Seasonal and Spatial Analysis of Air Pollutants Emissions from Fuel-Wood Utilization in Selected Rural Communities within Odeda LGA, Nigeria

Abstract

The effects of fuel-wood utilization on spatial and temporal concentration of air pollutants were assessed in 12 purposively selected rural communities in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun state. Carbon (II) oxide (CO), Carbon (IV) oxide (CO2), Sulphur (IV) oxide (SO2), Nitrogen (IV) oxide (NO2), Methane (CH4) and Particulate Matter of 2.5 (PM2.5) and 10 (PM10)were monitored at 0, 2 and 5 m away from the cooking points using active air samplers in dry and wet seasons. Data collected were subjected to descriptive, ANOVA and Correlation statistics at 0.05 significant level. The mean±SD concentration (ppm) of pollutants monitored at 0, 2 and 5 m respectively across the villages were CO: 37.42±5.10, 26.00±3.86, 15.27±3.65;CO2: 21.30±6.72, 10.71±1.31, 5.63±4.31; NO2: 0.50±0.12, 0.16±0.05, 0.14±0.18; SO2: 1.60±0.76, 1.10±1.52, 0.24±0.24; CH4: 0.50±0.52, 0.33±0.49, 0.08±0.29; PM10: 77.18±8.47, 35.99±3.78, 12.74±1.59; and PM2.5: 28.93±4.24, 17.92±4.33, 8.87±3.32 at average wind speed of 2.52±0.25m/s in the wet season; while CO: 15.18±4.29, 6.57±3.53, 1.17±1.40;CO2: 44.09±10.74, 21.60±7.78, 9.78±3.10; NO2: 0.59±0.12, 0.17±0.11, 0.08±0.08; SO2: 2.05±0.65, 0.80±0.38, 0.26±0.26; CH4: 0.58±0.51, 0.33±0.49, 0.08±0.29; PM10: 98.64±9.22, 48.53±7.63, 17.64±8.98 and PM2.5: 43.81±11.11, 16.44±3.71, 7.81±1.78 at average wind speed of 3.11±0.57 m/s in the dry season. PM10 had the highest mean concentration for both wet and dry seasons. The mean concentrations of CO and CH4 reduced from wet to dry seasons, while CO2, SO2, NO2, PM2.5 and PM10 increased from wet to dry seasons. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the mean concentration of air pollutants across the communities for both seasons except for CH4. The overall mean values of NO2 (0.25±0.06 and 0.28±0.09)and SO2 (0.84±0.36 and 1.03±0.36)for wet and dry seasons respectively were above the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) air quality study concludes that although fuel-wood utilization affects the 33 1 quality of air,concentration reduces and changes over space and time respectively.