ABSTRACT
This study established the potency of wind speed and direction on the dispersion of near-ground level atmospheric particulate matter in the Ajaokuta Industrial Corridor, Kogi State. The investigation of wind speed, direction and PM was carried out in Five-sampled Stations which corresponds to Station 1 (TCN), station 2 and 3 (Ajaokuta Steel Company), station 4 (GPP & MLGP), and station 5 (WACF & BNCF) at sunrise noontime, and sunset hour in 25 consecutive days. Association between wind characteristics (speed and direction) and PM was assessed using the PPMC statistics, while the ALOHA software was used to modelled the potential threat zone of PM emission in the Ajaokuta Industrial Corridor based on the Gaussian Plume Dispersion principles. Findings revealed that the wind speed in the Ajaokuta Industrial Corridor ranged between 2.0-3.0 m/s at sunrise and 1.0-2.0/s at noontime and sunset hours. The prevailing wind blows from the SSW, WSW, and SSE directions at sunrise, noontime, and sunset hours. PM2.5 ranged from 14.6 – 80.1 ug/m3 at sunrise, 30.1-129.3 ug/m3 at noon and 30-88.7 ug/m3 across the sampled stations. PM10 ranged from 18.9 – 115.9 ug/m3, 53.7 – 171.9 ug/m3 and 33.7 – 117.2 ug/m3 at sunrise, noon and sunset hours across the sampled stations. The associated of wind direction was inversely significant to the concentration of PM25 at sunrise (r = -0.42, p<0.0352) and noontime (r = -0.44, p<0.0289), while wind speed showed an inverse relationship with the concentration of PM10 at sunset (r = -0.49, p<0.0124). The angle of dispersion of PM2.5 and PM10 at the Industrial Corridor of Ajaokuta is inversely proportional to the prevailing wind speed and direction as such; adjacent areas (NNE, NE, ENE and NNW) to the wind direction are potential threat zones of air pollution. Therefore, settlements within these locations should be relocated, because these areas are not safe for human habitation.
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