Atmospheric particulate matter in Nigerian megacities |
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Authors: | I.B. Obioh O.E. Abiye A. Alpha E.O. Ojo A.K. Ganiyu |
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Affiliation: | 1. Atmospheric Research and Information Analysis Laboratory, Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria;2. Pollution Control Department, Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja, Nigeria |
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Abstract: | The paucity of data on air pollution indices in Nigeria prompted us to commence a national screening exercise regarding particulate matter loads. Six potential megacities (Aba, Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri, and Port-Harcourt) representing the six geographical zones in Nigeria were chosen for the study. Sampling was achieved using a ‘Gent’ stacked filter unit sampler capable of collecting fractions of particulate matter with sizes of <10-μm and <2.5-μm simultaneously. The mean values for PM10 are 550, 35, 87, 340, 246 and 130 μg m?3 while for PM2.5 the mean values are 100, 14, 25, 67, 20 and 30 μg m?3 respectively for Aba, Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri, and Port-Harcourt. Except for Abuja, the daily PM10 mass loads exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines daily limit where as the PM2.5 values were within the WHO guideline limit. Their correlation matrix result indicates that some PM2.5 fractions mass fractions were strongly correlated than the PM10 fractions probably due to their long range transport potentials. Further work is in progress to determine the elemental profiles of both particulate fractions collected. |
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Keywords: | mass loads pollution particulate sampling |
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