This research presents a novel approach to assessing the health implications of black soot using a MiniVol air sampler.The MiniVol air sampler was used to collect PM from the ambient air at six monitoring sites in Port Harcourt,Nigeria.Sampling was conducted every day for seven days,for a period of 24 hours.PM_(2.5) concentrations at Uniport Junction,GRA Junction,Slaughter Roundabout,Abuloma Jetty,Rumuomasi Roundabout,and New Road Borokiri were 38.6 g/m^(3),28.3 g/m^(3),93.7 g/m^(3),72.9 g/m^(3),30.6 g/m^(3),and 31.3 g/m^(3),respectively.PM_(10) concentrations ranged from 71.2 g/m^(3) to 60.6 g/m^(3),with 103.3 g/m^(3),85.5 g/m^(3),40.1 g/m^(3),and 35.2 g/m^(3) being the highest.The level of PM_(2.5) and PM_(10) pollution in the ambient air was high across the six sampling sites,with mean PM_(2.5) and PM_(10) concentrations exceeding the WHO(2011)guideline.The flame atomic absorption spectrometry(FAAS)technique was used.The presence of heavy metals,such as mean metal concentrations of lead,cadmium,chromium,mercury,and nickel,ranged from 0.009 g/m^(3)-0.532 g/m^(3),0.002 g/m^(3)-0.544 g/m^(3),0.002 g/m^(3)-0.338 g/m^(3),0.001 g/m^(3),and 0.001 g/m^(3)-0.432 g/m^(3),across the six sampling sites.The GC-MS was used to determine the presence of PAHs in particulate matter.Correlation results revealed a strong positive correlation between PM_(2.5) and PM_(10).The findings also revealed a positive relationship between the metals as well as between the metals and PAHs,resulting in asthma,lung cancer,breathing difficulties,and miscarriages among pregnant women,which have affected the health implications of the people living in the environment.
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