QUANTIFICATION OF AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IN SELECTED URBAN ATMOSPHERE IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), nitric oxide (NO) and methane (CH₄) were seasonally monitored. The study was carried out in four sites located in Delta state on the Niger Delta floodplain on the coast of Nigeria. Sampling was done during the dry (October 2015 – March 2016) and wet (April – September 2016) season respectively. Air sample collection was carried out daily between 7 – 10am (morning), 12 – 3pm (afternoon) and 4 – 7pm (evening) by use of aerosol gas detector kit model DSM D3249-95 – 2011. Results showed that the dry season gas concentration (μgm⁻³) ranged from 4.04 – 8.13 (CO), 17.94 – 14.30 (CO₂), 0.05 – 0.39 (H₂S), 0.04 – 0.14 (NO) and 0.41 – 4.94 (CH₄) in all sample sites. Similarly, the wet season concentration (μgm⁻³) ranged between 4.20 – 7.94 (CO), 6.30 and 14.50 (CO₂), 0.03 – 0.15 (H₂S), 0.04 – 0.05 (NO) and 0.44 and 4.21 (CH₄) in all sample sites. Observed Poisonous Gaseous Pollutants (PGPs) concentrations are relatively lower than recommended standards and guidelines. Pearson Correlation shows good and high significant relationship between study sites in dry and wet seasons. Further study should be carried out on the environment and human health risk of observed pollutants concentrations.