Abstract
This article evaluates air quality index (AQI) from concentration of chemical elements across selected cities in Nigeria. Gravitational sedimentation method was used to collect air sediments to extract toxic and heavy metals present in airborne particulates. Funnel shaped collectors securely attached to clean empty containers were exposed in open spaces at designated locations within the city, for a period of nine months (January to September, 2023), covering the two major seasons in Nigeria. Airborne particles were allowed to settle gravitationally in the container along with rainwater through the funnel system. Samples from various points in a city were put together for laboratory analyses. This procedure was conducted in six cities covering various geographical and climatic regions in Nigeria. The locations include: Benin, Lagos, Calabar in the South and Abuja, Enugu and Kano in the North. The samples were analyzed for elemental concentration using spectroscopy. Data for PM2.5 was donated by Penn State University purple air quality network in Nigeria. MS excel and origin software were used to prepare the data for analyses. Air quality indices for the studied locations were determined. The associated AQI colour codes reflect health concern levels. The results show maximum concentration values as follows: PM2.5 (1350), Pb (566), Ni (458), and Mn (443) indicate hazardous levels, Cd (183) indicates unhealthy levels, Fe (130) and Cr (106) show unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, K (86) shows moderate levels, while elements compounds like NO2 (32.83), Al (30), F (11), Cu (11.53), NO3 (4.16), CO (3.13), and Zn (1.43) fall within safer levels. The results further revealed that the AQI in Benin is contaminated with Ni (550) and Pb (400), while Kano reveals very unhealthy levels of Pb (800) and Ni (490). Abuja AQI is also contaminated with high levels of Pb (600) and Ni (490), while Lagos has high levels of Ni (430). Enugu on the other hand presents extremely high values for Mn (1600), Pb (500), and Ni (310).
Keywords
Particulate matter, Life expectancy, Air Quality Index, Toxic elements, Carcinogenic elements
Citations
IRE Journals:
Ewona, I. O , Ekah, B. J , Akwagiobe J. U , Udo, S. O , Rabiu, B.
"Evaluation of Chemical and Elemental Analyses of Airborne Particulate Matter in Nigeria" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 8 Issue 9 2025 Page 940-953
IEEE:
Ewona, I. O , Ekah, B. J , Akwagiobe J. U , Udo, S. O , Rabiu, B.
"Evaluation of Chemical and Elemental Analyses of Airborne Particulate Matter in Nigeria" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 8(9)
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