and pubertal delay, except for the fourth sister who presented spontaneous puberty with the integrity of the pituitary axis and the presence of an X ring chromosome. Karyotype analysis showed monosomy in 3 cases and a mosaic TS in the 3 remaining cases, including one patient with abnormal X chromosome structure. Somatotropic and corticotropic deficiencies were confirmed in 2 sporadic cases while the gonadotropic and thyrotropic axes were spared. In contrast; familial cases were consistently affected by the integrity of the corticotropic axis. MRI showed pituitary hypoplasia in all familial cases and pituitary stalk interruption syndrome in only one sporadic case. No correlation was found between the chromosome formula and the anterior pituitary involvement. Conclusion: Co-segregation of congenital Hypopituitarism with pituitary hypoplasia and X chromosome aberrations could imply a molecular anomaly of transcription factors responsible for the differentiation and development of pituitary cells such as PROP1, POUF1, Hesx1, Lhx3, Lhx4. The etiopathogenic link between X chromosome abnormalities and the occurrence of Hypopituitarism remains unclear; however, the progress of molecular biology may clarify the interrelation between transcription factors and sex chromosome segregation abnormalities.

Mariam moalla

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare and new but increasingly recognized immune-mediated fibroinflammatory condition known to affect multiple organs. The diagnostic approach is challenging, as there is no single investigation to confirm the diagnosis, which requires the integration of clinical, biochemical, and radiographic manifestations with classic histopathologic features to establish the diagnosis. The histology of IgG4-RD is determined by a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis in the presence of an increased level of IgG4 in most patients. The first line of treatment is systemic glucocorticoids, but adverse effects of the drug, suboptimal response, and disease recurrences on reduction or termination of therapy highlight the need for an alternative therapy such as rituximab, which appears to be a promising alternate agent in the treatment of IgG4-RD; however, its efficacy needs to be evaluated in large clinically controlled trials.

Karishma

Though the anatomy and physiology of the adult caprine (Capra hircus L.) stomach have been investigated extensively, the early development of the abomasum has not yet been fully elucidated. The glandular part of abomasum plays an important role in digestion of ingested food by action of gastric juices. Very few studies have been conducted so far regarding histogenesis of goat foetal abomasum in India. In the present study, we have investigated the embryonic and early foetal development of the goat, Capra hircus L. fundic abomasum. We collected 36 developing abomasum of healthy and normal embryos/foeti of goat and assigned them into three group viz. Gr. I (0-50 days of gestation), Gr. II (51-100 days of gestation) and Gr. III (101-150 days of gestation). Small pieces of tissues were processed by routine paraffin. The wall of glandular stomach, the fundic part, was composed of epithelium, pleuripotent blastemic tissue and serosa up to 44 days of gestation. Tunica muscularis became separable at 46 days of gestation. The epithelium was stratified type up to 50 days and gradually changed to pseudo-stratified columnar to simple columnar type from 76 days of gestation. Primary and secondary abomasal folds were observed at 51 and 76 days of gestation, respectively. Gastric pit, the fore runner of gastric gland was reported first at 70 days. The gland became branched tubular type at 145 days. The cells found in the mucosa of the abomasum were surface epithelial cells, chief cells, parietal cells, mucous neck cells and undifferentiated cells. Chief and parietal cell were observed at 76 days and mucous neck cells at 82 days of gestation. Reticular, collagen and elastic fibers came into sight at 38, 76 and 100 days of gestation, respectively. The present study is expected to supplement known data and knowledge regarding histogenesis of goat fetal abomasum and help in diagnosis and treatment of related congenital anomalies.

Varsha gupta

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex and chronic illness requiring continuous medical care. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is commonly associated with obesity, hypertension, and a tendency to develop thrombosis, and an increase risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Diabesity is a term used to indicate the coexistence of obesity and DM. Diabesity increases as obesity is an emerging epidemic in modern societies, the co-incidence with DM is also rising, so a joint plan of anti-obesity and anti-hyperglycemia for the management approaches. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on body weight and glycemic response in obese Libyan patients with T2D at the National Diabetes Centre in Tripoli, between July 2013 and May 2022. This prospective study included obese adults with T2D who were newly prescribed GLP-1RA therapy for six months with dulaglutide once weekly or liraglutide once daily. The study included 170 diabetic patients who were started on GLP1-RA as add on therapy to their treatment, with a regular follow-up with dietitian and their physicians to adjust their glucose-lowering medications, then comparing the effect of these agents on body weight and the level of glycated hemoglobin before and after 24 weeks of treatment. Most of the patients (n = 99, 58.23%) were in the age period from 54 to 74 years old and 101 of whom were female subjects (59.4%), with a mean duration of DM equal to 8.8 ± 7.3 years. The patients were divided randomly into two groups, the first group included 110 patients who received liraglutide pens showed a significant reduction in HbA1c from 9.6% (± 1.54) to 7.4% (± 1.03) by p < 0.001 and a significant weight loss from 88.3 kg (± 10.68) to 80.8 kg (± 11.83) by p < 0.001. The reported adverse events were in 23 cases of minor hypoglycemia due to gastrointestinal upset. The other group included 60 patients for dulaglutide pens and showed significant decrease in HbA1c = 9.6% (± 1.54) to 7.1% (± 1.2) by p < 0.05 and a significant reduction of bodyweight from 88.3 kg (± 10.68) to 83.8 kg (± 16.3) by p < 0.05. The reported adverse events were mild transient gastrointestinal distress for the initial week of a start and then subside with regular intake. Whereas, 115 patients (67.6%) with HbA1c above 10.0% before starting therapy, no patient with HbA1c above 10.0% after six months of both GLP-RA agents therapy. Thus, the uses of GLP-RA as add-on therapy for obese patients with T2D significantly improved glycaemic control with less hypoglycaemia, accordingly, reduce insulin requirement for blood glucose control and loss in body weight. It can thus be concluded that GLP-1RA therapy is an effective treatment option when used in obese patients with DM.

Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

In an era of rapid technological advancement, the digital divide between rural and urban communities has become increasingly apparent. This study aims to investigate consumer awareness towards cyber security in both rural and urban settings, recognizing its critical importance in safeguarding personal and sensitive information. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to bridge the digital divide in cyber security awareness. Policymakers, educators, and community leaders must collaborate to implement initiatives tailored to the unique needs of rural populations, including improving access to technology, enhancing digital literacy programs, and fostering a culture of cyber security consciousness. By addressing these disparities, we can strive towards a more inclusive and resilient digital society where all individuals, regardless of their geographic location, are empowered to navigate the digital landscape securely. This research paper delves into the awareness and attitudes of consumers regarding cyber security in both rural and urban settings. With the increasing prevalence of online activities, particularly e-commerce, understanding the level of awareness and concerns about cyber security is crucial. The study analyzes data collected from 100 respondents, examining demographics, online shopping behavior, encounters with security issues, familiarity with safety measures, and sources of information about cyber security. The findings provide insights into the digital divide between rural and urban communities and offer recommendations for enhancing cyber security awareness and education.

Dr. kishor bholane

Provision of clean water is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Water quality assessment as an ongoing exercise, in view of the threat of contamination from natural sources and human activities, plays a pivotal role in the sustainable management of water resources. Potable water samples were collected from Enugu Metropolis for water quality assessment. The physicochemical parameters were determined using APHA (1995 - 1998) protocols, and the presence of 7 heavy metals (Chromium, Zinc, Manganese, Silver, Cadmium, Iron and Lead) in the waters were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results of the physicochemical analysis of the four samples show a pH range of 8.60 - 8.95mg/l; this result showed that pH of the water samples were slightly alkaline and above the WHO stipulated range of 6.50 - 8.50. Acidity ranged from 5.00 - 6.88mg/l, while alkalinity values were between 7.52 - 13.00mg/l. The total dissolved solid (TDS) and total solids (TS) was present in very minute quantities and below their permissible limit of 0.45mg/l; while total suspended solid (TSS) was not present at all. The heavy metal analysis showed that all but 2 heavy metals (Cadmium and Lead) were below the permissible standard set by the WHO in all four samples. Cadmium was present in samples A and C with values 0.021mg/l and 0.006mg/l respectively, which is above its WHO limit of 0.005mg/l; while Lead was present in samples A, B and C with values of 0.021mg/l, 0.011mg/l and 0.015 mg/l respectively, which were above the WHO limit of 0.010mg/l. Given the well-documented toxicity of certain metals, there is a need for safety checks to be carried out in potable water companies to address the source of this contamination and ensure production of safer drinking water.

Okechukwu obed chukwuemeka