Environmental Air Quality Parameters Monitory Information Assessments and Its Health Implications on Biotic Factors in Banjul Metropolis, The Gambia

Air quality is one of the major health issues faced in urban areas in recent years. Pollutants are released into the atmosphere through human activities that have an impact on the living factor (biotic factor), which results in anthropogenic ecosystem degradation. The objective of this research aimed at contributing to a better impact evaluation of the air quality in Banjul on environ- mental resources assessment. The determinant of pollutants parameter was done with the help of an electronic air meter. Air quality and pollution standard index- es are one of the determinant parameter tools for the measurement, management and control of pollution in any given environment globally. Usually, air quality is used to determine the physical and chemical parameters of the air when compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) of AQI and PSI standards. Parameters used in determining and assessing the rate of pollution in this Banjul region are AQI, CO, NO, NO₂, O₃, SO₂, NH₃, PM₁₀ & PM_2.5. Data collection was done between the month of August and October 2021, Particulate Matter (PM) and gaseous matter samples were taken in Banjul capital of Gambia, Western Coast Region of Gambia, in West Africa. The aim of the research was to assess the occurrence and levels of the chemical composition of gaseous and particulate matter established possible emission sources during morning and evening data collection in the rainy season. Some of the pollutants identified by air meter Ei-360 are analyzed and compositional levels obtained were Carbon Monoxide (CO) which recorded the highest level of as 248.54 ± 17.68 in the evening, 240 ± 0.19.78 in the morning. Ozone (O₃) records were next to the highest air pollutants as 64.40 ± 7.06 in the evening, 57.39 ± 12.29 in the morning, followed by Particulate Matter (PM₁₀) as 51.20 ± 13.60 in the evening, 50.55 ± 14.22 in the morning. The lowest pollutant recorded was Nitrogen (II) Oxide (NO), which recorded 0.03 ± 0.006 in the evening and 0.05 ± 0.03 in the morning. The report gotten from this research indicates that gaseous and particulate matter pollutants increases due to the constant usage of vehicles and factory machinery that are not smoke efficiently. Their exhaust (smoke) is released into the atmosphere due to the incomplete burning of octane hydrocarbon. Accumulation of smoke and its condensation released in the atmosphere causes air pollu- tion and an increase in temperature as well as global warming and climate chan- ge. Results from t-test analysis showed a significant difference, the null hypothesis was rejected at (P<0.05). It implies that gaseous and particulate matter of air quality data collection resulted in significant daily change.