Abstract

This study investigated air pollutants associated with quarry activities and the variation of the pollutants with distance from the drilling section. Air pollutants were monitored with the use of automatic air samplers with the exception of ozone (O₃) which was determined by iodometric method. All sampling were replicated three times. The data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and correlation. Means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range test. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide were detected while sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and O₃ were below detection limit. Suspended particulates were the most significant of the air pollutants analyzed. Crushing section had the highest concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 with 0.231 ± 0.018 mg/m³ and 0.130 ± 0.010 mg/m³ respectively followed by the drilling section with 0.074 ± 0.066 mg/m³ for PM10 and 0.065 ± 0.045 mg/m3 for PM_2.5. The mean levels of the total suspended particulate decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with distance from the crushing section to Jagun village.

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