Health Risk Assessment of Air Quality of Egbema, Rivers State

Olowu,  C; Nwoke, I,  B; Eluozo, G

doi:10.51699/cajmns.v7i2.3170

Authors

Olowu, C Department of Chemistry, Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria
Nwoke, I, B Department of Chemistry, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolemini, Port Harcourt. Rivers State, Nigeria
Eluozo, G Department of Chemistry, Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51699/cajmns.v7i2.3170

Keywords:

Air pollution, air quality index, health risk assessment, particulate matter, Niger Delta, Egbema

Abstract

Air pollution has become a major environmental and public health concern worldwide due to its significant impacts on human health and environmental sustainability. This study assessed the ambient air quality of Egbema in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, and evaluated the associated non-carcinogenic health risks to residents. Ambient air quality monitoring was conducted at selected sampling stations during the wet season (December 2024–March 2025) and dry season (June–September 2025). A digital anemometer was used for measurements of some of the meteorological parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure and wind direction; particulate matter(PM₂. We used portable air monitoring instruments to determine the concentrations of particulate matter of different sizes (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) and gaseous pollutants including carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), ammonia (NH₃), methane (CH₄), ozone (O₃), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In order to evaluate air quality status, air quality index (AQI) was calculated while hazard quotient (HQ) model was used for selected pollutants to carry out the non-carcinogenic health risk assessment. Meteorological parameters presented seasonal differences: the relative humidity was higher in the wet season whereas the temperature and wind speed were higher in the dry season (media ± standard deviation). PM₂ concentrations were 0.008–0.010 ppm of particulate matter. dry season: 0.012–0.018 ppm and 0.015–0.020 ppm for PM₅ and PM₁₀ respectively) compared to the wet season (PM₅: 0.014–0.018 ppm; PM₁₀: 0.013–0.017 ppm). Higher concentrations were recorded for the dry season, however, these levels were still within the permissible limits (WHO and NESREA). Based on Air Quality Index analysis, PM₁₀ values were classified as “good” in both seasons, whereas CO and NO₂ were classified as poor for the range (station to station) and some classified as very poor at certain locations. Health risk assessment for non-carcinogenic pollutants indicated that the values of hazard quotient (HQ) were higher than one related to PM₂. ₅, PM₁₀ and NO₂, which suggests that many adults who are subjected to these pollutants over the long term are at risk of adverse health effects. Consequently, the authors conclude that even though most of the pollutants concentrations were below international guideline for air quality limits, the values of hazard quotients indicate long-term health risks due to non-carcinogenic effects of ambient air pollutants at Egbema (Niger Delta). Thus, consistent air quality management, stringent environmental regulation, and pollution control laws are recommended to protect public health and ensure sustainable environmental management in the region.

References

World Health Organization, WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines: Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2021.

V. Garbero, M. Pizzol, and A. Critto, “Health risk assessment of air pollutants: Methodologies and applications,” Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 31, no. 10, pp. 2347–2357, 2012.

J. H. Seinfeld and S. N. Pandis, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change, 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley, 2016.

D. O. Adefolalu, “Climate change and economic sustainability in Nigeria,” presented at the International Conference on Climate Change, 2007.

O. M. Akinbode, A. O. Eludoyin, and O. A. Fashae, “Temperature and relative humidity variations in Nigeria,” Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 345–356, 2018.

O. M. Akinfolarin, N. Boisa, and C. C. Obunwo, “Assessment of particulate matter-based air quality index in Port Harcourt, Nigeria,” Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 1–6, 2017.

M. L. Akinyemi et al., “Seasonal variations of air pollutants in tropical urban environments,” Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 191, pp. 1–14, 2019.

A. K. Amegah and S. Agyei-Mensah, “Urban air pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Environmental Pollution, vol. 220, pp. 738–743, 2017.

G. R. E. E. Ana, M. K. C. Sridhar, and E. A. Bamgboye, “Environmental risk factors and health outcomes in selected communities of the Niger Delta area, Nigeria,” Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 184, pp. 2449–2464, 2012.

G. R. E. E. Ana, M. K. C. Sridhar, and G. O. Emerole, “Ambient air quality and respiratory health hazards in an industrial city in Nigeria,” Journal of Environmental Health Research, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 1–10, 2013.

R. D. Brook et al., “Particulate matter air pollution and cardiovascular disease,” Circulation, vol. 121, pp. 2331–2378, 2010.

J. N. Edokpayi et al., “Air quality and human health risk assessment in African urban environments,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 27, pp. 39342–39355, 2020.

S. I. Efe, “Spatial distribution of particulate air pollution in Nigerian cities,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 46, pp. 1–9, 2012.

S. I. Efe and A. T. Efe, “Spatial distribution of particulate air pollution in Nigerian cities,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 42, pp. 5679–5687, 2008.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2021.

National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), National Environmental (Air Quality Control) Regulations. Abuja, Nigeria: NESREA, 2011.

J. Nriagu, E. A. Udofia, I. Ekong, and G. Ebuk, “Health risks associated with oil pollution in the Niger Delta,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 13, no. 3, p. 346, 2016.

A. N. Nwachukwu et al., “Air pollution exposure and health implications in Nigerian urban centers,” Environmental Research, vol. 182, pp. 109–116, 2020.

P. G. Oguntunde et al., “Environmental noise pollution in Nigerian cities,” Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 191, pp. 1–12, 2019.

C. A. Pope and D. W. Dockery, “Health effects of fine particulate air pollution,” Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, vol. 56, no. 6, pp. 709–742, 2006.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS). Washington, DC, USA: USEPA, 2011.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Technical Assistance Document for the Reporting of Daily Air Quality Index (AQI). Washington, DC, USA: USEPA, 2018.

World Health Organization, Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region. Copenhagen, Denmark: WHO, 2018.