Assessment and Characterization of Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality of Selected Facilities in a University Environment Using Different Fuel Sources

Abstract

This study aims to assess and characterize indoor and outdoor air quality of selected facilities in Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) environs using different fuel sources. Six points in the study areas were sampled; Senate building, SOES, Old SEET Head, Female Hostel C, Market Square and Old registry designated as P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6 respectively. The concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, VOC, O3 and NO2 were measured using a hand-held gas analyzer. A handheld Germin-300 GPS device was used to get the coordinates of the sampling points which aided the data processing. Results showed high concentrations of CO at P5 for indoor environment, Indoor NO2 results in the P5 (0.064ppm) and P6 (0.072ppm) where Charcoal and Firewood respectively are used were above the limit set by the Federal Ministry of Environment and Department of Petroleum Resources at maximum limit of 0.06ppm. Indoor H₂S at P1 and P4 with fuel sources of Diesel and Kerosene respectively had values of 0.2ppm and 0.1ppm which is above the maximum limit of 0.01ppm set by the Federal Ministry of Environment and Department of Petroleum Resources. Although, the average mean of both indoor and outdoor air quality differs, there were no statistical significant variations between the sample means of indoor and outdoor air quality parameters. The independent variables (meteorological parameters) perfectly predicted the combined indoor-outdoor air quality parameters at an adjusted R square value of 70.3% from the model summary and a statistical significance of 0.043 from the ANOVA table. Results showed that the meteorological parameters accounted for 70.3% of the air quality parameters sampled from six different facilities in FUTO utilizing varying fuel sources. Apart from the wet temperature that contributed uniquely in predicting the air qualities, the remaining meteorological parameters (dry temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) combined in predicting the air quality of FUTO environment.