Perceived Influence of Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality on Active Sawmills in Port Harcourt Metropolis Rivers State

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Abstract

The present study examined Perceived Influence of Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality on Active Sawmills in Port Harcourt Metropolis Rivers State focusing on Air Quality Status, Human Health Risk and Seasonal variations. An experimental design was used with cross-sectional observation, combining field measurements with lab analysis. The areas with different levels of sawmill activity and equipment are monitored at the four main sites and the units deployed are the Aeroqol, Kestrel and Air volume mini sampler. The collection of data was conducted over a period of one year including both wet and dry seasons, to address the temporal and seasonal variations. The pollutants measured were particulate matter fractions, gas pollutants and potentially toxic elements as well as meteorological parameters. The general meteorological conditions in the study areas were similar with low wind speed, high relative humidity, moderate to high temperature and prevailing north-western wind. The strong to very strong positive correlation of wind speed with temperature and moderate negative correlation of wind speed with relative humidity suggest that the meteorological conditions are crucial in the dispersion of pollutants. The Air Quality Index (AQI) evaluation showed that the air quality at all sites was very poor. Indoor AQI values at Illabuchi ranged from 124.25 to 50 km as 988.16 (Hazardous), mainly due to the extremely high levels of ozone and carbon monoxide. The same trends were found at Mile 3, Rumuosi and Marine Base sites where the indoor AQI were around 162.89 and the hazardous AQI were as high as 833.42 in the 50 km sites. Point B had consistently Very Unhealthy AQI (average of ~240.26) because of the combined effects of PM₂.₅ (115–126), PM₁₀ (95–96) and ozone. Overall, the study demonstrates that air quality around active sawmills in Port Harcourt is severely degraded, strongly influenced by meteorology and seasonality, dominated by particulate matter, ozone, and Pb–Cr contamination, and associated with significant non-carcinogenic health risks, particularly for children.

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