Abstract:
Human activities in Sapele are veritable sources of particulate pollution which are exuded into the atmosphere.
These activities include bush burning which is one of the pre-planting activities, transportation, gas flaring,
incineration of wastes refuse disposal and the use of wood as a source of fuel. The objective of this study is to
determine the concentration of the trace metal in particulate matter captured in glass fibre filter paper. High
volume sampler was used to collect the respirable and inhalable suspended particulate matter at ten different
sites located in Sapele, from December 2010 to April 2011. The foam and the glass fibre filter were analysed
for nine (Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu, Co, Fe, and Pb) respectively by Flame Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer (FAAS). The concentration of the respirable particle ranged from 104.17 to 145.83μg/m3
while the inhalable concentration ranged from 166.67 to 812.50μg/m3. From the analysis the element Cd was
moderately enriched.
