Issue

Vol. 29 No. 8 (2017): Vol 29 Issue 8

Copyright (c) 2017 AJC

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Selected Gaseous Pollutants Level in Ambient Air Around the Vicinity of Chemical Industry in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe

https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2017.20292
Joseph Simbi
Department of Environemetal Health and Occupational Studies, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
Beatrice Olutoyin Opeolu
Department of Environemetal Health and Occupational Studies, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
Olatunde S. Olatunji
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa

Corresponding Author(s) : Olatunde S. Olatunji

snf_olatunji@ymail.com

Asian Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 29 No. 8 (2017): Vol 29 Issue 8

Abstract

The integrity of the natural composition of air have been compromised by the emission of chemical, biological and particulate substances from diverse sources, and this has led to the changing dynamics of the cloud density of naturally occurring gases. There is paucity of information on the levels, characterization and real time variability of ambient air contaminants in the atmospheric environments of most urban and industrial layouts in many Africa cities. In this study, the ambient air concentrations of selected gaseous pollutants was investigated in nine sampling stations, randomly identified in the vicinity of a Chemical and Fertilizer Production Industry in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. An electrochemical measuring transducer (Drager 5000-x Sensor) was used for the measurement of gaseous concentration of ammonia, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide under atmospheric conditions, in all wind directions at each station. The concentrations of NH3, SO2 and NO2 measured at all sampling stations within and around the study site were variable and ranged; 0.36-7.36 ppm; 0.02-84.61 ppm; and 0.61-34.78 ppm, respectively. The observed concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than measured at the control sampling station, 5 km from the industry (NH3; 0.01-0.05 ppm: SO2; 0.03-0.18 ppm: NO2; 0.17-1.30 ppm). This may probably be because of air diffusion arising from the dispersion of the contaminants vis-a-viz molecular diffusion and convection through the air. Isokinetic and dissipation of the measured gases confirmed a distance dissipation pattern; hence the cloud concentrations of ammonia, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide thins out at distances further away from the Industry. The contaminants variability within the plant may not be unconnected with releases from hotspots such as ammonia loops and valve leakage areas, and the prevailing meteorological conditions.

Keywords

Pollution Impacts Ammonia Sulphur dioxide Nitrogen dioxide Particulates Sable chemicals
Simbi, J., Opeolu, B. O., & Olatunji, O. S. (2017). Selected Gaseous Pollutants Level in Ambient Air Around the Vicinity of Chemical Industry in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. Asian Journal of Chemistry, 29(8), 1639–1645. https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2017.20292
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. A. Daly and P. Zannetti, An Introduction to Air Pollution, Definitions, Classifications and History, The Arab School for Technology (ASST) and the EnviroComp Institute (2007). http://www.envirocomp.org [12 March 2011].
  2. G. Hutton, Alir Pollution, Global Damage Costs of Air Pollution from 1900 to 20150, Assessment Paper, Copenhagen Consensus of Human challenges (2011).
  3. M. Beniston, Int. Rev. Red Cross, 92, 557 (2010); https://doi.org/10.1017/S1816383110000342.
  4. B. Rani, U. Singh and R. Maheshwari, Adv. Biores., 2, 1 (2011).
  5. J.L. Peel, R. Haeuber, V. Garcia, A.G. Russell and L. Neas, Biogeochemistry, 114, 121 (2013); https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-012-9782-4.
  6. S.O. Olatunji and O. Osibanjo, Asian J. Chem., 25, 4232 (2013); https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2013.13911.
  7. WHO, Air Quality Guidelines for Particulate Matter, Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulphur Dioxide, Summary for Risk Assessment (2005).
  8. S. Wood and A. Cowie, A Review of Greenhouse Gas Emission Factors for Fertiliser Production, Research and Development Division, State Forests of New South Wales, Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting, For IEA Bioenergy Task 38 (2004).
  9. S. Ahlgren, A. Baky, S. Bernesson, A. Nordberg, O. Noren and P. Hansson, Bioresour. Technol., 99, 8034 (2008); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2008.03.041.
  10. P.P. Motavalli, K.W. Goyne and R.P. Udawatta, Crop Management, 7, (2008); https://doi.org/10.1094/CM-2008-0730-02-RV.
  11. R.P. Prajapati and R. Singhai, J. Environ. Sci. Computer Sci. Eng. Technol., 1, 311 (2012).
  12. Z. Kirova-Yordanova, Int. J. Thermodyn., 16, 163 (2013); https://doi.org/10.5541/ijot.471.
  13. B. Singh, J. Hazard. Mater., 167, 24 (2009); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.01.071.
  14. T. Subramani, Int. J. Eng. Res. Appl., 2, 1753 (2012).
  15. A. Thakkar, Int. J. Theoretical Appl. Sci., 5, 109 (2013).
  16. Environmental Health and Engineering (EH&E), Emissions of Hazardous Air Pollutants from Coal–Fired Power Plants (2011).
  17. A.J. Chauhan and S.L. Johnston, Br. Med. Bull., 68, 95 (2003); https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldg022.
  18. WHO, Protection of the Human Environment, Geneva (2004). www.instituteforenergyresearch.org.
  19. WHO, Burden of Disease from Joint Household and Ambient Air Pollution for 2012, Report No. 27, Geneva, Switzerland (2014).
  20. D.J. Jacob and D.A. Winner, Atmos. Environ., 43, 51 (2009); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.09.051.
  21. D.T.T. Toan, V.D. Kien, K.B. Giang, H.V. Minh and P. Wright, Glob. Health Action, 7, 23025 (2014); https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v7.23025.
  22. T.M. William and B. Smith, Environmental Impacts of Gold and Complex Sulphide Mining: A Technical Report (1994).
  23. M.D. Gibson, S. Kundu and M. Satish, Atmos. Pollut. Res., 4, 157 (2013); https://doi.org/10.5094/APR.2013.016.
  24. P. Balashanmugaam, A.R. Ramanathan and V. Nehru Kumar, Int. J. Eng. Res. Appl., 2, 300 (2012).
  25. Drager Booklet (2012).
  26. R.E.E. Godson, K.C. Mynepalli and F. Joshua, J. Environ. Health Res., 4, (2005).
  27. R. Diab, Types and Sources of Air Pollutants, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa (2011).
  28. T. Lampard, Air Quality Risk Assessment, Sable Chemicals Limited, Totes (Pvt) Ltd Paramark, Harare, Zimbabwe (2011).
  29. K. Lakshminarayanachari, K.L. Sudheer Pai, M.S. Prasad and C. Pandurangappa, Atmos. Pollut. Res., 4, 106 (2013); https://doi.org/10.5094/APR.2013.011.
  30. Zimbabwe by World Weather Online (2014).
  31. M.P. Tsimakuridze, Georgian Med. News, 124-125, 87 (2005).
  32. World Bank and Associates, (WBK), Air and Water Pollution: Burden and Strategies for Control (2004).
  33. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Public Health Statement Ammonia (2004).
  34. J.D. Pritchard, Version, 2, 1 (2007).
  35. A.C. Hill, J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 21, 341 (1971); https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1971.10469535.
  36. A.C. Hill and J.H. Bennett, J. Air Poll. Control Assoc., 23, 203 (1973); https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1973.10469767.
  37. G.M. Lovett, T.H. Tear, D.C. Evers, S.E.G. Findlay, B.J. Cosby, J.K. Dunscomb, C.T. Driscooll and K.C. Weathers, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 1162, 99 (2009); https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04153.x.
  38. WHO, Air Quality Guidelines for Europe, edn 2 (2000).
  39. Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry (ATSDR), Nitrogen Oxides (2002).
  40. L. Ferrari and J. Salisbury, Nitrogen Dioxide National Environmental Health Forum, vol. 11, pp. 1-34 (1997).
  41. Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLS), Sulphur dioxide (2008). http://www.epa.gov/.
  42. Environmental Management Act, Zimbabwe, Chap. 20, p. 27 (2002).
Read More
Author biographies is not available.
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 0 Download : 0