Environmental air pollutants as risk factors in the occurrence of respiratory conditions in some selected LGAs of Bayelsa State Senatorial Zones
Date
2025-05
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Abstract
Ambient (outdoor) air pollution is a major cause of disease and death globally. Poor ambient air quality occurs when pollutants reach high enough concentrations to affect human health and the environment. Long-term exposure to air pollution reduces life expectancy, as an after effect of respiratory diseases such as lung cancer which is associated with exposure to air pollution. The present study was primarily aimed at establishing the level of risk of respiratory conditions that are contributed by the various environmental air pollutants which affect the residents of Bayelsa State. The study was designed as a population-based survey study performed in Bayelsa State Nigeria. The study involved measurement of some targeted air pollutants and their ambient concentrations which were compared with the WHO‘s permissible standards and the Federal Ministry of Environment recommended limit. In addition, a questionnaire was used to assess 428 adult residents of Bayelsa State on the level of knowledge of the respondents about respiratory conditions, specifically on causes, prevention and control. The respondents were recruited from several communities across different local government areas in two senatorial zones in the State representing (Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa West). The two zones were purposively selected to represent the two types of environments in Bayelsa State (fresh water and salt water activities). Further, purposive sampling technique was also used to purposively select LGAs the fall within the fresh water and salt water activities in each of the two study zones. The mean ambient air quality level of the study area was compared with the WHO permissible limit and also with Ministry of Environment recommended standard for each pollutant using t-test method. Also, t-test was used to compare the mean ambient air quality level between Bayelsa West and Bayelsa Central while ANOVA test was used to compare the mean ambient air quality level across the study LGAs, The respiratory condition of the study participants was measured using PEFR and the outcome was classified as normal or poor respiratory conditions. The relationship between exposure to air pollutants and respiratory conditions were assessed in a logistic regression method. The result shows that the knowledge was high on some of the common respiratory symptoms such as persistent cough (93.3%), wheezing (92.8%) and Fatigue and weakness (72.7%). Just 53.7% (230 out of 428), showed good knowledge of respiratory conditions rom ambient air pollutants within their environment. The mean ambient level was high and exceeded WHO and FMOEnv permissible limit for all the pollutants SO2 (78.53 ± 22.32 μg/m3), NO2, (62.59 ± 17.78), C0 (8.47 ± 4.66), NH (0.37 ± 0.23), PM 2.5 (51.58 ± 17.17) and PM 10 (170.19 ± 44.42).Southern Ijaw contained the highest level of SO2 and NH (0.94μg/m3), The NO2 was found highest in Yenagoa (152.1 μg/m3), while CO also high in Ekeremor LGA (23.4μg/m3). The average PEFR was 451.6 ± 77.6 l/min for the study group. The mean PEFR was significantly lower in Bayelsa West (429.8 ± 73.4 l/min) than in Bayelsa Central (473.3 ± 87.5 l/min) (p < 0.0001). Common respiratory symptoms in the area were wheezing (25.7%), pneumonia (18.1%), 54 (11.6% for asthma (11.6%), COPD (11%), bronchitis (5.1%) and others. Association was found between exposure to air pollution and poor respiratory conditions (P <0.000). The study concluded that the study area is well polluted and required urgent attention to enforcement of protective measures against ambient air pollutants.
Description
This thesis is for the award of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) in Public Health, Environmental Health Option
Keywords
Air pollutants, risk factors, respiratory conditions, Bayelsa State, environment, Department of Public Health
Citation
Ekiyor, C. P. (2025). Environmental air pollutants as risk factors in the occurrence of repository conditions in some selected LGAs of Bayelsa State Senatorial Zones [Unpublished Doctoral Thesis]. Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria