Assessment Of Onitsha Commercial City Air Pollution Variables, Their Effects, Control on Environment and Public Health.

Combustion of fossil fuels during transportation and industrial activities, dust particles and open dumps were identified as the main causes of air pollution in Onitsha, a West African foremost commercial bub and a port city in Nigeria. The city had the world’s worst air in 2016 with PM10 annual concentration of 594 ug/m3.Currently PM2.5 concentration in Onitsha is 5.4 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value. Air quality parameters were sampled with portable air quality digital equipment and field data collection in forty stations of Onitsha metropolis during dry and wet seasons for one year.  From the results of measurements of the pollutants, SO2, NO2, CO, PM10, PM2.5 exceeded the stipulated Standard NAAQS limits. Results of developed multiple linear forecasting models revealed sufficient explanation of relationship between meteorological variables and H2S, NO2 and VOCs levels in the dry season months and variation of SO2 during wet season. Forecasting air pollution in this study serves as a cost-effective warning system for effective pollution control measures in Onitsha metropolis. Controlling sources of emissions pollution through compliance with relevant laws can have positive impacts on both health and environment.