Study of Surface Morphology, Elemental Composition and Sources of Airborne Fine Particulate Matter in Agbara Industrial Estate, Nigeria

摘要

Ambient atmospheric fine particle emission contribution to industrial pollution load is hard to quantify due to absence of air quality monitoring stations and difficulties in assessing suitable analytical instruments. Therefore, to keep abreast of air quality information, the use of physicochemical signatures to assess the sources of elements associated with fine particulate matter in Agabra Industrial Estate was explored with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). A greater proportion of Si and C were observed in the particles amongst other detected elements by EDX. Morphology results by SEM confirmed soot, alumino silicate and irregular shape mineral particles as the most common inhalable particles. Prominent among emission sources identified are industries, automobile exhaust, fugitive dust and solid waste combustion. The research suggests that adequate public awareness, industrial compliance, vehicle emission control, smooth operation of municipal solid waste incineration and government regulation will significantly reduce fine particulate pollution.