Determination of Some Pollutant Gases in Ambient Air of the Vicinity of a Kaolin Milling Plant in Alkaleri, Bauchi State, Nigeria
Abdullahi A.O1, Maitera O. N2, Maina H. M2, J.M. Yelwa2
Citation :Abdullahi A.O et.al, Determination of Some Pollutant Gases in Ambient Air of the Vicinity of a Kaolin Milling Plant in Alkaleri, Bauchi State, NigeriaInternational Journal of Advanced Research in Chemical Science 2017,4(12) : 1-6.
The air quality within the vicinity of a Kaolin milling plant in Alkaleri Bauchi State was investigated. Twelve sampling points (SP1 - SP12), 2 Km apart at four (4) different directions were considered. A portable gas monitor manufactured by crown instrument Ltd Oxon CE-89/336/EEC for each gas was used to determine the levels of CO, NO2, SO2. The results showed the mean concentrations of CO as 6.81 ± 2.05 ppm in the dry season and 6.50 ± 2.50 ppm in the wet season, NO2 mean concentrations as 0.053 ± 0.047 ppm in the dry season and 0.04 ± 0.026 ppm in the wet season and the mean concentration of SO2 as 0.056 ± 0.045 ppm in the dry season and 0.041 ± 0.045 ppm in the wet season. No significant difference in the pair wise mean seasonal variation in concentration of NO2 and at all sampling points except for SP4 but the mean seasonal variation of the level of CO at all the sampling points were statistically significant except for SP9 (P < 0.05). The Air quality index (AQI) of all the pollutants was at the region of Unhealthy for sensitive groups at SP1 and SP4 while at other sampling points it was from Moderate to Good. The study therefore concludes the activity of the Kaolin milling plant can be a source of air pollution with possible health consequences.