TITLE:
Spatial Variations of Particle-Bound Trace Metals in Ambient Air of Selected Niger Delta Communities of Rivers State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Godson R. E. E. Ana, Mynepalli K. C. Sridhar, Jerome Nriagu
KEYWORDS:
Industrial Pollution; Particulate Matter; Trace Metals; Spatial Variation; Niger Delta Communities
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.4 No.12,
December
31,
2013
ABSTRACT:
The objective of this study was to
determine the spatial variation of particle-bound heavy metals in two communities
with different industrial status in Nigeria’s Niger Delta Area. Fourteen
ambient respirable particulate matter (PM10) samples 7 each from
Eleme (highly industrialized) and Ahoada East (less industrialized) communities were
collected according to standard methods using Anderson High volume sampler.
Samples were analyzed for trace metals including Fe, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb using
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using descriptive
statistics, Man Whitney U test and Spearman Rank Correlation all at P 10 levels were
1.83 times higher at Eleme than Ahoada East (P 0.05) and all the values were higher
than both the USEPA and WHO limits. At Eleme spatial variation of PM10 was in the following order: APE5 > APE3 > APE7 > APE1 > APE4 > APE6 > APE2. Fe, Zn and Cd were higher at Eleme
than Ahoada East and the EC/WHO values. Pb was poorly correlated with PM10 (r2 = 0.0819, P > 0.05) at Eleme.
Communities with higher industrial presence in the Niger Delta are more exposed
to particulate burden. Routine monitoring and strict adherence to regulatory
limits must be enforced.