Article In Press | Published on: March 30, 2026
Volume: 1, Issue: 1
1. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
2. Federal Polytechnic Ugep, Cross River State, Nigeria
3. College of Health Technology, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
DOI: null
Corresponding Author: Favour Achi Inyang-Ogim, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Citation: Oyama, Vincent O. I. O, Favour A. I. O, Okoi, Iferi U. (2026). Ambient Air Quality in Wood Processing Industries in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria. Journal of Biomedical Research and Clinical Reviews. RPC Publishers, 1(1).
Copyright: © 2026 Favour Achi Inyang-Ogim, this is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Introduction: Air pollution remains a significant environmental and public health challenge, particularly in occupational settings. This study assessed ambient air quality in wood processing industries in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Method: Using direct-reading gas monitors (Crowcon AS8900) and particulate monitors (Casella-AMS 95015), concentrations of NO₂, SO₂, CO, H₂S, PM₁₀ and PM₂.5 were measured at four sampling stations across three major wood processing sites. Participation was voluntary with each respondents giving informed verbal consent.
Results: Result revealed that while mean levels of CO, NO₂, SO₂, and PM₂.5 were within national/international standards, PM₁₀ concentrations exceeded acceptable limits in all sites. There was not statistically significant difference in the mean concentration of air quality at the different processing points. Tthe mean difference in the mean concentration of air quality of wood processing points showed that Akim- Akai Effa (p=.002) and Akim 8 miles (p=.001) was statistically significant except for Akai effa 8miles (p=.579) which was not statistically significant. Mean concentration of air quality parameters at major points in the processing sites revealed that CO and PM₂.5 were elevated at sawing points and 43.6% had abnormal lung function. Difference in the mean lung function of wood processing workers revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in FVC (L) (t=8.575, p=, <.001 and FEV1 (L) (t=2.420, P=0.160) except for FEV1% (T=1.165, P=.245) and PEFR(L/min) (t=0.730, p=466) that were not significant.
Conclusion: Findings indicate that emissions from wood processing pose significant occupational health risks. Regular air quality monitoring, are imperative to safeguard workers' respiratory health.
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