Kikelomo Mabinuola Arifalo

Human health is at risk when particulate matter levels reach a certain threshold, and determining these levels is crucial for mitigating environmental pollution. Since there is a lack of data in this field of study, it is anticipated that this work will provide stakeholders with data. On the basis of this supposition, an Airly sensor was used to assess the air quality at a location in Mafoluku, Lagos, Nigeria. Following the manufacturer's instructions, the installation was done at a height of 1.8 meters above the ground. Outdoor PM1, PM2.5, PM10, PM ratios, toxicity potentials (T/P), climatic factors, and their correlations were measured during a two-month period. The findings indicate that the levels of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 were 36.12 μg/m3 (equivalent to 80.7% of the WHO annual limit), 34.83 μg/m3 (equivalent to 232.23% of the WHO annual limit), and 34.39 μg/m3 (no limit for the calculation), respectively. The corresponding average ratios were 0.98, 0.95, and 0.93. The majority of T/P values were greater than 1, which suggests that there are health risks to the area's most vulnerable residents. Winds from the southwestern desert influenced the air mass, and WHO limits are often exceeded. The study suggests stakeholders focus on problem reduction to mitigate air pollution risks.

This study presents a comparative analysis of indoor air quality (IAQ) across health centers in Arakale, Iju, Owode, FECA, and Oba Ile, Ondo State, Nigeria. Particle count data were analyzed to identify common trends, similarities, and differences in IAQ parameters, with the aim of informing targeted interventions for improving indoor air quality in healthcare settings. The findings reveal consistent positive skewness in particle count distributions, indicating occasional spikes in pollution levels amidst generally lower concentrations. Fine particles in the size range of PC 2.5 were consistently dominant across all locations, emphasizing their significance in IAQ assessment. Similar variability in particle count data suggests comparable levels of fluctuations in IAQ among the health centers. However, variations in PCA patterns highlight unique factors influencing IAQ in specific locations, such as combustion sources and control strategies. Targeted interventions, including enhancing ventilation systems, controlling indoor pollution sources, and promoting smoking cessation programs, are proposed to mitigate health risks associated with indoor air pollution exposure. Ongoing monitoring and collaboration with environmental experts are crucial for assessing IAQ trends and implementing evidence-based interventions to safeguard the health of patients, staff, and visitors in healthcare facilities.

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of indoor particulate matter (PM) concentrations, focusing on PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 in five Primary Health Centers (PHCs): Arakale, Federal College of Agriculture (FECA), Iju, Oba-Ile, and Owode within Akure Local Government Areas in Nigeria. The primary novelty of this research lies in its detailed exploration of the toxicity potential of these PM fractions, providing valuable insights into the local air quality and associated health risks. The study assesses the health implications by calculating the toxicity potential (TP), Relative Risk (RR), Excess Risk (ER), and Attributable Fractions (AF) for cardiopulmonary and lung cancer mortality. The results reveal varying RR values for all-cause mortality, with Arakale showing a slight elevation (RR: 1.061), indicating potential health risks. ER values for cardiopulmonary mortality range from 14.728±7.25 to 19.04±0.38, emphasizing the substantial excess risk associated with long-term PM2.5 exposure. The study also uncovers AF for cardiopulmonary mortality ranging between 11.03±0.31 to 19.22±0.04, underscoring the significant contribution of PM to cardiovascular and respiratory health risks. Similarly, AF for lung cancer mortality ranges from 10.03±0.012 to 17.13±0.10, highlighting the substantial association between PM2.5 exposure and lung cancer risk. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted air quality management strategies and public health interventions in the studied locations to mitigate the heightened health risks associated with particulate matter pollution. The calculated RR, ER, and AF values offer crucial insights into the complex relationship between PM exposure and adverse health outcomes, providing a foundation for informed decision-making and future research endeavors.

Individuals who spend most of their time indoors are especially sensitive to indoor air quality (IAQ), which significantly impacts their general well-being and health. Traditional IAQ measurement techniques, however, are frequently pricy, complicated, and labor-intensive. In this study, we used a low-cost, simple-to-use, and handy sensor system to track the levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), particulate matter (PM_1.0, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀), temperature, and relative humidity (RH) in a laboratory at the Bamidele Olomilua University of Education, Science, and Technology in Ikere-Ekiti for a month. We contrasted the outcomes with other benchmarks and WHO recommendations. However, the NO₂ levels (144.00–303.00 ppb) exceeded the suggested levels (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)—70 ppb; National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)—100 ppb; National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)—120 ppb; and World Health Organization (WHO)—25 ppb), suggesting a possible cause of indoor contaminants. We also noticed that the temperature and humidity varied considerably throughout the day, which impacted the inhabitants’ thermal comfort and ventilation. The principal component analysis (PCA) findings indicate that particulate matter, the weather, photochemical reactions, and combustion processes are the key contributors to fluctuation in the air quality measurements. Based on their quantities and relationships, these elements can have a variety of effects on both the natural environment as well as well-being. Our monitoring device can give immediate information and warnings, assisting in locating and reducing indoor airborne pollutant sources and enhancing indoor air quality (IAQ). This work shows that adopting a low-cost sensor system for IAQ measurement in underdeveloped nations, where such data are sparse and frequently erroneous, is both feasible and beneficial.

The study of water quality is crucial given the amount of industrial, agricultural, and other human activities at the sampling sites. The aim of the study was to assess the physicochemical characteristics and selected contamination patterns of water samples in Nigeria. This study used conventional analytical techniques to analyze the physicochemical parameters in water samples from 33 sampling sites (dug wells, boreholes, rivers, and rainwater) in three different states (Ekiti, Osun, and Ondo) of Nigeria. These parameters included pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, relative humidity (RH), and four elemental parameters (Ca, Na, Fe, and Cu). The enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), and metal index (MI) were used to characterize the data. Temperature (28.17 °C), TDS (130.2 mg/L), EC (260.0 μS/cm), pH (6.88), Na (14.47 ppm), Ca (25.74 ppm), Fe (0.49 ppm), and Cu (0.08 ppm) were the average values from the results. Na and Ca had a direct relationship with one another. The levels of heavy metals were below those recommended by the Nigerian Industrial Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NISDQW) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The metal levels in the water samples were over 1.5, which is the threshold value indicated by the EF classifications. In particular, EFs were moderate to significantly enriched. All element CFs were below the Level 1 pollution threshold. The water samples are pure based on the MI’s rating of water quality. Human and natural activities may represent a risk to the local public health; hence, it is highly advisable that all stakeholders adopt rapid and long-lasting collective action to limit pollution levels as part of the water quality governance system.

According to studies, indoor air quality is a major concern because of the health risks it poses. In Nigeria, little is done to improve indoor air quality and the toxicity potentials (TP) of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀. We assessed the levels of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, the PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratio, and the toxicity potential of a commercial area in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, in this study. For the three-month assessment of the study area (March to May 2022), a low-cost sensor (Canāree A1) was used. The results depict the following: 73.23 ± 53.94 µg/m³ (PM_2.5), 68.58 ± 50.64 µg/m³ (PM₁₀), 0.93 ± 0.02 (PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratio), and toxicity potentials (PM_2.5—2.74 ± 0.04 and PM₁₀—1.47 ± 0.02). Both PM values exceed the WHO standard limits. The PM values differ significantly. The average ratio value indicates that anthropogenic activities in the area contribute significantly to the high PM_2.5 levels. It should be noted that TP greater than 1 indicates a potential health risk. The TP values obtained in this study are greater than 1, indicating that the environment may be harmful to the vulnerable. Based on these findings, efforts should be directed toward continuous monitoring of this study area and Akure as a whole.

Owing to the effect on people, livestock, and materials, air pollution is a global hazard. To this end, stakeholders have taken on the challenge of quantifying the environment with the use of tools and eventually using the data produced to provide solutions to the problems. However, low-cost sensors and the IoT have come to the rescue due to the high cost and operational complexity of equipment and methodologies in environmental monitoring. They are relatively inexpensive and reliable. It is on this assumption that we have decided to use the World Air Quality satellite data supplied by air matters.com. This study is a 40-day preliminary work in which air quality (AQI, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, CO, SO₂, and O₃) and meteorological (temperature, humidity, and wind speed) parameters were monitored. The data collected are for five locations in Lagos State, Nigeria (Ojodu, Opebi, Ikeja, Maryland, and Eti-Osa). The data obtained were subjected to basic descriptive, multivariate and time series statistical analyses. The findings showed that the AQI of all locations presented the levels of contamination as 'Unhealthy for Vulnerable Groups', there were relationships between the parameters monitored and meteorological influences, and the effects of natural and man-made activities may be the sources of the elevated pollutants throughout the locations.