<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">OALibJ</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Open Access Library Journal</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2333-9705</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/oalib.1110319</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">OALibJ-126467</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Biomedical&amp;Life Sciences</subject><subject> Business&amp;Economics</subject><subject> Chemistry&amp;Materials Science</subject><subject> Computer Science&amp;Communications</subject><subject> Earth&amp;Environmental Sciences</subject><subject> Engineering</subject><subject> Medicine&amp;Healthcare</subject><subject> Physics&amp;Mathematics</subject><subject> Social Sciences&amp;Humanities</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Industrial Air Pollutants Investigation in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Oluseyi</surname><given-names>Enitan Ogunsola</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Emmanuel</surname><given-names>Iruka Njoku</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Olalekan</surname><given-names>David Ayokunnu</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff2"><addr-line>Department of Physics, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria</addr-line></aff><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>06</day><month>07</month><year>2023</year></pub-date><volume>10</volume><issue>07</issue><fpage>1</fpage><lpage>15</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>31,</day>	<month>May</month>	<year>2023</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>18,</day>	<month>July</month>	<year>2023</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>21,</day>	<month>July</month>	<year>2023</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  The discovery and exploitation of crude oil in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria by the various Petroleum Companies have greatly enhanced the nation’s economy. However, practices linked to their discovery, growth and production operations have important and detrimental local effects on the ambient atmosphere. A good understanding and quantification of the concentrations of the greenhouse gases in this region including those of CO
  <sub>2</sub>, CH
  <sub>4</sub>, O
  <sub>3</sub> and NO
  <sub>2</sub> as a by-product of crude oil and pollutants could assist in their mitigation. Thus, this work investigates the anomalous variation of these pollutants and their trends in the Niger Delta region to develop control strategies that will enhance the mitigations leading to air quality improvement in this region of Nigeria. The CH
  <sub>4</sub> and NO
  <sub>2</sub> data utilized in this work were sourced from the European Space Agency (ESA) for 10 years from January 2003 to December 2012. The same data period of 10 years was obtained for the tropospheric ozone (O
  <sub>3</sub>) concentrations from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), while a data period of six (6) years was obtained for CO
  <sub>2</sub> concentrations from six (6) experimental sites around the gas-flaring stations in the Niger Delta region from January 2005 to December 2010. However, 17 other sites with no gas-flaring records were selected as the control in both the Northern and Western regions of Nigeria. The analyses of the concentrations of these Pollutants were carried out using a descriptive statistical approach including regression and correlation analysis. The One-Way ANOVA was also utilized in comparing the concentrations of these pollutants in the flare region of the Niger Delta region to those of the non-flare region of Nigeria to be able to determine their statistical significance. The results of analyses showed that CH
  <sub>4</sub> concentrations were the main contributor to the air pollution problem in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria followed by CO
  <sub>2</sub>. While for the non-flare stations considered, NO
  <sub>2</sub> has the highest concentration index aside from CO
  <sub>2</sub>.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Industrial Air Pollutants</kwd><kwd> Crude Oil Pollutants</kwd><kwd> Anomalous Variation</kwd><kwd> Air Quality Improvement and Air Pollution Problem</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>The Niger Delta region of Nigeria has been identified as one of the most polluted areas on the planet earth with air pollution as one of the most serious environmental issues ravaging the region [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref1">1</xref>] . The disposal of crude oil-related gases through flaring has been a crucial issue for the Nigerian oil and gas industries due to their non-economic viability. The subsequent repercussions of flaring these gases include the harm done to the environment as a result of the production of acid rain, the greenhouse effect, global warming, and ozone depletion. Although it was anticipated that the exploitation of natural resources such as crude oil and natural gas would accelerate and maintain the local development of the economy. Moreover, fossil fuel combustion had been producing greenhouse gases with additional pollutants enhancing climate change [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref2">2</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref3">3</xref>] . However, in the Niger Delta, gas-flaring is a substantial cause of pollution. Also, the rapid oxidation or burning of natural gas and crude oil had been releasing heat matter and gaseous particulate into the atmosphere, which is harmful to the health of ecosystems [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref4">4</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref5">5</xref>] . Greenhouse gases, volatile organic compounds, precursor gases, toxins (including benzene, hydrogen sulfide and toluene), and black carbon are all key components of flared gases damaging and destroying the environment [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref5">5</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref6">6</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref7">7</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref8">8</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref9">9</xref>] . Nigeria was ranked the fifth internationally among gas-flaring nations in 2014 as an improvement after consistently ranking second for three decades [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref5">5</xref>] . In 1970, 99% of the gases produced in Nigeria were flared. This fell to 51% in 2001 before rebounding to 53% in 2002 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref10">10</xref>] . Although, in the year 2004/2005 the amount of gas flared accounted for about 39% of the total gas generated with only 10% of this flared in 2018. Thus, confirming a steady drop that began in 2002 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref11">11</xref>] . However, the Nigerian government attempted to capitalize on the use of the associated gas by constructing a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility at Bonny. Nevertheless, there are still conflicting claims about the flaring of gases, in which the year 2018 was indicated as the year with the highest volume of gas emissions since the year 2012 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref12">12</xref>] . In essence, there are indications that the practice of gas-flaring in Nigeria is worsening rather than improving despite that gas-flaring was originally outlawed in 1984, especially with another end-to-flaring date fixed for the year 2030 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref13">13</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref14">14</xref>] . Thus, this work is aimed at investigating the anomalous variation of greenhouse gases and their trends in the Niger Delta region with a view to developing control strategies that will enhance the mitigations leading to air quality improvement in this region of Nigeria.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Materials and Methods</title><p>The data for CH<sub>4</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations utilized in this study were sourced from the European Space Agency (ESA), while that of tropospheric ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) was obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), for the period of ten (10) years from January 2003 to December 2012 and that of Carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) for the period of six (6) years from January 2005 to December 2010. These data were collected from six (6) experimental sites around the gas-flaring station in the Niger Delta with additional seventeen (17) other sites with no gas-flaring records selected as the control in the Northern and the Western region of Nigeria.</p><p>The analysis of the concentrations of these pollutants (CH<sub>4</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub>, CO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub>) in this region of the Niger Delta was carried out using a descriptive statistical approach including regression and correlation analysis. The One-Way ANOVA was also utilized in comparing their concentrations in the flare region (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>) with that of the non-flare region used as control (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref>) in order to determine their statistical significance.</p><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> List of control stations used in this study</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Point</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Location</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Long.</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Lat.</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Elevation (m)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >52</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Ogun</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >321.5</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Lagos</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >41.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Abaji (Abuja)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >220.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >92</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Nasarawa</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >455.1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >95</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Taraba</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >293.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >108</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >F.C.T Abuja</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >455.9</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >109</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Wuse 2 (Abuja)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >49.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >111</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Pankshin (Abuja)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1371.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >112</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Tafawa Balewa</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.3</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >113</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Liman Katagum</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >541.4</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >128</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Jos Plateu</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1220.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >129</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Northern Bauchi</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >616.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >145</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Southern Bauchi</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >600.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >161</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Gandu Kano</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >508.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >162</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Gwammaja</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >480.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >178</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Kano North</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >488.0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >179</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Jigawa</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >459.0</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><sec id="s2_1"><title>2.1. Regression Analysis</title><p>The linear regression involves examining the relationship between one independent variable (x) and another dependent variable (y). It is usually expressed as:</p><p>y = a + b x (1)</p><p>where,</p><p>a is the intercept;</p><p>b is the regression coefficient.</p><p>The intercept could also be expressed as:</p><p>a = ∑ y − b ∑ x n (2)</p><p>While, the regression coefficient (i.e. slope or gradient) could be written as:</p><p>b = n ∑ x y − ( ∑ x ) ( ∑ y ) n ( ∑ x 2 ) − ( ∑ x ) 2 (3)</p><p>Also, linear regression could be expressed as:</p><p>y = a + b x + ε (4)</p><p>where,</p><p>a is the intercept;</p><p>b is the regression coefficient;</p><p>ε is a random error component.</p></sec><sec id="s2_2"><title>2.2. Trend Detection Using the ANOVA Test</title><p>The ANOVA test is a null hypothesis test used in analyzing the differences among the means of various groups. The observations in each group are independent of each other and obtained by a random sampling. The equations are generally written as:</p><p>R 2 = SS R SS T = 1 − SS E SS T (5)</p><p>SS T = ∑ i ( y i − y &#175; ) 2 (6)</p><p>SS R = ∑ i ( y ^ i − y &#175; ) 2 (7)</p><p>SS E = ∑ i ( y i − y ^ i ) 2 (8)</p><p>where,</p><p>SS<sub>T</sub> is the total sum of squares;</p><p>SS<sub>R</sub> is the sum of squares due to treatment;</p><p>SS<sub>E</sub> is the sum of squares due to error.</p><p>A one-way ANOVA uses the following null and alternative hypotheses:</p><p>H<sub>0</sub> (null hypothesis): μ 1 = μ 2 = μ 3 = ⋯ = μ k (The data are normally distributed).</p><p>H<sub>1</sub> (The data are not normally distributed): at least one data mean is different from the rest.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Result and Discussion</title><p>The average mean concentration of CH<sub>4</sub> in Niger Delta stations is 1740.77 ppm, while that of the non-flare stations is 3.55 ppm. Meanwhile, two (2) stations (Bayelsa and Portharcourt) in the Niger Delta stations have their mean CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations lower than that of the mean concentration of the entire Niger Delta stations considered (Tables 2-4). Also, five (5) stations (Abuja, Kano, Nasarawa, Taraba and Jigawa) in the non-flare stations have their mean methane concentrations lower than that of the mean concentration of the entire non-flare stations considered. However, it was observed that the closer the stations are to the source point (flare site), the higher the concentrations index except in Cross River station in 2008 (1597.793 ppm) which may be attributed to instrumentation breakdown or strong meteorological conditions within the station at that year. While in the non-flare station, the concentration did not follow the same trend as was observed in the Niger Delta stations.</p><p>Tables 2-4, further show that the standard deviation (SD) for methane in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states are 4.96, 4.98 and 4.80 respectively, while in Kano, Nasarawa and Jigawa (northern region) with less flares activities has SD of 0.02, 0.11 and 0.02 respectively, which are lower than unity (1). Thus, SD values in the northern region are lower than those of the Niger Delta region for the</p><table-wrap id="table2" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref></label><caption><title> Comparison between mean concentrations of all the pollutants in Bayelsa station and other non-flare stations</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >RIVER</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >OGUN</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >LAGOS</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >ABUJA</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >KANO</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >NASARAWA</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >TARABA</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >JIGAWA</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CH<sub>4</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1741 &#177; 4.96</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.97 &#177; 0.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.21 &#177; 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.049 &#177; 0.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.32 &#177; 0.02</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.68 &#177; 0.11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.34 &#177; 0.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.32 &#177; 0.02</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >O<sub>3</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56.89 &#177; 0.53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.6 &#177; 1.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.5 &#177; 1.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.5 &#177; 1.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >328.5 &#177; 0.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.3 &#177; 1.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.1 &#177; 1.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >328.5 &#177; 0.7</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >NO<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >187.1.3 &#177; 2.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >290.3 &#177; 5.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >296.7 &#177; 1.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >160.2 &#177; 2.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >138.3 &#177; 2.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >143.0 &#177; 1.09</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >280.5 &#177; 2.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >119.8 &#177; 1.3</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CO<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >385.6 &#177; 2.10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.0 &#177; 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.0 &#177; 1.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >392.7 &#177; 1.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.5 &#177; 1.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.7 &#177; 1.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.2 &#177; 1.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >394.1 &#177; 1.6</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table3" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref></label><caption><title> Comparison between mean concentrations of all the pollutants in Rivers station and other non-flare stations</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >RIVER</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >OGUN</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >LAGOS</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >ABUJA</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >KANO</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >NASARAWA</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >TARABA</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >JIGAWA</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CH<sub>4</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1742 &#177; 4.98</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.97 &#177; 0.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.21 &#177; 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.04 &#177; 0.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.32 &#177; 0.02</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.68 &#177; 0.11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.34 &#177; 0.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.32 &#177; 0.02</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >O<sub>3</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56.89 &#177; 0.53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.6 &#177; 1.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.5 &#177; 1.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.5 &#177; 1.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >328.5 &#177; 0.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.3 &#177; 1.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.1 &#177; 1.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >328.5 &#177; 0.7</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >NO<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >108.3 &#177; 2.43</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >290.3 &#177; 5.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >296.7 &#177; 1.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >160.2 &#177; 2.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >138.3 &#177; 2.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >143.0 &#177; 1.09</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >280.5 &#177; 2.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >119.8 &#177; 1.3</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CO<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >385.6 &#177; 2.10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.0 &#177; 14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.0 &#177; 1.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >392.7 &#177; 1.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.5 &#177; 1.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.7 &#177; 1.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.2 &#177; 1.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >394.1 &#177; 1.6</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table4" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref></label><caption><title> Comparison between mean concentrations of all the pollutants in Delta station and other non-flare stations</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >DELTA</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >OGUN</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >LAGOS</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >ABUJA</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >KANO</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >NASARAWA</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >TARABA</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >JIGAWA</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CH<sub>4</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1748 &#177; 4.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.97 &#177; 0.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.21 &#177; 0.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.04 &#177; 0.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.32 &#177; 0.02</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.68 &#177; 0.11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.34 &#177; 0.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.32 &#177; 0.02</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >O<sub>3</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56.98 &#177; 0.51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.6 &#177; 1.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.5 &#177; 1.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.5 &#177; 1.26</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >328.5 &#177; 0.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.3 &#177; 1.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >329.1 &#177; 1.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >328.5 &#177; 0.66</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >NO<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >134.2 &#177; 2.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >290.3 &#177; 5.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >296.7 &#177; 1.6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >160.2 &#177; 2.29</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >138.3 &#177; 2.0</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >143.0 &#177; 1.09</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >280.5 &#177; 2.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >119.8 &#177; 1.26</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CO<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >385.6 &#177; 2.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.0 &#177; 1.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.0 &#177; 1.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >392.7 &#177; 1.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.5 &#177; 1.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.7 &#177; 1.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >393.2 &#177; 1.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >394.1 &#177; 1.61</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>same period of study. In essence, gas-flaring has more impact on the production and distribution of atmospheric pollution especially methane than any other sources, as a result of uncontrolled burning of natural gas and subsequent release to the atmosphere. Similarly, the SD values of CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta stations are 2.10, 2.10 and 2.12 respectively, while those of Kano, Nasarawa, Taraba and Jigawa (i.e. non-flares northern region) are 1.51, 1.34, 1.42 and 1.61, respectively, showing clear evidence that the CO<sub>2</sub> effluence is higher in the industrialized locations. This is due to the fact that Carbon dioxide is the most abundant pollutant gas in flare sites apart from methane due to its resident time in the atmosphere [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref15">15</xref>] .</p><p>The result of ANOVA shows that CH<sub>4</sub> has the highest concentration index in the Niger Delta region where there was gas-flaring as compared to the stations without gas-flaring in the Western (Ogun and Lagos) and Northern (Abuja, Kano, Nasarawa, Taraba and Jigawa) locations. Thus, methane concentration is higher in the Niger Delta stations than those in the non-flare stations showing that methane is one of the major pollutants abundant in the gas flare stations (Figures 3(a)-(c)). This could be attributed to uncontrolled gas flare and some meteorological factors such as prevalent rainfall activities in the region that enhance its accumulation [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref16">16</xref>] .</p><p>Figures 4(a)-(c) show the comparison between atmospheric Ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) in Niger Delta (Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta) stations with non-flare stations. The results of the linear trend showed that the mean concentration plots for O<sub>3</sub> in the non-flare stations are increasing than those in Niger Delta stations. This indicates that tropospheric ozone is more abundant in other anthropogenic sources such as fossil fuel combustion, power plant and vehicular emission than in the gas-flaring sources.</p><p>Figures 5(a)-(c) show a non-linear trend in the mean annual concentration index of NO<sub>2</sub>. Three (3) stations in the non-flare stations (Ogun, Lagos and</p><p>Taraba) showed high concentration index than those in the Niger Delta stations. The concentration of NO<sub>2</sub> in the Jigawa station showed low statistical significance when compared with the Rivers (Port Harcourt) station. Also, it was observed that NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in Kano and Nasarawa stations are not statistically significant when compared with Niger Delta (Delta) stations.</p><p>Figures 6(a)-(c) show the comparative CO<sub>2</sub> concentration index between Niger Delta stations and non-flare stations. The result showed a strong statistical relationship in CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in both flare and non-flare stations as there is a homogeneous monotonic increase in the concentration index of CO<sub>2.</sub> In all the stations considered. This result shows that CO<sub>2</sub> is one of the most abundant pollutants in the flare stations aside from CH<sub>4</sub> while for non-flare stations, CO<sub>2</sub> has the highest index followed by NO<sub>2</sub>.</p><p>The result of the regression statistics (Tables 2-4) showed that gas-flaring has a greater influence on the concentration of CH<sub>4</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> respectively. The increase in the gas-flaring activities seems to increase the concentration of the pollutants for they tend to accumulate near the source point but decrease in the non-flaring locations. However, the decreases in the concentrations of these pollutants are caused by wind, dry depositions and other mitigation processes.</p><p>The results of the statistical averages (Tables 5-7) of all the pollutants in Bayelsa state with their standard deviation and standard error showed that year</p><table-wrap id="table5" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">Table 5</xref></label><caption><title> Monthly averages of air pollutant concentrations in Bayelsa State with their standard deviation and standard error for the period 2003-2012</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >YEARS</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MEAN CONC of CH<sub>4</sub> (ppm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard deviation (SD) of CH<sub>4</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard error (SE) of CH<sub>4</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MEAN CONC of O<sub>3</sub> (ppm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard deviation (SD) of O<sub>3</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard error of O<sub>3</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MEAN CONC of NO<sub>2</sub> (ppm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard deviation (SD) of NO<sub>2</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard error of NO<sub>2</sub></th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2003</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1723.946</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >21.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.32</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56.1647</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.59</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >94.12148</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >38.73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.18</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2004</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1729.728</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.87</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.3319</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.63</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >92.64547</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43.99</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.70</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2005</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1730.286</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.37</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >54.4281</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.37</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >90.64494</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >42.17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.17</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2006</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1722.223</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.28</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.1586</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.97</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >91.46054</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >40.41</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.67</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2007</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1732.921</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15.46</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.46</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >55.2187</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.41</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >83.15172</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >35.36</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.21</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2008</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1736.170</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.23</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.6802</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.96</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.85</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >83.13088</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.56</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2009</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1742.412</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.1286</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.61</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >85.11320</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33.911</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.79</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2010</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1740.400</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.1763</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.43</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.99</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >76.38385</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >41.53</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.99</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2011</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1752.255</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >21.23</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.3196</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.61</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.46</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >86.42268</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >31.58</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.12</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2012</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1767.420</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.77</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.97</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56.7783</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >78.80879</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33.43</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.65</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table6" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">Table 6</xref></label><caption><title> Monthly averages of air pollutant concentrations in Rivers State with their standard deviation and standard error for the period 2003-2012</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >YEARS</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MEAN CONC of CH<sub>4</sub> (ppm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard deviation (SD) of CH<sub>4</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard error (SE) of CH<sub>4</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MEAN CONC of O<sub>3</sub> (ppm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard deviation (SD) of O<sub>3</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard error of O<sub>3</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MEAN CONC of NO<sub>2</sub> (ppm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard deviation (SD) of NO<sub>2</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard error of NO<sub>2</sub></th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2003</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1735.398</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >21.83</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.30</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >55.9953</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.58</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >110.446</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >48.70</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.06</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2004</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1730.427</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.87</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.2429</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >115.194</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >51.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.74</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2005</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1731.348</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.36</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >54.3009</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >113.295</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >53.17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15.35</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2006</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1723.773</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.30</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.0647</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.96</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >115.726</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >51.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.99</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2007</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1734.091</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15.18</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >55.0859</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.39</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >95.2234</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >35.82</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.34</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2008</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1737.264</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.49</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.89</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.6348</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.84</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >103.759</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >49.51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.29</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2009</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1743.735</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.19</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.52</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.0171</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.08</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.60</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >107.113</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >46.93</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.55</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2010</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1742.048</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.0992</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.44</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.99</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >105.718</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >48.65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.04</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2011</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1752.863</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >21.21</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.2138</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >102.646</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >39.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.28</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2012</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1768.989</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56.7082</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.68</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.48</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >109.667</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >49.98</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.43</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table7" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table7">Table 7</xref></label><caption><title> Monthly averages of air pollutant concentrations in Delta State with their standard deviation and standard error for the period 2003-2012</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >YEARS</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MEAN CONC of CH<sub>4</sub> (ppm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard deviation (SD)of CH<sub>4</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard error (SE) of CH<sub>4</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MEAN CONC of O<sub>3</sub> (ppm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard deviation (SD) of O<sub>3</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >standard error of O<sub>3</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >MEAN CONC of NO<sub>2</sub> (ppm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard deviation (SD) of NO<sub>2</sub></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Standard error of NO<sub>2</sub></th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2003</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1741.028</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >19.21</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.55</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56.26</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >135.0419</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >64.63</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18.66</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2004</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1738.174</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.76</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.39</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >141.1649</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >75.33</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >21.75</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2005</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1737.377</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.73</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.94</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >54.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.39</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >134.5924</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >67.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >19.36</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2006</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1731.105</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10.63</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.43</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.99</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >143.5328</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >70.38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >20.32</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2007</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1741.013</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.28</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >55.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.52</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.44</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >126.8056</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.45</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >16.59</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2008</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1743.488</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.69</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.89</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >129.6386</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >60.58</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.49</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2009</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1750.132</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.54</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.47</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57.26</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.34</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.67</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >135.6946</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >59.09</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.06</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2010</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1746.159</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.59</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.03</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.42</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.99</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >127.5164</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >60.59</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.49</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2011</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1759.879</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >20.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.85</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.32</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.78</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.51</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >133.9337</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >51.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14.79</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >2012</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1773.897</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.76</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.39</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >56.80</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.98</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.57</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >132.7467</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >54.65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15.78</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>2012 has the highest methane effluence (1767.42 ppm) in all the stations within the years considered, while low value of the concentration was recorded in year 2006 (1722.22 ppm).</p><p>Figures 7(a)-(c) show the non-linear trends of the pollutants in Niger Delta stations and revealed that methane has the highest uniform variations among all the pollutants considered in the region because of its abundance in the flare source point [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref17">17</xref>] .</p><p>Figures 8(a)-(c) show that the concentration of methane pollutant follows a</p><p>regular increasing pattern throughout the years considered except in Cross-River state in 2008 where there is a drastic drop in the concentration, while NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> followed a non-linear trend in all the stations considered.</p></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Conclusion</title><p>This work utilized satellite pollution data to quantify air emissions in the Niger Delta region (flare zone) in comparison with that of the non-flared zone. The results obtained showed that gas-flaring tends to contribute significantly to air emissions in the Niger Delta region. However, it was observed that both CH<sub>4</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> gases were the most abundant pollutants in this region due to gas-flaring. Moreover, the pollution decreases as the distance increases from the flare site. Also, O<sub>3</sub> increases mostly in locations with little or no gas-flaring rates than in locations that are deeply involved in the flaring cycle. It was further observed that due to vehicular emissions ozone precursors such as NO<sub>2</sub>, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds are also prevalent in this region of Nigeria [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.126467-ref18">18</xref>] . Likewise, NO<sub>2</sub> though more prevalent and dominant in the states with less flare capacity also experiences irregular patterns in concentrations. Moreover, it was observed that major cities and towns situated far away from flaring sites such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Ogun states are also polluted beyond the recommended limits due to pollution from diverse sources. Hence, the results of this study will further assist in the management and regulation of air pollution in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region.</p></sec><sec id="s5"><title>Conflicts of Interest</title><p>The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>Ogunsola, O.E., Njoku, E.I. and Ayokunnu, O.D. (2023) Industrial Air Pollutants Investigation in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. 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