Odor and Health Implications on Commuters and Residential Neighbourhoods around Obiri-Ikwerre Solid Waste Dumpsite in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Abstract: Pollutants generated from landfill operations, including airborne substances and odors, can adversely affect human health and the overall well-being of communities, highlighting the need for effective management and regulation. Additionally, the dispersion of odors in proximity to landfills can provoke public complaints regarding air quality and increase social tensions. Consequently, we conducted an investigation into the effects of odor and health on commuters and residents living near the Obiri-Ikwerre solid waste dumpsite in Port Harcourt, utilizing a quasi-experimental research design. A survey questionnaire was distributed to supplement the field data collected. We also tested three hypotheses using ANOVA and the Chi-square analytical method. This process involved assessing odor concentrations with a series of calibrated portable air quality monitoring devices. Geographically, the landfill exhibited the highest concentrations of NO2 (0.28±0.00a ppm), CO (43.0±0.45a ppm), NH3 (6.78±0.16a ppm), H2S (10.51±0.01a ppm), PM2.5 (129.66±5.00a μg/m3), and PM10 (128.7±6.50a μg/m3). The temperature ranged from 27.04ºC to 32.07ºC, with relative humidity levels between 82.47% and 95.70%, while wind speeds fluctuated from 3.06 to 1.32. During various times of the day, evening measurements showed elevated concentrations of CO (52.60±0.69 ppm), NO2 (17.20±0.11 ppm), NH3 (9.23±1.17 ppm), H2S (17.20±0.11 ppm), CH4 (19.57±0.08 ppm), PM2.5 (133.45±9.53 μg/m3), and PM10 (143.23±17.15 ppm). The results reveal that the odor concentration at location 1 (Obiri/Ikwerre Aluu Road) and location 3 (4th Avenue, SAR Road) significantly surpasses the acceptable range of 10-15 ou/m3, with an average measurement of 109.75±39.46 ou/m3. Odor concentration levels recorded at distances of 5.2 km and 8 km from the dumpsite were 18.97±10.84 ou/m3 and 10.97±10.50 ou/m3, respectively. Furthermore, the concentration of odors fluctuated with the distance from the landfill. As a result, the air quality near the dumpsite is deemed to be contaminated. This has led to a prevalence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and skin rashes among the local population. Thus, the municipal solid waste dumpsite poses both environmental and health risks to individuals living near the Port Harcourt airport road dumpsite. In light of this, the study advocates for the placement of waste disposal sites to adhere to established regulations and recommends prohibiting the establishment of residential areas within a 3 km radius of any dumpsite. These findings carry important implications for air pollution monitoring, providing essential data for tracking future air quality trends in the region.