Monitoring Pollutant Emission and Air Quality Status in Eleme Industrial Corridor, Rivers State
Imiete, Godspower1, Ebong, Sampson Mbuotidem2, Dappa, Daddy Ibiewotogha3, Kpang, MeeluBari Barinua Tsaro4*
Abstract
This study examined air pollutant concentration and air quality around industrial facilities in Eleme, Rivers State, Nigeria. Air quality monitoring was conducted at five radial distances [200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 meters] from major industrial emission points, three times daily for six months, in order to characterize dispersion patterns. Mean pollutant concentrations were highest closest to the emission sources and progressively reduced with distance. PM2.5 averaged 148.6 ± 21.3 µg/m³ at 200 meters compared to 63.2 ± 15.8 µg/m³ at 1000 meters. SO₂ concentrations averaged 0.156 ± 0.04 ppm at 200 meters and 0.062 ± 0.01 ppm at 1000 meters, while NOₓ averaged 0.214 ± 0.03 ppm at 200 meters and 0.097 ± 0.02 ppm at 1000 meters. All pollutant values exceeded World Health Organization limits across all zones. Post hoc results showed that concentrations within 200 and 400 meters were significantly higher than those at 800 and 1000 meters [p < 0.05]. The findings confirmed that industrial emissions seriously degrade ambient air quality and heighten respiratory and environmental health risks for host communities. As a matter of fact, stricter emission enforcement and continuous environmental audits, mandatory 1000-meter residential buffer zones, adoption of cleaner industrial technologies and scrubbers, and integration of air quality thresholds were topmost amongst the recommendations.
Keywords:
Monitoring, Industrial Corridor, Emission Sources, Concentration, Technologies
