Okunola A. Alabi, Jesugbamila Olowu, Ronand. C. Anaba and Olutayo S. Shokunbi
Higher Education Institution represents an incontestable release source of many chemical compounds in their wastewaters, and which may have an impact on the environment and human health. To study the toxicity and the risk associated with these releases, microbiological and biological tests (such as genotoxicity tests) can be used. Bacteriology of wastewater from a University in Nigeria was carried out. Genotoxicity of the wastewater using mouse sperm morphology assay and physico-chemical analysis were also carried out. Mice were given 0.5ml of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 % concentrations of the sample per day for five consecutive days by intraperitoneal injection. Each dose group comprised five mice, and a 5-week post-treatment period was utilized. The sample’s bacterial count was 2.73 × 107 c.f.u./ml with evidence of faecal contamination with MPN of >1800. Organisms isolated include: Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus pumilis, Corynebacterium polisum, C. diptheriae and Enterobacter aerogenes. Physico-chemical analysis of the test sample shows that it contained constituents that are capable of inducing mutation in biological system. The data showed that the test mixtures induced a dose-dependent, statistically significant increase (P< 0.05) in the number of sperm with abnormal morphology. This is relevant in environmental waste management, and for the assessment of the hazardous effects of the chemicals in University wastewater.
