Study on indoor pollutants emission in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Purpose - This study aimed to characterize the concentrations of indoor pollutants (such as carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), as well as particulate matter (PM) (PM1, PM2.5and PM10) in Akure, Nigeria, as well as the relationship between the parameters’ concentrations. Design/methodology/approach - The evaluation, which lasted four months, used a low-cost air sensor that was positioned two meters above the ground. All sensor procedures were correctly carried out. Findings - CO2(430.34 ppm), NO2(93.31 ppb), O3(19.94 ppb), SO2(40.87 ppb), PM1(29.31 µg/m3), PM2.5(43.56 µg/m3), PM10(50.70 µg/m3), temperature (32.4°C) and relative humidity (50.53%) were the average values obtained. The Pearson correlation depicted the relationships between the pollutants and weather factors. With the exception of April, which had significant SO2(18%) and low PM10(49%) contributions, NO2and PM10were the most common pollutants in all of the months. The mean air quality index (AQI) for NO2indicated that the AQI was “moderate” (51–100). In contrast to SO2, whose AQI ranged from “moderate” to “very unhealthy,” O3's AQI ranged from “good” (50) to “unhealthy” (151–200). Since PM1, PM2.5and PM10made up the majority of PC1’s contribution, both PM2.5and PM10were deemed “hazardous.” Practical implications - The practical implication of indoor air pollution is long-term health effects, including heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. Indoor air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people’s nerves, brain, kidneys, liver and other organs. Originality/value - Lack of literature in terms of indoor air quality (IAQ) in Akure, Ondo State. With this work, the information obtained will assist all stakeholders in policy formulation and implementation. Again, the low-cost sensor used is new to this part of the world.