Indoor Air Quality in a Tertiary Institution: The Case of Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Nigeria

Abstract

The Federal College of Agriculture in Akure, Nigeria, was the site of this study, which aimed to monitor indoor air quality (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) and toxicity potential. The novelty of the study is: it is the first one in Africa to employ a cheap sensor called the Canāree A1 to measure the indoor air quality of a tertiary institution in Nigeria. The study offers baseline data for the next investigations and the formulation of policies regarding indoor air quality in Nigeria. Five distinct places were selected for the preliminary investigation, which lasted for 1 month. The protocols from the manufacturer were strictly followed. The findings revealed that while PM₁₀ levels were 2.3–13.1 times greater than 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) standards, PM_2.5 readings were 5.8–20.3 times higher. Additionally, it exceeded The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) guidelines by 1.2–6.6 times for PM_2.5 and 0.7–3.9 times for PM₁₀, respectively. Other findings include the following: Toxicity Potential (TP) ranges from 5.28 to 33.14 for PM_2.5 and 2.30–8.33 for PM₁₀; Indoor air quality index (IAQIndex) ranges from 1.16 to 6.63 for PM_2.5 and 0.69–3.91 for PM₁₀; and PM size distribution is from 0.31 to 0.34 for PM_1.0/PM_2.5, 0.34–0.84 for PM_2.5, and 0.25–0.34 for PM₁₀, respectively. The findings indicated that the study’s study sites were contaminated, since the TP levels were higher than 1. An attempt should be made to lessen anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic activities’ indoors. It is crucial that all parties involved in environmental issues comprehend the causes, effects, and mitigations of climate change.