Air quality assessment along a landfill site in Uyo

Abstract

Air quality assessment along a landfill site was carried out in Uyo using stratified sampling method. Spatially, the landfill site had the highest concentrations of SO2 (0.26±0.15 ppm), NO2 (0.24±0.14 ppm), CO (4.01±0.35 ppm), NH3 (6.25±0.97 ppm), H2S (0.55±0.01 ppm), HCN (1.23±0.21 ppm), PM2.5 (75.50±13.50 μg/m3) and PM10 (128.50±28.50 μg/m3). TVOC (2.67±0.09 ppm) and CH2O (0.37±0.02 ppm) were highest at Ibaoku Community; Cl2 (0.41±0.01 ppm) was highest at Ibaoku Junction. Temperature ranged between 25.5ºC to 26.5ºC, relative humidity varied between 76.50% and 77.50% while wind speed varied between 0.47m/s and 1.53 m/s. Diurnally, SO2 (0.24±0.08 ppm), NO2 (0.18±0.06 ppm), CO (2.86±0.69 ppm), NH3 (3.81±1.17 ppm), Cl2 (0.30±0.08 ppm), PM2.5 (61.00±9.53μg/m3) and PM10 (106.00±17.15 ppm) were higher in the evening. H2S (0.28±0.09 ppm), HCN (1.13±0.06 ppm), TVOC (2.13±0.43 ppm) and CH2O (0.29±0.06 ppm) were higher in the morning. Temperature (27.75ºC) and wind speed (1.36±0.53 m/s) were higher in the evening while high relative humidity (79.75±0.48%) was observed in the morning. Air quality index showed good (minimal) concentrations of NO2, SO2 and CO in all locations while concentrations of particulate matters were unhealthy (PM2.5) or moderate (PM10). These results have implications in air pollution monitoring, providing baseline information in monitoring future trends of air pollutants in this region.