Environmental pollution is one potential consequence of lack of proper management of municipal solid waste. The study was carried out to evaluate on-site air quality at Nekede and Naze dumpsites with respect to dry and wet seasons. Samples were measured at six (6) sampling points within and around the field using a series of calibrated hand held air quality monitoring equipment. At each sampling point, nine (9) air quality parameters (particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), Ammonia (NH3), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Methane (CH4), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Carbon monoxide (CO) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were measured.Results showed that PM2.5 and PM10 were detected in all stations of both dumpsites in both seasons. The highest values for all parameters measured were at the dumpsites except for CO which increased as distance progressed off the dumpsite. The CO ranged 0.42-0.94ppm at Nekede dumpsite and 0.20-1.12 ppm at Naze dumpsite during the dry season with the lowest values measured at station NKAQ1 and NZAQ1 with corresponding values of 0.42 and 0.20 ppm. CH4 was less than 0.01 ppm at NZAQ3 in both seasons under study. All parameters measured were higher in Nekede area than Naze except for NH3 which ranged 0.01- 0.15 ppm and 0.02-0.17 ppm respectively for both seasons. Generally NKAQ3 and NZAQ3 which all served as control stations had the lowest concentration of all parameters measured but otherwise for CO. Result further revealed that all parameters except CO exceeded the concentration values stipulated by USEPA and WHO, implying serious health implications in the study area. Results from this study calls for proper waste management system to ameliorate air pollution in the study area.
Keywords: Environment, Imo State, Pollution, air quality
