Ambient Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) pollution in Isolo Industrial Area of Lagos State, Southwestern-Nigeria

Type Journal Article - Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management
Title Ambient Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) pollution in Isolo Industrial Area of Lagos State, Southwestern-Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 6
Issue 6
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Page numbers 688-697
URL http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ejesm/article/viewFile/96667/85991
Abstract
Air pollution by volatile organic compounds is based on the principles of dilution, diffusion and
dispersion. The air samples were collected by passive sampler (ORSA 5). The air samplers were
exposed to a height of 1.5 - 2.0 m and sampling was carried out four times a month for a period of 12
months. The adsorbed VOCs were desorbed with carbondisulphide (CS2) and the solution analysed
using Gas Chromatography (GC) fitted with Flame Ionization Detector (FID). The results from analysis
of the air samples collected showed that twenty-six (26) VOCs were captured in Isolo Industrial area.
The VOCs were classified thus: aromatics 41%, halogenated 42%, esters 3%, ketones 8%, alcohols 4%,
and ethers 2%. There is a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the levels of VOCs in Isolo
Industrial area. The meteorological parameters showed significant correlations with the ambient
concentrations of VOCs. The principal component analysis revealed that the major sources of VOCs
in the industrial area are mainly anthropogenic. Evaporative, vehicular/petroleum product, solvent
and Industrial emission were identified as sources of VOCs in the studied industrial area with
industrial emissions dominating.

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