Monitoring air pollutants due to gas flaring using rain water

Abstract

The paper assessed major air pollutants resulting from gas flaring using rainwater. Rainwater samples were collected during the dry and wet seasons (2002/2003) and analyzed for physico-chemical characteristics such as, pH, TDS, conductivity, NO_3-, CO₃^2- and SO₄^2-. The mean values for the studied parameters during the dry season were pH (5.3) conductivity (20.50 µs/cm), TDS (17.13 mg/L), NO_3-(23 mg/L), S0₄^2- (1.41/ mg/L) and CO₃^2- (16.97 mg/L) and that for wet season were; pH (6.1), conductivity (19.60µs/cm), TDS (16.56mg/L), NO_3-(24mg/L), CO₃^2- (16.13mg/L) SO₄^2- (1.29mg/L). The mean levels of conductivity, TDS, and SO₄^2- were within statutory safe limits, while that of pH, CO₃^2- and NO_3- were above the safe limits specified by the Federal Ministry of Environment guidelines and standards for drinking water quality.

Keywords: rainwater, gas flare, pollutants, monitoring, water quality

Global Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol. 4(2) 2005: 123–126