Pollution Standard Index-Based Analysis Of Air Quality In Udeagbala Industrial Region, Abia State
Fatima Ngozi Ibrahim
Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology (EMT), College of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (CNREM)
Amina Ifeanyi Okonkwo
Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology (EMT), College of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (CNREM)
Abstract
This study assessed the air quality status of the Udeagbala Industrial Area in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, using the Pollution Standard Index (PSI) and Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of selected plant species. The objective was to evaluate ambient air quality and the physiological response of vegetation to industrial air pollution. Air samples were collected from two industrial zones and one non-industrial (control) area to measure the concentrations of key pollutants, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and particulate matter (PM₁₀). Results revealed significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.05) of all pollutants in the industrial zones compared to the non-industrial area, indicating poor air quality in the vicinity of industrial activities.
In addition to air monitoring, four plant species—Sida acuta, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Ipomoea batatas, and Panicum maximum—were evaluated for their biochemical responses to pollution stress. The Air Pollution Tolerance Index was calculated using four parameters: relative water content (RWC), leaf pH, ascorbic acid (AA) content, and total chlorophyll (TCH). Findings showed that ascorbic acid and relative water content were elevated in plants from the industrial area, suggesting a physiological adaptation to air pollution stress. Conversely, total chlorophyll content was lower in plants from the same zones, indicating potential damage or inhibited photosynthetic efficiency due to pollutant exposure.
All four species demonstrated intermediate tolerance to pollution based on their APTI scores, highlighting their potential use as bioindicators in environmental monitoring. The study concludes that industrial emissions have a measurable negative impact on ambient air quality and vegetation health in Udeagbala, emphasizing the need for stricter pollution control and monitoring efforts in the region.