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Review
. 2016 Jun 17;6(10):1-18.
doi: 10.5696/2156-9614-6-10.1. eCollection 2016 Jun.

Review of Particulate Matter and Elemental Composition of Aerosols at Selected Locations in Nigeria from 1985-2015

Ifeanyi F Offor  1 , Gilbert U Adie  2 , Godson Ree Ana  3
Affiliations
Review

Review of Particulate Matter and Elemental Composition of Aerosols at Selected Locations in Nigeria from 1985-2015

Ifeanyi F Offor et al. J Health Pollut. .

Abstract

Background: Over the past 30 years, various studies in Nigeria have monitored atmospheric particulate matter loads and elemental composition of ambient air around diverse receptor sites.

Objectives: A comparative discussion of the different sampling techniques, pre-treatment and analytical methods employed between 1985 and 2015.

Methods: Air pollution indices from studies covered in this review were compared to relevant guideline standards such as the World Health Organization (WHO) 24-hr guideline and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)'s National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) daily permissible limits for fine particles of less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) and coarse dust particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers (PM10) in ambient air. In addition, the sources of data for the average concentrations for PM2.5, PM10 and related metallic elements during 1985-2015 were assessed. Attempts were also made to compare varied particulate matter loads of atmospheric micro-environments in Nigeria with comparable micro-environments in selected cities around the world.

Discussion: Results showed that PM2.5 concentration ranged from 5-248 μg/m3, while PM10 concentration ranged from 18-926 μg/m3, revealing that about 50% of the particulate matter loads in Nigeria exceeded both the WHO (25 μg/m3, 50 μg/m3) and NAAQS (35 μg/m3, 150 μg/m3) guideline limits for PM2.5 and PM10 respectively. PM2.5/PM10 ratios for the selected studies fall below the WHO guideline (0.5-0.8), suggesting that Nigerian aerosols are mainly made up of coarse, rather than fine particles. In addition, the order of the average highest concentrations of metallic elements for PM2.5 were magnesium (Mg) > strontium (Sr) > potassium (K) > zinc (Zn) > iron (Fe) > sodium (Na) > aluminium (Al) > chlorine (Cl) > lead (Pb) > silicon (Si), while those of PM10 were Sr > Zn > Fe > Mg > calcium (Ca) >Na > Pb > manganese (Mn) > K > Al.

Conclusions: Seasonal variation of particulate matter loads revealed higher concentrations during the dry season than during the rainy season. In addition, particulate matter loads in rural areas were generally lower than in urban areas. Wind-blown dust from the Sahara Desert is the major contributor to particulate matter loads in northern zones of the country, while sea spray and crustal matter are the highest contributors to particulate matter loads in southern zones.

Keywords: Composition; Particulate matter; Pollution; Source apportionment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Seasonal variation of PM2.5 in selected cities
Figure 2
Figure 2
Seasonal variation of PM10 in selected cities.
Figure 3a
Figure 3a
Source apportionment of PM2.5 in Lagos using chemical mass balance and principal component analysis (Oluyemi and Asubiojo, 200110)
Figure 3b
Figure 3b
Source apportionment of PM2.5–10 in Lagos using chemical mass balance and principal component analysis (Oluyemi and Asubiojo, 200110)
Figure 3c
Figure 3c
Source apportionment of PM2.5 in Lagos using principal component analysis (Ezeh et al., 201514)
Figure 3d
Figure 3d
Source apportionment of PM2.5–10 in Lagos using principal component analysis (Ezeh et al., 201514)
Figure 3e
Figure 3e
Source apportionment of PM2.5–10 in Abuja using positive matrix factorization (Abiye et al., 201416)
Figure 3f
Figure 3f
Source apportionment of PM2.5 in Ile-Ife using positive matrix factorization (Owoade et al., 201527)
Figure 3g
Figure 3g
Source apportionment of PM2.5–10 in Ile-Ife using positive matrix factorization (Owoade et al., 2015 27)
Figure 4
Figure 4
PM10 levels by region, for the last available year in the period 2008–2012. World Health Organization, 2014 Abbreviations: Afr, Africa; Amr, America; Emr, Eastern Mediterranean; Eur, Europe; Sear, Southeast Asia; Wpr, Western Pacific; LMI, Low- and middle-income; HIC, high-income countries. PM10 values are regional urban population-weighted.
Figure 5
Figure 5
PM10 levels for selected cities by region, for the last available year in the period 2008–2012. World Health Organization, 2014 Abbreviations: Afr, Africa; Amr, America; Emr, Eastern Mediterranean; Eur, Europe; Sear, Southeast Asia; Wpr, Western Pacific; LMI, Low- and middle-income; HI, high-income.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Annual mean particulate matter for the assessed urban population compared to the WHO air quality guidelines (AQG). World Health Organization, 2014 Abbreviations: Afr, Africa; Amr, America; Emr, Eastern Mediterranean; Eur, Europe; Sear, Southeast Asia; Wpr, Western Pacific; LMI, Low- and middle-income; HI, high-income. Annual mean PM10: 20 μg/m3; Annual mean PM2.5: 10 μg/m3
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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