TITLE:
Spatial Assessment of Atmospheric Pollutants Load in a Palm Oil Processing Plant in Ubima, Ikwere Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Osademe Chukwudi Dollah, Dauglas Chukwuka Achi, William Azuka Iyama, Chukwunonso Valentine Orajaka, Famous Ozabor, Adekunle Obisesan
KEYWORDS:
Atmospheric-Pollution, Pollutant-Concentration, Health-Challenges, Pollution-Variation
JOURNAL NAME:
Current Urban Studies,
Vol.13 No.4,
October
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study examined the spatial variations in atmospheric pollutant loads around a palm oil processing facility in Ubima, in the Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State. Data for air quality parameters (O3, CH4, CO, CO2, PM2.5 and PM10) were collected for a period of three months (January to March, 2024), using multi-gas detectors. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis of the study. The study found that Ozone (O3) concentration decreased from 1.56 mg/m3 at 50 meters from the company, to 0.56 mg/m3 at 200 m. The concentration of methane decreased from 1.33 mg/m3 at 50 m away from the company to 0.95 mg/m3 at 200 m. CO was 1.15 mg/m3 at 50 m and 0.78 mg/m3 at 200 m. Similarly, CO2 at 50 m was 2.10 mg/m3 and at 200 m it was 1.04 mg/m3. The same pattern could be reported for PM2.5 and PM10, in which the concentration decreased from the source of pollution to 200 meters away from the company. ANOVA showed that there was a significant spatial difference in Ozone (P 2 (P 2.5 (P 10 (P 3, CO2, PM2.5 and PM10 were above the WHO standard which could portend possible health challenges for people living around the company. Moreover, the air quality parameters experienced a gradual reduction in concentration with distance from the major operating zone of the palm oil processing facility. It was recommended among others that there is an urgent need to prioritize the transition to the use of clean energy in the operations of the palm oil processing facility.