In order to better constrain the utility of multispectral datasets in the characterization of surface materials, Landsat 8 data were evaluated in the discrimination of geological classes in KISANTU and its vicinity. Ground-based measurements collected from the study area highlight the importance of limestone in that area. The spatial distribution of exposed lithologies in the study area was determined through an image resulting from a band ratio (band 7/band 6) that shows the distribution of clays coming from the alteration of the rocks below; and another image using a band ratio transform (band 6/band 7) to identify limestone. Despite some shortcomings coming from the unsupervised classification, the merging of band ratio and the principal component analyze gives an overall representation of the spatial distribution of exposed geological materials in the study area.
The bioaccumulation of four heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd) in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacepède, 1803), Mormyrops anguilloides (Linnaeus, 1758) and Coptodon rendalli (Boulenger, 1897) fluently fished and sold in Kingabwa district (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo). At first, the results of physico-chemical analysis of water of inspected sites (2) revealed that the values of pH and temperature are in the standards as recommended by WHO and FAO, while the conductivity as well as the dissolved total solids in inspected sites are very weak.. Yet, the two sites are polluted by heavy metals. Secondly, the dosage of heavy metals by atomic absorption spectrometry revealed that all tested fish are polluted. However, the Cadmium has not been detected in the muscles of three fish: Clarias gariepinus, Coptodon rendalli and Mormyrops anguloides. Meanwhile, Coptodon rendalli species didn't reveal any presence of Lead in its muscles. The results obtained show that the consumption of these fish can represent a health risk for the exposed populations notably fishers and their family who consume these fish at least once per day. Thus, by formulating the hypothesis that the fisher or his family is the more exposed and while increasing the quantity of fish for example from 0.025 kg/j to 0.5 kg/j, we can note that the coefficient of danger is superior to 1 for the cadmium and then the danger becomes apparent. It is therefore desirable that the Democratic Republic of the Congo authorities can develop a better policy for the management of the interior waters in order to avoid possible health problems linked to the pollutions of these waters.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 80% of the population in Africa resort to traditional medicine to solve the primary problem of health. In the present study, an ethno-botanical survey was carried out in six markets of the district of Lukunga according to principles' included in the declaration of Helsinki. The ethno-botanical data collected were then supplemented by information concerning the plant ecological types. The results from this study revealed that 39 species belonging 37 genera and 25 families were inventoried in the medicinal flora of the District of Lukunga in Kinshasa city. These plant species treat 31 diseases; however the best consensus emerges between inquired only for the treatment of malaria and diabetes mellitus (ICF ≥ 50%). While according to the value of use agreement, only two plant species: Annona senegalensis and Quassia africana displayed interesting result (VAUs ≥ 0.15). Our study revealed that the use of the medicinal plant species is a current practice among the age ranging from 22 to 67 years with prevalence at the old people of 43-49 years. The majority (66%) of the medicinal plants users have a level of secondary studies. The maceration (32%) is the most use mode of preparation while the root is the most used plant part. According to ecological studies, the phanerophytes as well as the Guinean species are prevalent in the medicinal flora of the District of Lukunga. Lastly, the chemical screening revealed the presence in the two selected plant species of the secondary metabolites of biopharmaceutical relevance such as total polyphenols, flavonoids and saponins. It is thus desirable that advanced phytochemical and pharmacological studies are carried out on the two plant species for the scientific validation of their bioactivity (conversion of the traditional knowledge into scientific culture) on the one hand, but also with an aim of both revalorizing and preserving/using them for sustainable development according to the convention on biological diversity on the other hand.