Home

Environmental Skeptics and Critics, 2013, 2(2): 63-72
[XML] [EndNote Tagged] [BibTex] [ Full PDF (135K)] [Comment Article]

Article

Spatial distribution of respirable and inhalable particulate matter concentration in sawmills of South-South Region of Nigeria

T.F. Ediagbonya1, A. E. Tobin3, E. E. Olumese3, U.E. Asagba3, I. E. Uwidia4, O.P. Osarumwensee3
1Department of Basic and Industrial Chemistry,College of Natural and Applied Science,Western Delta University,Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria
2Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
3Chemistry Department, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
4Department of Chemistry, College of Education,Warri, Delta State, Nigeria

Received 25 October 2012;Accepted 29 November 2012;Published online 1 June 2013
IAEES

Abstract
Dust particles in the air that can be respired into the nose or mouth during normal breathing are known as inhalable particle. Inhalation decreases gradually with increasing particle diameter. The respirable and inhalable sawdust were collected from nine different sawmills in Benin City from November 2009 to February 2010 using portable programmable SKC Air Check XR5000 High Volume Gravimetric Sampler Model 210-5000 Serial No. 20537 and I.O.M (Institute Occupational Medicine Edinburg) Multi dust sampler, Batch No. 221442/1. The objective of this study is to know the concentration of inhalable suspended particulate matter fraction and the respirable suspended particulate matter fraction in sawmill particulate. The mean concentration range of the respirable suspended particulate matter was 173.61-520.83 g/m3 and the inhalable suspended particulate matter was in a range of 555.56-2,013.98 g/m3. A strong positive correlation existed for inhalable suspended particulate matter and respirable suspended particulate matter. And the spatial variation was significant and remarkable.

Keywords respirable particle;inhalable particle;sawmill and South-South spatial variation;toxicity potential.



International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. E-mail: office@iaees.org
Copyright © 2009-2024 International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. All rights reserved.
Web administrator: office@iaees.org, website@iaees.org; Last modified: 2024/3/29


Translate page to: