Indoor Air Quality: Assessment of Particulate Matter and Non-cancerous Inhalation Health Risk in Nigeria

The assessment of global indoor air quality (IAQ) is important because of the threat (health risks) posed by pollutants released into the house as a result of various indoor and outdoor activities. There haven't been many studies on IAQ and health, so particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) and its attendant health risk on infants, children, and adults was studied in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, using standard USEPA methods. The results show that PM1 ranges between 0.0 and 237.0 µg/m3, while PM2.5 and PM10 have mean ± SD of 17.29 ± 21.76 and 18.89 ± 27.15 respectively. PM2.5 and PM10 air quality index (AQI) have mean values of 43.21 and 31.48, respectively. The mean acute exposure values for the infant, child, and adult are 0.43, 0.44, and 0.27, respectively. The risk Hazard Quotient (HQ) values are <1. An HQ of <1.0 indicates a negligible risk, which means that the PM evaluated in this study is unlikely to pose a health risk to a sensitive individual. In conclusion, the results show that some of the PM values exceed the WHO 24 h annual mean maximum exposure limit as well as the Nigerian National Ambient Air Quality Standard. Although there are times when the air quality is hazardous, it is heartening to note that the AQI is generally good during the study periods. On an acute basis, the indoor assessment is unlikely to cause adverse health effects in infants, children, or adults.