A STUDY OF THE AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IN WARRI SEAPORT ENVIRONMENT USING THE AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI)

This study evaluates the ambient air quality within the Warri Seaport environment using the Air Quality Index (AQI) approach, providing an integrated assessment of pollutant levels and their potential health implications. An experimental and descriptive research design was adopted, and primary air quality data were collected from five strategically selected monitoring locations within the port environment. Measured pollutants included particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutant concentrations were converted into AQI values to provide a standardized interpretation of air quality conditions. Results revealed that PM₂.₅ AQI values consistently ranged between 150 and 220, indicating Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy air quality conditions. PM₁₀ and NO₂ AQI values also exceeded safe thresholds, while SO₂ showed intermittent high-risk episodes. CO remained within moderate ranges but exhibited spikes during peak operational hours. The composite AQI indicated persistent air quality degradation across all monitoring points, with minimal spatial variation, suggesting uniform emission sources within the port environment. The study concludes that air quality within Warri Seaport is critically compromised and recommends the implementation of continuous AQI-based monitoring systems, stricter emission control policies, electrification of port operations, and adoption of cleaner maritime technologies.