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Air quality assessment of some oil facilities host communities in Rivers State
Abstract
The study evaluated air quality around host communities of oil companies in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area in Rivers state. Detailed literature reviews and appropriate multi-gas observing instruments were utilized to obtain air quality information. Results of SO2 in Omoku, Obrikum, Ebocha land Control (5km) from Oil Company indicated 214.1μg/m3, 0μg/m3, 71.4μg/m3 and 28.5μg/m3. NO2 was 106μg/m3, 0.0μg/m3, 51,3μg/m3 and 0.0μg/m3 respectively. CH4 was 98,120μg/m3, 35,680μg/m3 and 44600μg/m3 and 28.7μg/m3 respectively. PM2.5 was 54μg/m3, 50.5μg/m3, 64μg/m3 and 50μg/m3 respectively. CO was 93.8μg/m3, 62.8μg/m3, 78.1μg/m3 and 0.0μg/m3 respectively while PM10 was 36μg/m3, 32μg/m3, 35.5μg/m3 and 24μg/m3 respectively. Results indicated that host communities were exposed to reasonable concentrations of air pollutants, especially hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and PM2.5 which fall within moderate to severe air pollution level. The statistical analysis of results using ANOVA showed that the difference among the pollutants characteristics at p<0.05 are statistically significant. Federal and state governments should pay particular attention to air pollution problems in the study area by establishing air quality monitoring stations through relevant agencies.
Keywords: Pollution, Concentration, Sensitive people, Air quality index, air pollution index, host communities