Browsing by Author "Nasinyama, G. W."

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    Assessment of Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni Contamination in Wetland Soils and Plants in the Lake Victoria Basin
    (International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, 2008) Nabulo, G.; Origa, H. Oryem; Nasinyama, G. W.; Cole, D.
    The impact of waste disposal on trace metal contamination was investigated in eleven wetlands in the Lake Victoria Basin. Samples of soil, water and plants were analysed for total Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni concentrations using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The trace metal concentrations in soil were the highest in Katanga wetland with the highest mean concentrations of 387.5±86.5 mg/kg Zn, 171.5±36.2 mg/kg Pb, 51.20±6.69 mg/kg Cu and 21.33±2.23 mg/kg Ni compared to the lowest levels observed at Butabika (30.7±3.2 mg/kg Zn, 15.3±1.7 mg/kg Pb, 12.77±1.35 mg/kg Cu and 6.97±1.49 mg/kg Ni). Katanga receives waste from multiple industrial sources including a major referral city hospital while Butabika is a former solid waste dumpsite. Wetland soil near a copper smelter had a Cu concentration of 5936.3±56.2 mg/kg. Trace metal concentrations in industrial effluents were above international limits for irrigation water with the highest concentrations of 357,000 μg/L Cu and 1480 μg/L Zn at a Cu smelter and 5600 μg/L Pb at a battery assembling facility compared to the lowest of 50 μg/L Cu and 50 μg/L Zn in water discharged from Wakaliga dumpsite. Uptake of trace metals from soil differed from plant to plant and site to site. Higher levels of trace metals accumulated in the root rather than in the rhizome and the least amount was in the leaf. The study identifies industry as a potential source of trace metal contamination of water and the environment pent-up need for policy intervention in industrial waste management.
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    Processing steps and lactic acid bacteria involved in traditional cultured milk (Kwerionik) production in Uganda
    (The African Journal of Animal & Biomedical Sciences,, 2012) Nakavuma, J.L.; Møller, P. L.; Jakobsen, Mogens; Salimo, P.; Nasinyama, G. W.
    The production process of traditionally fermented milk (Kwerionik) from Eastern Uganda and the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) involved were investigated. Viable plate count method was employed for enumeration and isolation of LAB, coliforms and mesophilic aerobes from both the field and laboratory fermentation samples. Representative LAB isolates from the various stages of fermentation were grouped by PCR fingerprinting of the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region; and identified by carbohydrate fermentation tests using API 50 CH kit; and by sequencing of the 16S RNA gene. Fermentation was spontaneous; carried out in gourds and involves periodic removal of whey and addition of fresh milk. The field and the laboratory Kwerionik samples had comparable parameters. The pH ranged between 3.5 and 4.5; LAB levels were 109 cfu g-1after one day but later decreased to 105–106 cfu g-1. Mesophilic aerobes ranged from 106 to 1010 cfu g-1 while coliform levels up to 107 cfu g-1 were detected, but not later than 11 days. The pH and microbial counts at the different fermentation durations were significantly different (p<0.005) except for the coliforms. Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp paracasei, Lactobacillus casei subsp casei, Lactococcus lactis subsp lactis, Enterococcus faecium and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp mesenteroides were involved.