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Assessment of Air Quality and Noise around Okrika Communities, Rivers State, Nigeria
Gobo, A.E.; Ideriah, T.J.K.; Francis, T.E. & Stanley, H.O.
Abstract
The quality of air and noise levels around Okirika communities in River State
were determined using portable hand held air monitors for air pollutants and anemometer for
meteorological parameters. The parameters measured were suspended particulate matter, nitrogen
dioxide, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, carbon monoxide, methane and volatile
organic carbon, temperature, wind speed, wind direction and relative humidity. The results showed
the highest concentrations of 0.007mg/m3 (PM1, dry), 0.036mg/m3 (PM2.5, dry), 0.286mg/m3 (PM7,
dry), 0.378mg/m3 (PM10, dry), 0.503mg/m3 (TSP, dry), 1.7ppm (NO2, dry), 3.0ppm (CH4, dry),
0.2ppm (H2S, dry), 12.7ppm (CO, dry), 2.7ppm (NH3, dry), and 7.0ppm (VOC, rainy). The dry
season concentrations of air pollutants were higher than the rainy season concentrations. The
observed differences in mean concentrations of the air pollutants between the two seasons were not
significant in case of TSP (P <0.05) but were significant (P <0.05) in other pollutants. The highest
mean concentrations of the gaseous pollutants exceeded permissible limits and therefore pose
environmental and health concern for the inhabitants of the area. The quality of air in the area is poor
and need to be regularly monitored.
Keywords
Air quality, Okrika, Digital monitors, meteorology, Noise
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