Locational Characteristics and Fire Prevention Mechanisms of Petrol Stations in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria (Published)
Continuous increase in the number of petrol filling stations across major cities in Nigeria is becoming more worrisome. In the past, petrol stations in Nigeria were usually located along major roads where residential developments are sparsely distributed. Sadly, there is proliferation of petrol filling stations within residential areas exposing large number of residents to grievous loss of not just properties, but human lives. The regulatory agencies of government in Nigeria responsible for the approval and administration of petrol stations seem overwhelmed and ineffective. This study examines the locational attributes and distribution of petrol filling stations in Ogbomoso Township using nearest neighbor analysis. The result reveals that petrol filling stations are not evenly distributed, but clustered together thereby poses a serious threat to the members of the public. The study concludes by calling on all the regulatory agencies relevant to the development of petrol filling station to vehemently enforce their laws on the existing petrol stations and government at all levels to review various laws relating to the establishment and operation of petrol filling stations in the country in order to protect lives and properties.
Keywords: Distribution, Fire, Nigeria, Petrol, residents, siting, station
Hydrocarbon Bioremediation Efficiency by Five Indigenous Bacterial Strains Isolated From Contaminated Soils (Published)
Twenty hydrocarbon degrading microorganism were isolated from four hydrocarbon contaminated sites and were identified on the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study revealed high density of bacteria acclimatized for biodegradation of hydrocarbon (Petrol) in soil. The isolates were examined for other hydrocarbon degradation in media supplemented with Benzene, Toluene, Xylene and Cyclohexane at three different concentrations viz 5%, 10% and 15% incubated for 3 different time intervals 5, 10 and 15 days. The results indicated that all the isolates possessed potential to degrade the wide variety of hydrocarbons. The most efficient among them was Pseudomonas aeruginosa which degraded all tested hydrocarbon showing maximum growth at 5% concentration and 10 days incubation. It could be concluded that native flora of hydrocarbon contaminated site adapt to the environmental condition and could be implicated to remove hydrocarbons.
Keywords: Benzene, Bioremediation, Petrol, Toluene, Xylene and Cyclohexane