Air emissions and health risk assessment around abattoir facility

The study assessed the impacts of abattoir activities on ambient air quality and health risk associated with exposure to PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, H₂S, SO₂ and NH₃. Air samplings were done simultaneously around the abattoir at three points for sixty consecutive days (October to November) and standard methods adopted for the samplings and analysis. Health risks associated with exposure to PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were estimated, using attributable fractions, relative risk and the excess lifetime cancer risk. The non-carcinogenic risks induced by the inhalation of H₂S, SO₂ and NH₃ were also evaluated using hazard quotient (HQ). The results indicated that the average concentrations of 18.75 μg/m³, 89.17 μg/m³ and 0.1ppm for PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and NO₂ respectively, were higher than the World Health Organization (WHO), National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) permissible limits. Air Quality Index showed that the ambient air quality in respect of CO and NH₃ was very good, moderate for PM₁₀ and was very poor for NO₂ and SO₂. It was also shown that 0.32% of deaths from lung cancer, and 0.23% from cardiopulmonary could be avoided if PM_2.5 is reduced to 3 μg/m³ and while about 0.14% of all-cause mortality could be avoided if PM₁₀ is reduced to 10 μg/m³. In similar manner, at least 0.45% likelihood that an individual in a group of people exposed to PM_2.5 100m away from the burning point may have health issue (lung cancer) than an individual from another set of people that is exposed to baseline concentration of 3 μg/m³. All the HQ values exceeded the threshold value, set at the unity, implying that H₂S, SO₂ and NH₃ are likely to cause adverse health effects in the area. Conclusively, continuous operation of this abattoir within the residential area can constitute a great environmental menace to the residents of the area and can result in complication to those with existing health challenge.