Prevalence of Pollutant Gases and the Occurrence of Associated Diseases in Asaba Metropolis, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the prevalence of pollutant gases and occurrence of associated diseases in Asaba Metropolis, Delta State, Nigeria. The study adopted a retrospective cohort and survey research design. The cohort study analyzed the reported air pollution medical cases in Federal Medical Center in Asaba such as respiratory diseases, Asthma, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, Meningitis and Measles. The survey involved measurement of air pollutant such as NO₂, SO₂, H₂S, CO and VOC to compare with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) data and the World Health Organization Air Quality Guideline (WHOAQG) in order to ascertain the level of air pollution. As part of the study, a total of two hundred (200) copies of questionnaires were administered in two major communities representing the two LGAs that make up Asaba Metropolis serving as study sites (Asaba and Okpanam). The data were analyzed using simple percentage and frequency distribution method, averaging model and standard deviation, measure of central tendency/dispersion (Mean±SD), Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of the study revealed that the highest recorded gas emitted in the area include Volatile and Organic Compounds (VOCs) with 96.4%, Carbon monoxide (CO) was 0.8%, Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) was 0.4% while Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and Nitrogen oxide (NO₂) were 1.2% respectively. NO₂ exceeded the WHO and NAQS thresholds. The most prevalent air pollution related diseases reported were respiratory diseases which were above 50% of the yearly prevalence and Tuberculosis which was over 30% each year followed closely by Asthma and Pneumonia. The least diseases in terms of prevalence in the study area were Meningitis and Measles. Based on the findings, it was recommended that routine measurements should be made on a continuous basis to ascertain the volume of gaseous pollutants in the urban and rural environments of the study area.