Ambient air quality in some strategic locations of Bori town, Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluates the ambient air quality in the atmosphere at some strategic locations in Bori Town ie Bori Main Market (BMM), Bori Motor Park (BMP), Bori Mechanic Village (BMV), Ken Sarowiwa Polytechnic (KSWP) and Bori Timber Market (TMB) all in the Khana Local Government Area in Rivers State. Due to their fewer traffic hotspots, Gwara was taken as the control location. Standard AeroQUAL series 500 air quality monitors and sensors for various air contaminants were used in the monitoring process. Bori Main Park (BMM) had the highest mean CO level at 0.051±0.09μg/mᶾ, followed by Bori Mechanic Village (BMV) at 0.012±0.01μg/mᶾ, and Bori Main Market (BMM) at 0.011±0.0μg/mᶾ. BMM (0.171±0.07μg/mᶾ) and BMP (0.131±0.003 μg/mᶾ) were the values for nitrous oxide. H2S: 0.045±0.01μg/mᶾ for BMV, 1.012±0.12μg/mᶾ for BMP, 0.123±0.02μg/mᶾ for BMM, and 0.056±0.01μg/mᶾ for KSWP. BMM had a total particulate matter (TPM) of 1.351-2.1488μg/mᶾ, BMP had 1.222±0.16μg/mᶾ, and BMV had 0.234±0.12μg/mᶾ. According to the results, of all the locations sampled, Bori Motor Park had the worst ambient air quality, while Ken Sarowiwa Polytechnic had the best. H2S was the most prevalent air contaminant, and VOC was the least prevalent. The health risk Index indicates that there is not much air pollution in the area at the time of sampling. It is however advised that continuous surveillance of air pollution and assessment of environmental health risks be done.