Evaluating air quality and associated health risks in Ikere Ekiti, Nigeria: an indoor and outdoor assessment

This study investigates indoor and outdoor air quality in residential and health center settings in Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria, utilizing low-cost sensors and the Average Hourly Dose per Day (AHD) metric to assess daily exposure to key air pollutants. The research addresses the novel aspect of examining both residential and healthcare environments, offering a comprehensive evaluation of the potential health risks. The aim is to identify exposure patterns and assess the implications for occupants' well-being. Through a rigorous analysis of the AHD values for carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and fine particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10), the study reveals elevated CO2 levels (537.48–592.44 ppm at Health Center, and 542.52–582.74 ppm at residential setting) in both locations, emphasizing the critical role of ventilation. The Toxicity Potential (TP) values less than 1 depicted that the sources of particulate matter may not differ between locations. A TP value greater than one indicates that PM10 and PM2.5 in a location pose a health risk to people in the area. The findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and targeted interventions to mitigate health risks and ensure optimal indoor air quality, especially in healthcare settings where patient well-being is a priority.