The Influence of Meteorological Parameters on Respirable and Inhalabe Particle During wet Season

Air Pollution is a problem because human activities threaten to overload the atmosphere with wastes beyond the ability of wind and weather to disperse and dilute these pollutants. An effective air resources management program must take into account, the effects of meteorological parameters on transport and dilution and the natural cleansing processes of the atmosphere. Particulate pollutants tend to coagulate, increase in size and fall to earth. Thus coarse or inhalable particulates generally cause air pollution problems of a localized nature. However, lighter particulate and gaseous pollutant are influenced by action of atmospheric diffusion and may be carried to great distances from their sources of origin. Any study of air pollution should include a study of the weather patterns (meteorology) of the local area because the fate of air pollutants is influenced by the movements and characteristics of the air mass into which they are emitted. The main concentration of respirable suspended particulate matter was 104.17 – 260.42 and the inhalable suspended particulate matter was in a range of 104.17 434.03. The correlation of inhalable and respirable suspended particulate matter was good and positive (r = 0.73.); And the correlation of respirable and inhalable fraction with wind speed and temperature were positive while with relative, humidity were negative. The spatial distribution of inhalable and respirable were significant and remarkable (P<0.05). @ JASEM http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v17i4.1 The concept of miasma or noxious air as etiologic agent of certain diseases and the degradation of the environment has been a compelling issue in the contemporary International Communities and Environmental law. Hence the epidemiological studies and clinical studies of air pollution are second to none. The ultra-fine particles have diameters less than 1.0μm. The international standard organization (ISO) applies the thoraces convection in the classification of particulate matter. In this system, the inhalable fraction comprises those particle that enter the respiratory system during breathing and it corresponds, to the PM10 while the respirable fraction comprises those that reach the gust exchange region of the lung and it corresponds to the PM2.5 (Chow, 1995; Arya, 1999; Pooley and Mille, 1999; Holman, 1999; Pandis et al., 1995; UNEP/WHO, 1994b) To better understand the effect that exposure to aerosols has on humans epidemiological, air pollution studies have begun to characterize the spatial and temporal distribution of acid aerosols ( Suh et al., 1992). But to fully understand the processes responsible for the spatial and temporal distribution of acid aerosols requires analysis of local and regional meteorology; especially wind speed, wind direction, turbulence and atmospheric stability (Lenschow et al., 2001; Michael, 1997). Chemical reaction also depends on ambient weather conditions because they are influenced by short-wave radiation; air-temperature and air humidity. According to Hosler (1961), the persistence of surface wind speed less than 3.1m/s is usually conducive to the accumulation of air pollutant. Airborne particulate matter represents a complex mixture of organic and inorganic substances. Mass and composition tend to divide into two principal groups: coarse or inhalable particles mostly larger than 2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter, and fine or respirable particles mostly smaller than 2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM 2.5). The smaller particles contain the secondarily formed aerosols (gas to particle conversion); combustion particles and recondensed organic and metal vapors. The larger particles usually contain earth crust materials and fugitive dust from roads and industries. The fine fraction contains most of the acidity (hydrogen ion) and mutagenic activity of particulate matter; although in fog some coarse acid droplets are also present (Clark, 1992). Fine or respirable particulate mass (PM2.5) is a better predictor of mortality than coarse particulate mass. (The difference between PM10 and PM2.5 (Schwartz et al.,1996). The deposition of particles in the lung is governed by particle characteristics, anatomy of the respiratory tract tidal volume and breathing pattern (Lippmann et al., 1994;). The Influence of Meteorological 442 * 1 EDIAGBONYA, T.F; UKPEBOR E.E; OKIEIMEN, F.E The behavior of particle in air is predicated on their physical and chemical properties. These particles have physiochemical proportion via, mass size, volume, settling velocity, chemical aerodynamic and optical proper, which are important for their role in atmospheric process. Their life span in atmosphere may vary from few seconds to several months. The size density and shape of the particle are of prime importance because these factors influence not only their cleansing rate from environment but also their penetration and deposition in respiratory system. In developed countries, the difference between the mass concentration of TSP and PM10 (inhalable particle) and PM2.5 (respirable particle) is usually larger in Urban and industrial areas than in rural areas. This is due to the larger fraction of relatively small secondary particles in rural areas, originating mainly from long-range transport of air pollutants (Tarra Soriand Tsyro, 1998). Sedimentation and deposition of large particle takes place close to the emission sources. Thus, the proportion of PM2.5 relative to TSP and PM10 is usually higher in rural areas. Typical contributions of Sulfate, nitrate and ammonium particulates to the total PM2.5 mass are about 40% in urban areas and 50% in rural regions (Seinfeld and Pandis ,1998). Atmospheric and terrestrial moisture in its various phase is the final weather element of notable import to air pollution. It is generally appreciated that precipitation that is rain and snow is probably the most effective cleansing agent in the atmosphere [Bleeker 1965]. MATERIALS AND METHODS Area Of Study: The Town Sapele is situated in the South-south geopolitical region of Nigeria with a population of about 135,800 (NPC 2005/2006). It was once an integral part of the old western region of Nigeria. It is presently a part of Delta State of Nigeria created in August 27, 1991, after having been part of the defunct Mid Western State (1963-1976) and the defunct Bendel State (1976-1991). This study area is located within the co-ordinates of latitude 005 0 50 ’ 0 ” -005 0 560 ” N and longitude 005 0 37 ’ 0 ” – 005 0 45 ’ 0 0 E. The study area has a total aerial extent of 165.25 square kilometers. Sapele is located near the junction of Jamieson and Ethiope rivers and about 80 mile (144 kilometers) from the sea, well closer into the timber yielding forest of the interior. Sapele is one of the first-rate wood industries in this region. However, it is a commercial city with four petroleum and allied industries. The climate is tropical with two distinct seasons, wet and dry. The major activities among the people of Sapele that generate particulate pollution are usually bush burning as a pre planting preparation, combustion of solid waste as a means of waste disposal, gas flaring, re-suspension of dust from unpaved road, and the production of charcoal which involves the burning of wood in an open space from dawn till dust in four different locations in the city. These charcoal are usually exported to other countries and sometime nearby cities.