Geo-Mapping of Trace Metal Concentrations in Respirable Particulate Matter in South-South, Nigeria

Globally, atmospheric pollution is one of the most significant and potentially catastrophic environmental issues threatening the world particularly with climate change on the horizon. In this study, the geo-mapping of trace metal concentrations present in respirable particulate matter in Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom state, south-south, Nigeria was attempted. Analysis of trace metals Cr, Zn, Ni, Mn, Fe and Pb in Ibeno was done using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) closely followed by the geo-mapping and spatial analysis of the respective trace metals during wet and dry season The mean concentration of trace metals in respirable particulate matter were 0.3038 ppm, 0.0482 ppm, 0.0187 ppm, 0.0156 ppm, 0.0032 ppm and 0.001 ppm for Mn, Zn, Fe, Pb, Ni and Cr respectively for the dry season, while the wet season was 0.2212 ppm, 0.1595 ppm, 0.0172 ppm, 0.0343 ppm, 0.0040 ppm and 0.002 ppm for Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn and Ni in that order. The spatial distribution in dry season showed hot spots (high concentration) with large location coverage for Zn and Fe compared to Cr, Pb, and Ni. Higher concentration of trace metals (Cr, Pb, Ni) were observed around vast areas of the sample locations in the wet season but was not the case for Fe and Zn while Mn had a different pattern in both seasons.