Air Quality And Heavy Metals Soil Contamination Of Edegbari/Better Land, An Oil-Producing Community In Rivers State, Nigeria
Ugwu Theresa Chioma
Department of Pharmacology Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences College of Health Sciences University of Port Harcourt
Aprioku Jonah Sydney
Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Port
Mankwe Abaram Chesa
Department of Pharmacology Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences College of Health Sciences University of Port Harcourt
Obianime Atuboyedia Wolf
Department of Pharmacology Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences College of Health Sciences University of Port Harcourt
Keywords: Air quality index, Gaseous and Particulate matter pollutants, Heavy metals, Environmental pollution, oil-producing, non-oil producing communities
Abstract
Environmental pollution is an important discourse in the Nigeria’s Niger Delta region as concerns on the health impact of crude oil exploration have been in the public domain for some decades. Gaseous pollutants, particulate matter and heavy metal contamination of the soil are attributed to crude oil spillages and gas flaring. The present study evaluated the air quality index and heavy metal soil contamination in an oil producing community (Edegbari/Betterland) in Rivers State and a non-oil producing community (Mgbeke) in Anambra State was used as control. Gaseous pollutants (NO2, SO2, NH3, VOC, CH4, CO2, CO, O3), particulate matter PM1, PM7, PM2.5, PM10 and total suspended particles (TSP) in these communities were evaluated using air quality equipment (Aerocet 531 monitor). Soil samples were randomly collected at depths (0–15 and 15-30) cm from each community with a Dutch Auger (PN30059) and analyzed for Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cu levels using the appropriate techniques. All measurements were taken during the wet and dry seasons in 2018. Air quality index (AQI) was used to properly communicate the general public and was of moderate and good category in the study and control communities, respectively, during the wet season; moderate category in the dry season for both communities. The concentrations of heavy metals at soil depths (0-15 and 15) cm were significantly (p<0.001) higher in Edegbari/Betterland community than in Mgbeke community in both seasons. The high concentrations of heavy metals were within the permissible limits except Cd which exceeded the 0.03-3mg/kg limit.