Assessment of Ambient concentrations of Particulates (PM2.5 and PM10) and Occurrence of Non-Communicable Diseases in Ogbomoso Metropolis Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Air pollution has become a serious threat especially in fast developing urban areas. Significant adverse health effects such as lung cancer, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are linked to particulate matter. This study assessed the association between particulates and occurrence of non-communicable diseases in Ogbomoso Metropolis, Oyo state, Nigeria. METHODS: Twenty selected cells from the gridded map of Ogbomoso metropolis were investigated. The concentrations of PM₂.₅ and PM10 were monitored in each cell using Aeroqual gas meter. Meteorological parameters such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, air pressure and wind speed were monitored using wind mate (WM-350). Information on recorded cases of non-communicable diseases was retrieved from the state hospital in the study area. RESULTS:The values of PM₂.₅ and PM10 ranged from 27.79±45.62 to 151.50±188.93 mg/m3 and 109.83±31.98 to 576.67±943.44 µg/m3 respectively during the dry season and from 14.38±3.87 to 72.79±42.46 mg/m3 and 33.67±20.11 µg/m3 to 73.54±34.89 µg/m3 respectively during the wet season. Concentrations of PM₂.₅ and PM10 were relatively high and above the WHO permissible limit in the dry season. The values of PM₂.₅ in cell 1, 2, 5, 8, 16, 18 and 19; and PM10 in cell 1, 5, 6, 8, 19 and 20 were within the WHO permissible limit in wet season while others exceeded it. Wet season, PM₂.₅ concentration shows positive significant (p0.05) associations with chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure (r= 0.559, 0.516, 0.487) while during dry season, there was a positive significant (p0.05) association between PM₂.₅ and chronic respiratory diseases. PM10 showed a positive significant association with hypotension in dry season (r= 0.639; p0.05). CONCLUSIONS:This study concluded that exposure to PM₂.₅ contributes significantly to the occurrence of chronic respiratory disease, diabetes and high blood pressure in both dry and wet seasons while PM10 contributes significantly to only hypotension in the dry season. KEYWORDS: Air pollution, Particulate matter Cardiovasular diseases, Cancer and cancer pre cursors, Temperature