SPARTIAL MAPPING OF AQI DERIVED PM2.5 VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH LOCATION

ABSTRACT

Particulate matter (PM) is a major ambient air pollutant and it is a complex mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air. Fluctuations in relative humidity has contributed to the concentration of PM within the area of study. The relative humidity and spatial distribution of mean PM2.5 concentrations across twenty outdoor locations in Ekehuan campus, University of Benin was determined using a BIAOLING air quality monitor. The sampling locations were randomly generated using ARC GIS version 10.8 software. Sampling was carried out in four weeks in the month of January and the air quality index (AQI) values were also derived using an appropriate equation. Both the mean relative humidity values and mean PM2.5 values recorded for four weeks were subjected to one way ANOVA test which was conducted at 95% probability level. The mean relative humidity and PM2.5 values obtained from the respective sampling points for week one ranged from 31.7%, 61 µg/m3 to 74.3%, 106.7 µg/m3 , it ranged from 51%, 60 µg/m3 to 74%, 98.7 µg/m3 for week two and ranged from 31%, 59.7 µg/m3 to 68.3%, 102 µg/m3 for week three, for the week four it ranged from 30.7%, 61 µg/m3 to 70.7%, 106 µg/m3 . The one way ANOVA test revealed that there was a significant difference both in the grouped mean relative humidity and in the grouped mean PM2.5 values at (P >0.05). The air quality index of the sampled outdoor locations within Ekehuan campus, UNIBEN was generally unhealthy. It is recommended that vehicular emission and open burning should be properly checked and students should be sensitized.