Air Quality Survey of Some Major Dumpsites in Lagos State, Nigeria

This study investigated the status of air quality at Olushosun, Abule Egba, and Solous dumpsite in Lagos, Nigeria. The parameters examined are total suspended particulates (TSP), CO, NO2, SO2, and odour. The Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM) was used to estimate the potential landfill gas emissions from the dumpsites. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) was not detected at Olushosun and Abule Egba dumpsites. At Solous, the measured concentration is about 21-folds of the 1-h limit with 24-h concentration of 0.09 ppm which is about ninefolds of the FMENV’s set limit. The measured concentrations of NO2 are about 1.3-folds of the set limit at all the locations in Olushosun and Abule Egba but between 2.5 and 5.0-folds at Solous. In Olushosun, the measured 1-h CO concentrations range between 8.0 and 40 ppm, at Abule Egba and Solous, the range is 10.0–44.0 ppm and 1.0–179.0 ppm, respectively. At Olushosun, the 1-h TSP concentration is about 2.5-folds of the 1-h limit but 3.2-folds and 2.8-folds of the same limit at both Abule Egba and Solous, respectively. The odour levels from the three dumpsites are significantly high ranging between 4 and 5 on the “intensity by word” scale of 5. The measured air quality parameters concentrations signify a badly impaired airshed and can be classified as having poor air quality which calls for urgent attention. The methane potential using the LandGem tool is estimated to be between 4.04 × 102 and 4.97 × 104 ton/year which is equivalent to about 6.06 × 105 to 7.45 × 107 m3/year. This can be used to generate about 0.4–49 MW of electricity if efficiently captured.