Abstract:
Ambient air inhalable particulate matter, Black Carbon (BC) and heavy metal
concentration levels in the ambient air derived from combustion at a local palm
kernel production site was assessed in this study. The goal of this work was to
identify the effect of biomass burning from palm kernel oil production activities
on ambient air quality at Akotokyir and its environs and the possible health
effects. An IVL sampler and a Sierra Anderson (GAST) pump were used to
sample PM10 air particulate matter from 20th December, 2014 to 23rd March,
2015. Elemental and black carbon concentrations were determined using
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Smoke Stain Reflectometer respectively.
The average mass concentration of the PM10 particulates was found to be 121.19
µg/m3 with maximum and minimum values of 658.68 µg/m3 and 21.01 µg/m3
respectively. The maximum and minimum BC mass concentration in PM10
particulates were 30.04 µg/m3 and 11.42 µg/m3 respectively and the mean
percentage of BC was 8.5%. Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr, Co, Ca, Mg, Na
and K in the air particulates were analysed using Atomic Absorption
Spectroscopy. Na, Fe, Ca, and Mg were present as major elements whiles the
rest were present in trace quantities. Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
revealed 5 major sources; biomass burning (36.69%), two stroke engines
(17.46%), soil dust (16.76%), and Sea salt (7.81%). The fifth source could not
be identified. Comparative Air Quality Index (AQI) analysis revealed that only
48.88% of the sampling days had air quality which could be classified as good,
32.55% as moderate, 6.98% as unhealthy, 6.98% as unhealthy for sensitive
group and 4.61 % as hazardous.
