International Journal of Research Studies in Biosciences (IJRSB) Volume 7, Issue 5, 2019, PP 9-22 ISSN No. (Online) 2349-0365 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2349-0365.0705002 www.arcjournals.org International Journal of Research Studies in Biosciences (IJRSB) Page | 9 Public Health Implications of Seasonality in Noxious Gases from Dumpsites in Some Niger Delta States, Nigeria Glory Richard 1* , Moses O. Nwagbara 2 , Vincent E. Weli 1 1 Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. 2 Department of Soil Science and Meteorology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. 1. INTRODUCTION Weather is a global phenomenon caused by the unequal amounts of solar energy reaching the tilting earth’s surface creating pockets of warm and cold air around the earth. The resultant difference in air temperature and pressure causes warm air to rise and cold air to sink creating wind which gives rise to variation in weather conditions around the planet. Weather is never stable. It varies over time and space. The same is true for climate, which is the average weather condition over a place and over a period of time. This brings about seasons. Seasonality in climate/weather is a major factor in the socio-economic and political life style considerations of any nation. In Temperate regions, four seasons are recognizable: Summer, autumn, winter and spring while in Tropical regions like Nigeria two main seasons, dry and wet periods are predominant. The climatic features and variation in any region can be understood in terms of the various weather zones which constitute the major modules of the climate that are peculiar to the region, for instance in Nigeria harmattan (dry but humid weather) the steady rain and drizzle, the uproar line thunderstorms and the little dry season (Adejuwon, 2011). Adejuwon (2011), Ayoade (1974) reported that the various occurrence time, place, duration and intensity are determined by the location in relation to inter-tropical discontinuity. This brings about seasonality. The seasons in Nigeria is easily distinguished based on amount of rainfall, relative humidity and temperature. However, in recent times, it appears that these characteristics are gradually changing. Abstract: This study evaluated the public health implications of seasonality in air pollutants in some Niger Delta States, Nigeria. Air emission parameters (NO 2 , SO 2 , CO, NH 3 , H 2 S, VOC) and meteorological indicators (wind speed, temperature and relative humidity) were determined at 3 distances (3.05 m, 7.62 m and 15.24 m) in a windward direction bimonthly for 1 calendar year covering the two predominant seasons (wet and dry) from waste dumpsites in some Niger Delta states (Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Abia). Portable environmental sensors were deployed for the assessment. The data collected were used to assess the health risk to those exposed following standard protocol. Data obtained were analyzed using three factorial, Spearman correlation and air quality index. The health risk assessment was carried under two background scenarios (median and geometric mean). Fifty percent of mean detected values were used for areas where emission was not detected. Results for NH 3 , H 2 S, CO, SO 2 , NO 2 , wind speed, temperature and relative humidity ranged from 2.16 – 4.11 ppm, 1.86 – 4.92ppm, 0.03 – 1.22ppm, 0.14 – 0.30, 0.02 – 0.30ppm, 0.27 – 2.97m/s, 27.17 – 33.20ºC and 52.67 – 80.13% respectively. Statistically there were significant variations at p<0.05 for most of the parameters based on locations, distances, months/seasons and interactions. Health risk assessment revealed noxious gases and particulates were within no pollution (HRA≤50) to hazardous pollution (200<HRA≤250). The study showed that sensitive group of people could be mostly affected by air emissions resulting from waste dumpsite in the study area. The meteorological indicators studied (temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) revealed seasonal influence in some of the noxious gases. Hence, there is the need to exercise caution when working in these areas. Keywords: Air quality, Environmental contaminant, Public Health, Seasons, Waste dumpsite *Corresponding Author: Glory Richard, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.