Speaker
Description
Numerous quarry operations in Southeastern Nigeria offer employment opportunities for the locals and generate income for the government. These businesses do, however, frequently cause air pollution, and the deadliest is PM2.5 which has been found to have a deleterious impact on humans and the ecosystem. The Extech Model VPC300 sensor was used to measure PM2.5, PM10, and some meteorological factors at the four quarry sites and their surroundings. The quarry locations and their surroundings were found to have high concentrations of particulate matter that exceeded the international standard. Using the methodology for assessing human health risks, estimates of the potential health risks associated with exposure to particulate matter were made. Nearly all of the quarry's surroundings had a Hazard Quotient > 1 for PM2.5 for infants, children, and adults on an acute or chronic basis. A kilometer distant from the quarry sites, PM2.5, and PM10 show the strongest association matrix with the highest value of 0.9358. Additionally, at the quarry, there is a strong relationship between the PM2.5 and temperature at 0.7860. Based on the findings, it is strongly advised that a dust control system be established.
