Microplastics (of size < 5mm) pollution in our environment is of current concern by researchers, public media and non-governmental organizations. Implications by their presence in aquatic and soil ecosystems have been well studied and documented, but less attention has been paid on airborne microplastics (MPs). Studies concerning airborne microplastics started from 2016 and only a few (n=7) have been published till date. Although, studies may increase in the following years, since air is very important for human survival. Microplastics have been observed in atmospheric fallouts in indoor and outdoor environments using a sampling or vacuum pump, rain sampler and/or particulate fallout collector. Identification and quantification have been carried out by visual, spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. Factors such as meterological, climatic and anthropogenic influence the distribution and movement of airborne MP. Human exposure may be through inhalation or dermal route with their potential biopersistence and translocation. Ingestion may cause localized inflammation and cancer due to responses by the immune cells, especially in individuals with compromised metabolism and poor clearance mechanisms. Ecological risks involve possible contamination of the ecosystem through a dynamic relationship of MPs in soil, water and air forming a MP contamination cycle. The present review aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of current knowledge or information regarding microplastics in air, identifies gap in knowledge and give suggestions for future research.

Geospatial and geostatistical analysis of particulate matter (PM10) variation in Imo State, Nigeria was carried out. The objectives of the study were to determine and analyze the variation in concentration of ambient PM10level in Imo State, Nigeria. Air quality sampling was conducted within November 2014 and June 2015, in wet and dry seasons three times daily using Haze Dust Particulate Monitor (10μm). The mean concentration of PM10level observed in the study varied from 5.22 - 6.63 mg/m3in wet season and 5.80 - 8.38 mg/m3in dry season. Coefficient of variation (CV %) revealed that the variability of PM10level ranged between little and moderate variations in both wet and dry season. Analysis of variance (ANOVA p<0.05) showed statistically significant variation in the mean PM10level in the study locations. Box and Whisker plots confirmed variation of PM10in the morning, afternoon and evening. The GIS plots revealed the spatial attributes of the air pollutant in the study locations. Time series plots indicate that the air pollutants fluctuated throughout the study duration. The Wind Rose suggests that the prevailing wind speed and wind directions were responsible for the dispersal migration of the air pollutant in the study area. The highest seasonal mean values were observed in Egbema and Okigwe area in both dry and wet season. The seasonal mean values recorded in the study exceeded the Nigerian National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This calls for urgent response to prevent further air quality deterioration and its negative effects on man and the environment.

Environment pollutants are found here and there in developing countries and these contaminations affect the environment adversely. A few remediation of pollution which includes incineration which is the waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste material, the waste handling practices, the recycling resource recovery, the avoidance and reduction methods, the adsorption based on nanotechnology and the bioremediation technology which appears as a cost-effective and environmental friendly approach for cleanup. Recently researches shows that various chemicals (VOCs, BTEX, heavy metals) that might be delivered into the air or water can cause unfriendly health effects which was analyzed based on sample treatments (solid phase extraction: SPE, the liquid-liquid microextraction: LLME, the magnetic solid phase extraction: MSPE) and instruments such as ET-AAS, F-AAS and GC-FID methods. The related weight of disease can be substantial, and interest in research on health effects and intervention in explicit populations and openness circumstances is significant for the development of control systems. Pollution control and determination is thusly a significant segment of disease control, and health experts and analytical chemistry specialists need to foster associations with different areas to recognize and carry out need interventions.

The study targets at examining the pollution assessment and environmental health effects of surface water from Okumpi River. Ten surface water samples were collected randomly both in wet and dry seasons within the river that was assessed. The models used for assessment include contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI), water quality index, dermal and absorption exposure dose, hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR). The mean and standard deviation pH value in the present study during the wet and dry seasons varied from 6.21±0.22 - 5.75±0.41. The mean and standard deviation EC in the current study ranges between 219.15±12.20 - 193.30±14.81 μS/cm for wet and dry seasons which are found to be in line with the WHO standard used. The mean and standard deviation of DO for this study during the wet and dry seasons were found to be 10.03±0.58 - 6.47±0.41 (mg/L). TDS for wet and dry seasons ranges from 374.79±5.33 - 121.65±6.33 mg/L. The colour of the water samples at both seasons were lower than the permissible limit 9.60±0.89 - 11.20±3.11 PCU against 15 PCU used as the standard. The nitrate [9.05±1.08 - 8.09±1.57], sulphate [3.91±0.51 - 3.73±0.46] and phosphate [82.78±3.86 - 81.76±3.32] in this present study for wet and dry season were all found to be below the standard of WHO for safe drinking water. Among all the heavy metals studied, Iron [1.28±0.01 - 0.37±0.01 (mg/L)] and Nickel [0.98±0.04 - 1.03±0.04 (mg/L)] were found more in the study in wet and dry seasons while cadmium was not detected in both seasons. Nickel showed high contamination factor of 48.24 – 42.40 in wet and dry season while cupper showed the least contamination factor of 0.012 – 0.008 in wet and dry season. The study has revealed that the surface water is not suitable for drinking purposes as seen by the high water quality index which the calculated value gave 1205.56-1236.26 for wet season and dry season which is > 300. The Hazard quotient via ingestion and Hazard quotient via dermal has a reduction in the order of lead > nickel > iron > manganese > copper > zinc and lead > zinc > nickel > copper > iron > manganese > cadmium, in cooperation in children and adults in wet season, correspondingly. The Hazard quotient via ingestion and Hazard quotient via dermal has a decrease in the following order of nickel > lead > manganese > copper > iron > zinc and lead >zinc > nickel > copper > manganese > iron > for both children and adults in dry season, respectively. Lead possess carcinogenic risk for the inhabitants of this area due to the value of the carcinogenic risk n wet season of 4.05E-4 in adult and 1.55E-3 in children, in dry season of 2.57E-4 in adult and 9.88E-4 in children, against the standard set by the USEPA of 10-6 – 10-4. The water pollution monitoring agency of this area should regularly check the water quality assessment of this river and should suggest treatment through filtration, boiling and the use of additives in order to reduce the risk of water related problems.

ABSTRACT. Wetland pollution due to inputs from crude oil is one of the most prevalent environmental problems facing the aquatic ecosystem in the world. The present study was intended to investigate the effectiveness of combination of cow lumen and NPK fertilizer in stimulating the degradation of crude oil polluted fresh water wet land. Soil samples were collected from unpolluted plots, crude oil polluted plots and crude oil polluted plots that were treated with the remediating agents. After fifteen days and sixty days of remediation, the soil samples were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (E.C), phosphate, PO 3-4 , phosphorous, P, % organic carbon, % total nitrogen N, carbon/nitrogen ratio and total petroleum hydrocarbon, TPH. The result indicates that combination of the inorganic and organic manure was more efficient in stimulating the degradation of the crude oil than the use of either the cow lumen or NPK fertilizer alone. The physiochemical properties of the soil in all the treated plots were observed to have been improved when compared with that of the untreated plots.