On The Relationship between Atmospheric Pollutants and Meteorological Parameters along Major Traffic Corridors in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

This study analyzes the relationship between atmospheric pollutants concentration and meteorological parameters at bus terminals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Data on both atmospheric pollutants with their meteorological variables were collected with the aid of multi-Gas Monitor and Extech weather station respectively at five major bus terminals.  Data were analysed using the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, Step-Wise Multiple Regression and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Findings indicate that that Relative humidity (RH) had low correlation with PM₁ (0.343) and CO (0.146) but inversely correlated with SO₂ (r = -0.476). However, RH had a positive significant relationship with PM_2.5, SO₂, and VOC (r = 0.548, 0.629 and 0.595 respectively at p = 0.05). Temperature had a significant but inverse relationship with PM_2.5, SO₂, and VOC (r = -0.524, -0.641 and -0.6 12 at p = 0.05) and a direct significant relationship with NO₂ (r = 0.712) and CO₂ (r = 0.553.  Wind speed showed a weak relationship with PM₁ and CO₂ (r = 0.010 and 0.205) but inversely and significantly correlated to PM₇, PM₁₀, TSP, CO, PM_2.5, SO₂ and VOC (r = -0.398, -0.398, -0.436, -432, -0.575, -0.864 respectively). Concentrations of pollutants were elevated because of calm atmospheric conditions prevailing at the bus terminals.

Keywords: Air Pollution, Bus terminals, carbon monoxide, emission concentration, vehicular emissions