Consequences of Alluminium Smelting on Air Quality in Ikot Abasi l.G.A., Akwa Ibom State South-South Nigeria

Abstract

The study identifies and examines air pollutants in the Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria, ALSCON. Field investigation and laboratory experiment of air samples collected from the study area was carried out following wind direction. The results of the air samples gotten after laboratory analysis were compared with the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC), provided by Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA). The result however shows that the concentration of Co2 and Co was high within the study area. The study reveals that there were traces of So2 and NO2 gases in the air around the study area. From the findings, it was very obvious that the activities of ALSCON are seriously affecting the air quality of the study area, this has resulted in the change of coloration of the vegetation around the area. The student’s t-test was used to test the hypothesis, and the result shows that there was a significant difference between the air quality of the area and MAC by FEPA. Therefore, the reduction of the volume of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere, would served as a strategy to mitigate the effects of these pollutants on the environment.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n2p735