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

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/m 3). 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, SO 2 , NH 3 , H 2 S and NO 2. 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.