Assessment of particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) in air, elemental composition of granite and weather parameters at a quarry site in Ngwogwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The World Health Organization opined that suspended particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5, PM10) are affecting more people worldwide than any other pollutant. This study aimed to determine the status of particulate matter, elemental composition of granite and weather parameters via sampling and analysis of samples from different locations at quarry site in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The highest concentrations of Pb (2.00±0.05 mg/kg), Zn (6.85±0.06 mg/kg), Mn (94.21±0.13 mg/kg), Fe (3,461.65±3.61 mg/kg), Ca (5.41±0.01 %) and K (0.24±0.02 %) in different sizes of granites were recorded in dust particles. The order of abundance of the elemental composition in granites is: Fe > Mn > Zn > Ca > Mg > Pb > Co > As > Na > K. The highest temperature (45.88±0.53 °C) and relative humidity (49.05±0.21 %) was recorded close to the conveyor belt and walk way to pit, respectively. The concentration of PM2.5 (69.00±1.41 µg/m3) and PM10 (2,829.50±12.02 µg/m3) were highest at the chippings deposition cum collection point. The concentration of PM2.5 is higher than the permissible limit set by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO). The concentration of PM10 is substantially above the permissible limit set by WHO. This suggest that quarry workers, and the wider community are subjected to prevailing environmental health threat. This emphasizes the need for rigorous implementation of existing environmental legislations established to protect the environment and public health.