AMBIENT AIR QUALLTY MONITORING OF AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Air quality monitoring was conducted for 15 outdoor locations within an educational institution in Nigeria for 3 consecutive months during dry season using portable pre-calibrated gas monitors to obtain a scientific data on the ambient air quality status. Pollutants which include total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and formaldehyde (HCHO) were monitored using Air Ae Steward Air quality monitor. Carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), hydrogen sulphide (H2S) hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ammonia (NH3) and chlorine (Cl2) were measured using gasman portable monitors. Meteorological parameters including temperature, relative humidity and wind speed were measured using Air Ae Steward Air quality monitor and MASTECH Anemometer, respectively. The pollutants concentrations ranges between 0.1±0.0 - 2.8±1.0 mg/m3 (TVOCs), 0.1±0.0 - 0.8±0.0 mg/m3 (HCHO), 0.1±0.0 - 0.3±0.0 ppm (NO2), 0.1±0.0 - 0.3±0.0 ppm (SO2), 2.0±0.0 - 6.5±0.5 ppm (CO), 2.0±0.0 - 6.0±0.0 ppm (NH3), 0.3±0.0 - 0.7±0.1 ppm (Cl2), 0.1±0.0 - 0.3±0.0 ppm (H2S), 0.1±0.0 ppm (HCN). The results obtained were analysed by comparing with FEPA, WHO and US EPA guidelines and NO2, NH3 and Cl2 were found in concentrations that exceeded recommended limits across all the locations while SO2, H2S and HCHO exceeded in some locations and CO, HCN and TVOCs were below the recommended limit across all the locations.