Document Type : High quality original papers
Author
Appalachian State University Department of Sustainable Development
Abstract
Human activities in Southern Nigeria constitute the major driver for atmospheric pollutants. In this study, 108 air samples were collected during the dry (November - March) and wet (May - September) seasons in Nigeria and the concentrations of some particulates (PM2.5, PM10 and TSP) were measured, whereas over the same period some known gaseous pollutants (CO, NH3, H2S, VOC, NO2 and SO2) were monitored. The results were in the range 0.00 – 0.30ppm, 0.00 – 0.20ppm, 0.00 – 0.70ppm, 0.00 – 0.30ppm, 0.00 – 0.20ppm, 4.20 – 19.60ppm, 16.30 – 51.40 µg/m3, 43.20 – 266.00µg/m3 and 56.30 – 434.60µg/m3 for NH3, H2S, CO, NO2, SO2, VOC, PM2.5, PM10 and TSP, respectively. Statistically significant variations (at p<0.05) were found in the concentrations of most air pollutants during the dry and wet seasons except for NH3, H2S, and CO. The concentrations of some gaseous pollutants (CO, NO2, SO2) and particulate TSP were within the limits specified by the Nigerian Ambient Air Quality Standard. However, PM2.5 and PM10 exceeded the World Health Organization limits of 25µg/m3 and 50µg/m3 for a 24-hourly average. These significant variations may be connected to the seasonal influence of thermodynamic actors such as temperature and wind as well as anthropogenic activities.
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