Assessment of Atmospheric Pollutant Concentration Levels in Selected Housing Estates in Port Harcourt Metropolitan Fringe Areas, Rivers State

Abstract

The study assessed air pollutants concentration levels in housing estates in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers, Nigeria. Based on the level of occupancy and accessibility, 10 housing estates in Port Harcourt Metropolitan fringe areas were purposively selected. Random sampling techniques were used to determine sampling locations within the selected estates. Windspeed, relative humidity, temperature, NO , H S, SPM, SO , CO and VOC concentration 2 2 2 were measured at selected locations in the sampled estates. The mean temperature varied o across study locations, with the highest mean value of 32.1 C in Agip Estate and a lowest of 30.6°C at Terrawood Estate. The highest and lowest mean value of relative humidity across the estates revealed 67.4% and 63.5% respectively, while wind speed revealed a highest mean value of 1.8 m/s and lowest value of 0.2 m/s. NO and SO were 0.3ppm and 0.17 ppm (highest) 2 2 and 0.01ppm (lowest) in the estates. Elelenwo and Terrawood Estates recorded the highest concentration of VOC (0.65ppm) while the lowest mean concentration of 0.0lppm was 3 recorded at Agip Estate. The highest mean value of 30µg/m was recorded at Elelenwo Estate 3 and lowest mean concentration of 14.5µg/m was recorded in New Heaven estate for SPM. The correlation analysis of wind speed and atmospheric pollutant concentration at 0.05 probability level had a correlation coefficient of 0.04, 0.07, 00.3, 0.06, 0.0.7 and 0.207 for NO , 2 H S, SPM, SO , CO and VOC respectively and was not statistically significant. However, the 2 2 relationship between RH and H S was significant (r=0.002 at 0.005 probability level). 2 Generally, pollutant concentration in the study area did not exceed W.H.O. and NAAQS specified standard. However, activities around the estates should be monitored effectively so as to ensure that pollutants do not exceed the specified limits.