PM₁₀Emissions from Cooking Fuels in Nigerian Households and Their Impact on Women and Children

A study was carried out on the type of fuels being used by households in Ibadan, a highly populated city in south-west Nigeria. Ekotedo, Agbeni, Bodija and Agbowo communities were selected through stratified random sampling, keeping in view of their socioeconomic background and population density. The study monitored 186 households for the type of fuel used for cooking and measured PM10 and the lung function of the respondents. The study population involved 130 women and 130 children. In addition, a community nurse carried out a physical and clinical examination of both the mothers and the children for respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms. The results showed that 37.7% used firewood, 33.1% used kerosene, 17.7% used charcoal and 11.5% used liquefied natural gas. Firewood use followed by charcoal emitted high PM10 at a level of 1640 μg/m3 and 1159 μg/m3, respectively. Charcoal users showed the lowest lung function values and gas users the highest value. A majority (78.5%) of the respondents complained of having cough during and after cooking. Some of them reported breathing problems, eyes and skin irritations. It is recommended that the communities be advised to switch over from the use of biomass fuels to natural gas so as to sustained the natural resources and again, reduced the health impacts of these cooking fuels on the population.

Health and Safety Challenges, and Perceptions of Private Sector Waste Operators in Lagos, Nigeria

This study assessed the knowledge, and perceptions on safety measure practices and challenges of private sector participation (PSP) operators on solid waste management in Lagos State, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study and utilized interviewer administered questionnaire. The study employed purposive sampling among 256 PSP operators. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moment and multiple regression analysis correlation at 5% level of significance. Respondents’ age was 35.7 ± 4.2 years, and included 78.5% male. About 55.9% of the respondents spent up to 5 years in the waste management operations. Some 44.9% had at least completed secondary school education. A good knowledge of waste management was exhibited by 68.4% of the respondents. The respondents who had spent 16 years and above in waste management operations were more knowledgeable (8.0 ± 2.1) compared to those who had spent lesser time

Spatial Variations of Particle-Bound Trace Metals in Ambient Air of Selected Niger Delta Communities of Rivers State, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the spatial variation of particle-bound heavy metals in two communities with different industrial status in Nigeria’s Niger Delta Area. Fourteen ambient respirable particulate matter (PM10) samples 7 each from Eleme (highly industrialized) and Ahoada East (less industrialized) communities were collected according to standard methods using Anderson High volume sampler. Samples were analyzed for trace metals including Fe, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Man Whitney U test and Spearman Rank Correlation all at P 10 levels were 1.83 times higher at Eleme than Ahoada East (P 0.05) and all the values were higher than both the USEPA and WHO limits. At Eleme spatial variation of PM10 was in the following order: APE5 > APE3 > APE7 > APE1 > APE4 > APE6 > APE2. Fe, Zn and Cd were higher at Eleme than Ahoada East and the EC/WHO values. Pb was poorly correlated with PM10 (r2 = 0.0819, P > 0.05) at Eleme. Communities with higher industrial presence in the Niger Delta are more exposed to particulate burden. Routine monitoring and strict adherence to regulatory limits must be enforced.