Modelling air dispersion of pollutants emitted from limestone mining and processing in South Togo (Tabligbo)

By /

IJEP 44(4): 326-332 : Vol. 44 Issue. 4 (April 2024)

Full Text

Solagnon Edoh Koevidjin1, Yawovi Nougbléga1,2*, Yawovi Mignanou Amouzouvi3, Milohum Mikesokpo Dzagli2,3 and Jérémie Thouakesseh Zoueu4

1. University of Lomé, Solar Energy Laboratory/Transfer and Energy Phenomenon Group, Lomé, Togo
2. University of Lomé, Regional Centre of Excellence on Electricity Management (CERME), Lomé, Togo
3. University of Lomé, Laboratory of Physics of Semiconductor Materials and Components, Lomé, Togo
4. Image and Spectroscopy Instrumentation Laboratory (L2IS), Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast

Abstract

Atmospheric pollution is a major problem that the world is facing today. In Togo, the main sources of atmospheric pollution are industries that exploit raw materials and traffic. These sources release gaseous and particulate pollutants harmful to the population and the environment. The limestone mining and processing area at Tabligbo in South Togo, which is concerned with cement manufacturing, is an obvious case of health and environmental issues. This study aims to estimate the deposition rate of atmospheric particulate pollutants released from limestone mining and processing in the area of Tabligbo using the HYSPLIT dispersion model. Monthly deposits of particulate pollutants released during ten years from 2013 to 2022 were collected using the HYSPLIT dispersion model and were related to the meteorological conditions. Annual averages were used to estimate the variation of pollutant deposition rate in this area over time with a maximum of 2.24×10-8 mass/m2 and minimum of 1.67×10-8 mass/m2. The pollution state was found to be linked to the climatic conditions during the year. The geographical distribution of pollutants was found to be far from the emission sources. These results could help policymakers, decision-makers and population to take protective measures from the deposition of particulate pollutants.

Keywords

Air pollution, HYSPLIT dispersion model, Particulate pollutants, Cement industry, Togo

References

  1. Manisalidis, I., et al. 2020. Environmental and health impacts of air pollution: A review. Front. Public Health. 8(14): 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020. 00014.
  2. Liang, L. and P. Gong. 2020. Urban and air pollution: A multi-city study of long-term effects of urban landscape patterns on air quality trends. Sci. Rep., 10: 18618. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74 524-9.
  3. Elichegaray, C., et al. 2010. Development and current status of atmospheric pollution. Rev. Fr. Allergol., 50: 381-393. DOI: 10.1016/j.reval.2009. 08.003.
  4. Raysoni, A.U., et al. 2022. Characterization of particulate matter species in an area impacted by aggregate and limestone mining north of San Antonio, TX, USA. Sustain., 14(7): 4288. DOI: 10.3390/su14074288.
  5. Amouzouvi, Y.M., et al. 2020. Evaluation of pollutants along the national road N2 in Togo using the AERMOD dispersion model.J. Health Poll., 10(27): 200908. DOI: 10.5696/2156-9614-10.27.200 908.
  6. Waked, A., C. Afif and C. Seigneur. 2012. An atmospheric emission inventory of anthropogenic and biogenic sources for Lebanon. Atmos. Env., 50: 88-96. DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.12.058.
  7. Kindo, C.O., C. Diarra and A. Ba. 2017. Simulation of aerosol dispersion of biomass lights in the Baoulé loop in Mali by HYSPLIT model. American J. innov. res. appl. Sci., 6(4): 180-190.
  8. Obrist, D., et al. 2008. Particulate-phase and gaseous elemental mercury emissions during biomass combustion: Controlling factors and correlation with particulate matter emissions. Env. Sci. Tech., 42(3): 721-727. DOI: 10.1021/es071279n.
  9. Vijayaraghavan, K. and C.D. Pollman. 2019. Mercury emission sources and contributions of atmospheric deposition to the everglades. In Mercury and the everglades. A synthesis and model for complex ecosystem restoration. Ed. C.D. Pollman, D. Rumbold and D. Axelrad. Springer, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-20070-1_5.
  10. Ma, Y., et al. 2021. Air pollutant emission characteristics and HYSPLIT model analysis during heating period in Shenyang, China. Env. Monit. Assess., 193(1): 9. DOI :10.1007/s10661-020-08767-4.
  11. Dzagli, M.M., et al. 2022.Heavy metal pollution assessment in phosphate mining and processing sites, Hahotoé and Kpémé in Togo. Int. J. Env. Quality. 47: 9–21. DOI: 10.6092/issn.2281-4485/13435.
  12. Houedakor, K.Z. 1997. Environmental dynamics in South-East Togo: Cartography test. M. Phil. Thesis. University of Lomé, Togo.
  13. Xiao, C., et al. 2021. Industrial agglomeration and air pollution: A new perspective from enterprises in atmospheric pollution transmission channel cities (APTCC) of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and its surrounding areas, China. PloS one. 16(7):e0255036. DOI: 10.1 371/journal.pone.0255036.
  14. Aboudala S. I., D. Minkilabe and K.T.T. Thiou. 2018. Impacts of the exploitation of the Tabligbo limestone deposit in South-East Togo on the physico-chemical characteristics of the soils. Afrique Sci., 14(4): 104-116.
  15. Da Costa, Y.D. 2005. Biostratigraphy and paleogeography of the coastal sedimentary basin of Togo. PhD. Thesis. University of Lomé, Togo.
  16. Kokou, K. 1998. Forest mosaics in southern Togo: Biodiversity, dynamics and human activities. PhD. Thesis. University of Montpellier II, France.
  17. Mahura, A., et al. 2013. Atmospheric trajectory and chemical transport modelling for elevated ozone events in denmark. NPJ Clim. Atmos. Sci., 3(1): 13. DOI: 10.4236/acs.2013.31011.
  18. Ongoma, V., G. Otieno and O.A. Omondi. 2014. An investigation of the transport and dispersion of atmospheric pollutants over Nairobi city. J. Env. Agric. Sci., 1:10.
  19. Rolph, G., A. Stein and B. Stunder. 2017. Real-time environmental applications and display system: READY. Env. Model. Softw., 95: 210-228. DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.06.025.
  20. Draxler, R.R. and G.D. Hess. 1998. An overview of the HYSPLIT_4 modelling system of trajectories, dispersion and deposition. Australian Meteo-rol. Mag., 47: 295-308.
  21. Stein, A.F., et al. 2015. NOAA’s HYSPLIT atmospheric transport and dispersion modelling system. Bull. American Meteorol. Soc., 96: 2059-2077. DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-14-00110.1.
  22. Moroz, B.E., et al. 2010. Predictions of dispersion and deposition of fallout from nuclear testing using the NOAA-HYSPLIT meteorological model. Health Phys., 99(2): 252- 269. doi: 10.1097/HP.0b013 e3181b43697.
  23. PDGM report. 2018. Final report of the strategic environmental and social assessment of the mining sector in Togo. IDA credit no. 57350. Mining Sector Development and Governance Project. Togolaise Republic and World Bank.
  24. Dodla, V.B.R., C.S. Gubbala and S. Desamsetti. 2017. Atmospheric dispersion of PM2.5precursor gases from two major thermal power plants in Andhra Pradesh, India. Aerosol Air Qual. Res., 17: 381-393. DOI: 10.4209/aaqr.2016.07.0294.
  25. Mutlu, A. 2020. Air quality impact of particulate matter (PM10) releases from an industrial source. Env. Monit. Assess., 192: 547. DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08508-7.
  26. Skrynyk, O., et al. 2019. Regional HYSPLIT simulation of atmospheric transport and deposition of the Chernobyl 137Cs releases. Atmos. Poll. Res., 10(6): 1953-1963. DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2019.09. 001.
  27. Rolph, G.D., et al. 2009.Description and verification of the NOAA smoke forecasting system: The 2007 fire season. Weather Forecast. 24: 361-378. DOI: 10.1175/2008WAF2222165.1.
  28. Hurst, T. and C. Davis. 2017. Forecasting volcanic ash deposition using HYSPLIT. J. Appl. Volcanol., 6(1): 5. Doi: 10.1186/s13617-017-0056-7.
  29. Trancoso, R., et al. 2022. Towards real-time probabilistic ash deposition forecasting for New Zealand. J. Appl.Volcanol., 11: 13. DOI: 10.1186/s13617-022-00123-0.
  30. Kumar, G.S. and A.N. Reddy. 2016. Application of remote sensing to assess environmental impact of limestone mining in the Ariyalur district of Tamil nadu, India. J. Geomat., 10(2): 158-163.
  31. Lamare, R.E. and O.P. Singh. 2014. Degradation in water quality due to limestone mining in East Jaintia hills, Meghalaya, India. Int. Res. J. Env. Sci., 3(5): 13-20.
  32. Akinyemi, O.D., et al. 2023. Assessment of the multi-level correlations of the pollution indicators and lithological vulnerabilities in a passive limestone mining and cement producing environment. Env. Monit. Assess., 195(3): 375. DOI: 10.1007/s1066 1-023-10914-6.
  33. Rathore, K.K. 2020. Environmental impacts of mining and processing of minerals: A review. SGVU J. Clim. Change water. 7: 85–93.
IJEP Logo

Quick Link

Menu

Query Form

    Contact Us

    Indian Journal of Environmental Protection,
    Kalpana Corporation, Kalpana Bhawan,
    N 10/60 H-12, Shyama Nagar
    P.O. Bajardiha, Varanasi – 221106

    Phone Number : +91 8130034876

    Email: kalpanacorp81@gmail.com

    Websites : www.e-ijep.co.in

    Copyright © 2024 Indian Journal of Environmental Protection | Kalpana Corporation