Spatial Variability of Air Quality and Particle Emissions in Urban Areas of Anambra State Nigeria: A Comprehensive Assessment of Deposition and Public Health Risk
| Main Authors: | Charles Obinwanne Okoye, Chigozie Damian Ezeonyejiaku, Maximilian Obinna Obiakor |
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| Format: | Proceeding eJournal |
| Terbitan: |
, 2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/4012066 |
Daftar Isi:
- Purpose. Rapid urbanization and uncoordinated development of Africa in recent years are beginning to compromise the essential ecological assets and threaten the quality of public health. Since consistent air quality data rarely exists in Nigeria, the study therefore examined the air quality conditions of four urban areas in Anambra State, determining concentrations of prevalent air pollutants at regular intervals. Approach. Concentrations of air pollutants including suspended particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen (ii) oxide (NO2), sulphur (iv) oxide (SO2), methane (CH4), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), ammonia (NH3), ozone (O3), carbon (ii) oxide (CO2) and carbon (i) oxide (CO) were determined in Awka, Ekwulobia, Nnewi, and Onitsha. These towns represent key urban centres with significant commercial activities and residential land use zones in Anambra State. Sampling campaign was conducted in September 2019 using portable air quality monitoring devices to determine pollutant concentrations, from which AQI values were interpolated using dose response relationships of pollutants to obtain break point concentrations. Findings. The mean levels of PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and CO in most of the study locations exceeded WHO air quality standards. Results of the AQI calculations and cross-examination mostly implied ‘good to hazardous’ and ‘good to very unhealthy’ categories for both residential and commercial areas respectively. Conclusion. While our data have shown the spatial air pollutant concentrations in different land uses, longitudinal data based on Anambra State environmental conditions and population dynamics are needed to accurately design realistic AQI.