Abstract
The study examined the prevalence of pollutant gases and occurrence of associated diseases in Asaba Metropolis, Delta State, Nigeria. The study adopted a retrospective cohort and survey research design. The cohort study analyzed the reported air pollution medical cases in Federal Medical Center in Asaba such as respiratory diseases, Asthma, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, Meningitis and Measles. The survey involved measurement of air pollutant such as NO2, SO2, H2S, CO and VOC to compare with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) data and the World Health Organization Air Quality Guideline (WHOAQG) in order to ascertain the level of air pollution. As part of the study, a total of two hundred (200) copies of questionnaires were administered in two major communities representing the two LGAs that make up Asaba Metropolis serving as study sites (Asaba and Okpanam). The data were analyzed using simple percentage and frequency distribution method, averaging model and standard deviation, measure of central tendency/dispersion (Mean±SD), Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of the study revealed that the highest recorded gas emitted in the area include Volatile and Organic Compounds (VOCs) with 96.4%, Carbon monoxide (CO) was 0.8%, Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was 0.4% while Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen oxide (NO2) were 1.2% respectively. NO2 exceeded the WHO and NAQS thresholds. The most prevalent air pollution related diseases reported were respiratory diseases which were above 50% of the yearly prevalence and Tuberculosis which was over 30% each year followed closely by Asthma and Pneumonia. The least diseases in terms of prevalence in the study area were Meningitis and Measles. Based on the findings, it was recommended that routine measurements should be made on a continuous basis to ascertain the volume of gaseous pollutants in the urban and rural environments of the study area.
Highlights
Air pollution can be defined as the introduction of harmful substances including particulates and biological molecules into earth atmosphere in such capacity and for such duration as they can produce undesirable effect, or tending to be injurious to human health or welfare or to other living organisms such as animal and plant life (Katulski, Namiessnik, Sadowski, Stefannski, & Wardencki, 2011)
The survey involved measurement of air pollutant such as NO2, SO2, H2S, Carbon monoxide (CO) and Volatile and Organic Compounds (VOCs) to compare with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) data and the World Health Organization Air Quality Guideline (WHOAQG) in order to ascertain the level of air pollution
The result obtained from the study showed that the concentrations of CO, H2S and VOC for the five location sites within Asaba and its environs and the SO2 concentrations in Ibusa and Okwe were within stipulated standards and safe for human health
Summary
Air pollution can be defined as the introduction of harmful substances including particulates and biological molecules into earth atmosphere in such capacity and for such duration as they can produce undesirable effect, or tending to be injurious to human health or welfare or to other living organisms such as animal and plant life (Katulski, Namiessnik, Sadowski, Stefannski, & Wardencki, 2011) It can be categorized into natural and anthropogenic sources of air pollution. According to Roychowdhury, Nasim, and Chandola (2016), Nigerian cities are phenomenally motorized with over 6million registered vehicles and an average increase of 400,000 vehicles annually accounting for one third of Nigerians middle class with less than two cars of five years old This situation is the major cause of air pollution in cities especially Lagos and Abuja due to incomplete combustions contributing high emissions of carbon compounds containing nitrogen e.g. per acetyl nitrides, carbon monoxide, 3:4 benzopyrene, NOx, SOx, chlorinated organic compounds, ozonides aldehydes, peroxides and ketones. The emphasis on only oil producing communities restricted the purview of the study since air quality research in this area is scarcely available or very scanty
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