Air Quality in the Vicinity of a Landfill Site in Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the air quality status in the vicinity of Rumuolumeni landfill with a view to determining the possible influence of weather parameters on the concentration of air pollutants from the landfill. Air quality parameters determined include nitrogen oxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), methane (CH₄), volatile organic compounds (VOC), ammonia (NH₃), and hydrogen sulphide (H₂S). Weather parameters examined include temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction. These data were collected with respect to distance from the center of the dumpsite into the residential area at 200m intervals for seven days using composite sampling technique. Pearson Correlation Statistics was used to test significant influence of distance from the dumpsite on the concentrations of pollutants. Results indicate that, pollutants considered except NO₂ were higher at the dumpsite than the residential area. The mean value of SO₂, CH₄, VOC, NH₃ and H₂S at the dumpsite was 0.67 mg/m³, 0.06 mg/m³, 2.28 mg/m³, 0.12 mg/m³, and 0.19 mg/m³ respectively. Distance from the center of the dumpsite accounted for 41% (r² of 0.4096; r of 0.64) and 29% (r² of 0.2916; r -0.54) variation in the concentrations of NO₂ and NH₃ respectively at p=0.05. Results indicate that NO₂, NH₃ and H₂S had significant correlations with temperature at 5% significant level with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.740, -0.766, and -0.699 respectively. In addition, NO₂, NH₃ and H₂S were significantly correlated with relative humidity at 5% significant level with correlation coefficient (r) of -0.653, 0.727 and 0.646 respectively while SO₂ and VOC were significantly correlated with wind speed at 5% significant level with correlation coefficient (r) of 0.591 and 0.739 respectively. The study recommends that measures to capture landfill gases and prevent their migration to the community are necessary.

Keyword: air quality, landfill, meteorological parameter, atmospheric pollutants, Port Harcourt.