Evaluation of Air Quality Profile of Selected Areas of Obio/Akpor LGA and Environs of Rivers State, Nigeria

Authors: Ugbebor JN, Ntesat B

DOI Info: N/A

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the quality of ambient air in four major locations in Port Harcourt and environs. The sampling points were Rumuokoro, Choba Park, Oil mill/Eleme junction and Chokocho-Umuechem junction (control). The Enerac 700 was applied to sample the air quality. A Minivol air metrics sampler was used for suspended particulate matter (SPM). A spark model 706 RC docimeter was used for noise level measurement. The objectives were to establish the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and compare the results with air quality standards of the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) of Nigeria and National Ambient Air Quality standards (NAAQS). The results showed that NOx was 0.5ppm, 1.4ppm, 0.75ppm, and 0.13ppm respectively and exceeded the limits of FMEnv (0.06ppm) and NAAQS (0.1ppm). SOx was 1.44ppm, 1.3ppm, 1.13ppm and 0.31ppm, respectively and also exceeded the permissible limits of FMEnv (0.01ppm) and NAAQS (0.14ppm). The analysis proved that CO exceeded acceptable limits only at the Oil Mill/ Eleme junction but was stable at other sampling locations. Particulate matters of PM2.5µ/m3 and PM10µ/m3 had a threshold at Rumuokoro (144.5µ/m³ and 181.25µ/m³), Choba Park (79.63µ/m³ and 181.65µ/m³), Oil Mill/ Eleme (228.1µ/m³ and 471µ/m³) and Chokocho- Umuechem junction had 71.9µ/m³ for PM2.5 and 157.2µ/m³ for PM10 and these exceeded permissible limits of NAAQS (35µ/m³ and 150µ/m³). Therefore, due to severe public health consequences, it is recommended that custodian government agencies continuously monitor air quality and checkmate various unhealthy activities that may escalate pollutants in air.

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