Assessment of Some Air Quality Parameters in Port Harcourt City Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria
- June 2, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: Chemistry, IJRSI
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue V, May 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705
Assessment of Some Air Quality Parameters in Port Harcourt City Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria
Friday Kpee
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Abstract: This study evaluated some air parameters in industrial and non – industrial areas of Port Harcourt city. The areas were; Trans – Amadi, Diobu (Mile 3) and Rukpokwu. The ambient air qualities were assessed by using auto gas monitory equipment. The study revealed that the mean values for the months of September, October and November for each parameters were temperature 27.68±0.260C, 26.92±0.040C, and 28.55±0.350C for Diobu, 27.03±0.02 0C, 26.24±0.06 0C and 28.35±0.09 0C for Rukpokwu, 26.04±0.02 0C, 25.31±0.03 0C and 27.38±0.21 0C for Trans-Amadi. Relative humidity were 91.87±0.10 %, 98.65±0.05 % and 86.28±0.16 % for Trans-Amadi, 91.27±0.16 % 91.26±0.12 % and 75.34±0.27 % for Rukpokwu, 87.15±0.69 %, 91.20±0.38 % and 74.79±0.20 % for Diobu. Wind speed were 0.52±0.11 m/s, 0.45±0.06 m/s, and 0.49±0.03 m/s for Diobu, 0.46±0.3 m/s, 0.48±0.18 m/s and 0.56±0.15 m/s for Trans-Amadi, 0.41±0.08 m/s, 0.42±0.11 m/s and 0.42±0.11 m/s and 0.42±0.04 m/s for Rukpokwu. Suspended particulate matters (SPM) were 42.19±1.06 µg/m3, 40.68±3.02 µg/m3 and 42.93±2.19 µg/m3 for Trans-Amadi, 38.30±3.07 µg/m3, 37.23±1.18 µg/m3 and 38.36±0.84 µg/m3 for Diobu, 33.62±0.12 µg/m3, 30.68±0.25 µg/m3 and 33.64±0.09 µg/m3 for Rukpokwu at the various months. While, gaseous emissions parameters such as SO2, CO, NO2, H2S, VOC, CH4, O3 and NH3 mean values were below DPR and FMEnv recommended limits except NH3 which was not detected. The results of student t-test and ANOVA, showed no significant difference between the locations and within the months of the study. The results showed that all the parameters examined were within DPR and FMEnv guidelines for ambient air quality.
Key Words: Anthropogenic, Air, pollutants, gas monitor ambient.
I. INTRODUCTION
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter or biological materials that causes harm and discomfort to human and other living organisms (Bhatia, 2009). These air pollutants are of two categories; primary air pollutants and secondary air pollutants. The main sources of air pollution are natural and anthropogenic (USEPA, 2006; Narayanan, 2009). Air contamination is a major environmental problem that has bedeviled both industrial and non-industrial area of the world. Air pollution has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality rates. The earth’s atmosphere protects life on earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention (greenhouse effect), and reducing temperature between day and night. The atmosphere is divided into four major layers, viz., troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere (Tim, 2017).
