Particulate matter pollution from open burning of sawdust in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the annual atmospheric loadings of particulate matter (PM) from open burning of sawdust in southwestern Nigeria using emission factor approach. The estimated annual atmospheric loading of PM from the states ranged between 1.18–8.29 ton/annum while 23.4 ton/annum was obtained for the entire southwestern Nigeria. The maximum per capita and land distribution of the emission were estimated to be 0.844 g/capita and 304.592 g/km2 and these were from Ondo and Lagos States, respectively. The dominant elemental emissions were potassium and sodium with annual atmospheric loadings of 10.4 ton/annum and 10.1 ton/annum, respectively. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury were present in small quantities. Given the possible impacts of the PM emissions on public health, the study suggested waste to energy as an option that could be explored in the region in order to achieve a win–win situation that addresses the solid waste problems and at the same time improving the regions energy mix.