Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria

Useh Uwem Jonah; Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan; Useh Mercy Uwem

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11

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Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria

Useh Uwem Jonah, Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan, Useh Mercy Uwem

Published in American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing (Volume 2, Issue 6)

Received: 8 September 2017 Accepted: 20 September 2017 Published: 5 November 2017

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Abstract

Waste incineration represents a prominent waste treatment strategy applied towards the treatment of hospital waste in many developing countries. Adequate pollution control limits the exposure of waste workers and the community to toxic contaminants in air emissions and ash. This study examined the air quality emissions of acid gases (Nitric Oxide, Sulphur Oxides, Hydrogen Sulphides, Ammonia, Carbon Monoxide, Methane) using a portable Haz-Dust Particulate detection system. Determination of heavy metals (Cadmuim, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Nickel, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese and Zinc) released in the flu ash samples in the neighboring environments at the front and back of the incinerator, including the electrical station and school block around the Federal Government College, Keffi was measured using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (iCE 3000 series). The results showed that the particulate emissions were in the range of 0.10-0.26 (mg/m³). Carbon monoxide levels detected were in the range of 5-12 ppm. The distribution of acid gases ranged between 0.01-0.07 (ppm) for CO, SO₂, NH₃, H₂S and NO₂. No measureable concentrations of Chromium, Copper and Lead was detected. The concentrations of Iron (0.202 mg/l) and Magnesium (18.309 mg/l) were below the WHO acceptable limits while Cobalt (0.171 mg/l), Nickel (3.466 mg/l), Manganese (3.589 mg/l) and Zinc (10.61 mg/l) were higher than approved limits. Improvements are required for the medical waste incinerator in this study by integrating addition process treatment systems to reduce environmental pollutants being released.

Published in	American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing (Volume 2, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11
Page(s)	65-70
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Medical Waste, Incinerators, Particulate Emissions, Heavy Metals

References

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APA Style

Useh Uwem Jonah, Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan, Useh Mercy Uwem. (2017). Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria. American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing, 2(6), 65-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11

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ACS Style

Useh Uwem Jonah; Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan; Useh Mercy Uwem. Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria. Am. J. Mater. Synth. Process. 2017, 2(6), 65-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11

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AMA Style

Useh Uwem Jonah, Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan, Useh Mercy Uwem. Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria. Am J Mater Synth Process. 2017;2(6):65-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11,
  author = {Useh Uwem Jonah and Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan and Useh Mercy Uwem},
  title = {Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria},
  journal = {American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing},
  volume = {2},
  number = {6},
  pages = {65-70},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajmsp.20170206.11},
  abstract = {Waste incineration represents a prominent waste treatment strategy applied towards the treatment of hospital waste in many developing countries. Adequate pollution control limits the exposure of waste workers and the community to toxic contaminants in air emissions and ash. This study examined the air quality emissions of acid gases (Nitric Oxide, Sulphur Oxides, Hydrogen Sulphides, Ammonia, Carbon Monoxide, Methane) using a portable Haz-Dust Particulate detection system. Determination of heavy metals (Cadmuim, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Nickel, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese and Zinc) released in the flu ash samples in the neighboring environments at the front and back of the incinerator, including the electrical station and school block around the Federal Government College, Keffi was measured using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (iCE 3000 series). The results showed that the particulate emissions were in the range of 0.10-0.26 (mg/m3). Carbon monoxide levels detected were in the range of 5-12 ppm. The distribution of acid gases ranged between 0.01-0.07 (ppm) for CO, SO2, NH3, H2S and NO2. No measureable concentrations of Chromium, Copper and Lead was detected. The concentrations of Iron (0.202 mg/l) and Magnesium (18.309 mg/l) were below the WHO acceptable limits while Cobalt (0.171 mg/l), Nickel (3.466 mg/l), Manganese (3.589 mg/l) and Zinc (10.61 mg/l) were higher than approved limits. Improvements are required for the medical waste incinerator in this study by integrating addition process treatment systems to reduce environmental pollutants being released.},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria
AU  - Useh Uwem Jonah
AU  - Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan
AU  - Useh Mercy Uwem
Y1  - 2017/11/05
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11
T2  - American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing
JF  - American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing
JO  - American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing
SP  - 65
EP  - 70
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1530
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11
AB  - Waste incineration represents a prominent waste treatment strategy applied towards the treatment of hospital waste in many developing countries. Adequate pollution control limits the exposure of waste workers and the community to toxic contaminants in air emissions and ash. This study examined the air quality emissions of acid gases (Nitric Oxide, Sulphur Oxides, Hydrogen Sulphides, Ammonia, Carbon Monoxide, Methane) using a portable Haz-Dust Particulate detection system. Determination of heavy metals (Cadmuim, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Nickel, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese and Zinc) released in the flu ash samples in the neighboring environments at the front and back of the incinerator, including the electrical station and school block around the Federal Government College, Keffi was measured using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (iCE 3000 series). The results showed that the particulate emissions were in the range of 0.10-0.26 (mg/m3). Carbon monoxide levels detected were in the range of 5-12 ppm. The distribution of acid gases ranged between 0.01-0.07 (ppm) for CO, SO2, NH3, H2S and NO2. No measureable concentrations of Chromium, Copper and Lead was detected. The concentrations of Iron (0.202 mg/l) and Magnesium (18.309 mg/l) were below the WHO acceptable limits while Cobalt (0.171 mg/l), Nickel (3.466 mg/l), Manganese (3.589 mg/l) and Zinc (10.61 mg/l) were higher than approved limits. Improvements are required for the medical waste incinerator in this study by integrating addition process treatment systems to reduce environmental pollutants being released.
VL  - 2
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Useh Uwem Jonah

Department of Pollution Control, Ecological Fund Office, Federal Secretariat Phase 2, Abuja, Nigeria
Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan

Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
Useh Mercy Uwem

Chemistry Advanced Research Centre, Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja, Nigeria

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APA Style

Useh Uwem Jonah, Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan, Useh Mercy Uwem. (2017). Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria. American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing, 2(6), 65-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11

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ACS Style

Useh Uwem Jonah; Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan; Useh Mercy Uwem. Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria. Am. J. Mater. Synth. Process. 2017, 2(6), 65-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11

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AMA Style

Useh Uwem Jonah, Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan, Useh Mercy Uwem. Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria. Am J Mater Synth Process. 2017;2(6):65-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11,
  author = {Useh Uwem Jonah and Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan and Useh Mercy Uwem},
  title = {Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria},
  journal = {American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing},
  volume = {2},
  number = {6},
  pages = {65-70},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajmsp.20170206.11},
  abstract = {Waste incineration represents a prominent waste treatment strategy applied towards the treatment of hospital waste in many developing countries. Adequate pollution control limits the exposure of waste workers and the community to toxic contaminants in air emissions and ash. This study examined the air quality emissions of acid gases (Nitric Oxide, Sulphur Oxides, Hydrogen Sulphides, Ammonia, Carbon Monoxide, Methane) using a portable Haz-Dust Particulate detection system. Determination of heavy metals (Cadmuim, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Nickel, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese and Zinc) released in the flu ash samples in the neighboring environments at the front and back of the incinerator, including the electrical station and school block around the Federal Government College, Keffi was measured using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (iCE 3000 series). The results showed that the particulate emissions were in the range of 0.10-0.26 (mg/m3). Carbon monoxide levels detected were in the range of 5-12 ppm. The distribution of acid gases ranged between 0.01-0.07 (ppm) for CO, SO2, NH3, H2S and NO2. No measureable concentrations of Chromium, Copper and Lead was detected. The concentrations of Iron (0.202 mg/l) and Magnesium (18.309 mg/l) were below the WHO acceptable limits while Cobalt (0.171 mg/l), Nickel (3.466 mg/l), Manganese (3.589 mg/l) and Zinc (10.61 mg/l) were higher than approved limits. Improvements are required for the medical waste incinerator in this study by integrating addition process treatment systems to reduce environmental pollutants being released.},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Heavy Metal and Air Quality Assessment around a Healthcare Waste Incinerator Facility in Nigeria
AU  - Useh Uwem Jonah
AU  - Muhammed Mohammed Alhassan
AU  - Useh Mercy Uwem
Y1  - 2017/11/05
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11
T2  - American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing
JF  - American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing
JO  - American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing
SP  - 65
EP  - 70
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1530
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmsp.20170206.11
AB  - Waste incineration represents a prominent waste treatment strategy applied towards the treatment of hospital waste in many developing countries. Adequate pollution control limits the exposure of waste workers and the community to toxic contaminants in air emissions and ash. This study examined the air quality emissions of acid gases (Nitric Oxide, Sulphur Oxides, Hydrogen Sulphides, Ammonia, Carbon Monoxide, Methane) using a portable Haz-Dust Particulate detection system. Determination of heavy metals (Cadmuim, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Nickel, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese and Zinc) released in the flu ash samples in the neighboring environments at the front and back of the incinerator, including the electrical station and school block around the Federal Government College, Keffi was measured using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (iCE 3000 series). The results showed that the particulate emissions were in the range of 0.10-0.26 (mg/m3). Carbon monoxide levels detected were in the range of 5-12 ppm. The distribution of acid gases ranged between 0.01-0.07 (ppm) for CO, SO2, NH3, H2S and NO2. No measureable concentrations of Chromium, Copper and Lead was detected. The concentrations of Iron (0.202 mg/l) and Magnesium (18.309 mg/l) were below the WHO acceptable limits while Cobalt (0.171 mg/l), Nickel (3.466 mg/l), Manganese (3.589 mg/l) and Zinc (10.61 mg/l) were higher than approved limits. Improvements are required for the medical waste incinerator in this study by integrating addition process treatment systems to reduce environmental pollutants being released.
VL  - 2
IS  - 6
ER  -

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