IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

RESEARCH JOURNAL OF PURE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (RJPST )

E-ISSN 2579-0536
P-ISSN 2695-2696
VOL. 7 NO. 6 2024
DOI: 10.56201/rjpst.v7.no6.2024.pg107.119

---

Ammonia Emission Levels at Dumpsites and its Fluctuation with Some Atmospheric Properties

Robert, James J. and Ihua Bright Otugbuali

---

Abstract

This study assessed ammonia (NH3) emissions levels at dumpsites and its fluctuation with measured atmospheric properties at selected dumpsites. The study was conducted at three dumpsites—Egbelu, Obiri-Ikwerre, and Iwofe in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, using a geographical positioning system (GPS), ammonia detector, anemometer, digital thermometer, digital hygrometer and measuring tape to obtain the data at the selected dumpsites on a daily basis for a period of two weeks. The results obtained indicated that NH? concentration varied across the dumpsites. Obiri-Ikwerre recorded the highest average NH? concentration of 1.014 ppm, Egbelu had 0.99 ppm, and Iwofe had the lowest concentration value of 0.88 ppm. A positive correlation was found between NH? concentration and temperature, while relative humidity and wind showed negative correlations. NH? levels of the selected dumpsites during the study period were far below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50ppm and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommended exposure limit (REL) of 25ppm. This study establishes the interplay between atmospheric properties and NH3 emissions and accentuates the need to consider these factors in waste management practices and NH3 emission mitigation strategies to curtail the effects of ammonia gas has on local air quality, human health and the environment at large.

keywords:

Ammonia Emission, Dumpsite, Fluctuation, Atmospheric Properties

---

References:

Cape, J. N., Tang, Y. S., van Dijk, N., Love, L., Sutton, M. A., & Palmer, S. C. F. (2004).
Concentrations of ammonia and nitrogen dioxide at roadside verges, and their
contribution to nitrogen deposition. Environmental Pollution, 132(3), 469-478.
Cape, J.N., van der Eerden, L.J., Leith, I.D. (2009). Evidence for changing the critical level of
ammonia. Environmental Pollution, 157, 1033–1037.
Chandna, P., Nain, L., Singh, S., & Kuhad R.C. (2013). Assessment of bacterial diversity
during composting of agricultural byproducts. BMC microbiology, 13.
Clarisse, L., Van Damme, M., Clerbaux, C., Coheur, P. F., & Whitburn, S. (2019). Atmospheric
ammonia (NH?) emanations from dense agricultural regions observed from satellite.
Geophysical Research Letters, 46(3), 1474-1483.
Cogut, A. (2016). Open burning of waste: A global health disaster. R20 Regions of Climate
Action, 1–63.
Canzano, S., Salvestrini, S., & Iovino. (2010). Emission rate of non-methane volatile organic
compounds from biodegradable domestic waste. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 19,
88-93.



Department for Food and Rural Affairs. (2024, February 24). Emissions of air pollutants in the
UK- Ammonia (NH3). Emissions of air pollutants in the UK – Ammonia (NH3) -
GOV.UK
Diana, M., Roekmijati, W., & Suyud, W. (2018). Why it is often underestimated: Historical
study of ammonia gas exposure impacts towards human health. E3S Web of
Conferences 73, 06003. 10.1051/e3sconf/20187306003.
Doyle, B., Cummins, T., Augustenborg, C., & Aherne, J. (2014). Ambient atmospheric
ammonia in Ireland 2013–2014. Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland, report,
(193).
Fan, X., & Kumar, A. (2011). Effects of temperature and soil type on ammonia volatilization
from slow-release nitrogen fertilizers. Communications in soil Science and Plant
Analysis. 42. 1111-1122. 10.1080/00103624.2011.566957.
Erisman, J. W., Bleeker, A., Galloway, J., & Sutton, M. S. (2007). Reduced nitrogen in
ecology and the environment. Environmental Pollution, 150(1), 140-149.
Flechard, C. R., Nemitz, E., Dämmgen, U., Blackall, T. D., Dämmgen, G., & Sutton, M. A.
(2011). Dry deposition of reactive nitrogen to European ecosystems: A comparison of
inferential models across the NitroEurope network. Biogeosciences, 10(5), 2893-2927
Ibikunle, I., Beyersdorf, A., Campuzano-Jost, P., Corr, C., Crounse, J., Dibb, J., Diskin, G.,
Huey, G., Jimenez, J., Kim, M., Nault, B., Scheuer, E., Teng, A., Wennberg, P.,
Anderson, B., Crawford, J., Weber, R., & Nenes, A. (2024). Fine Particle pH and
Sensitivity to NH3 and HNO3 over South Korea During KORUS-AQ. CHIMIA, 78,
762-770. 10.2533/chimia.2024.762.
Ibikunle, R.A., Titiladunayo, I.F., Dahunsi, S.O. (2021). Characterization and projection of
dryseason municipal solid waste for energy production in Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria.
Waste ManageRes: The J Sustain Circ Econ 39, 1048–1057. https://doi.org/10.1177%2
F0734242X20985599
Ipeaiyeda, A., & Falusi, B. (2018). Monitoring of SO2, NOx and NH3 emission from burning
of solid wastes at Awotan and Lapite dumpsites, Ibadan, Nigeria. South African Journal
of Chemistry. 71, 166-173. 10.17159/0379-4350/2018/v71a22.
Karki, B. (2015). Global Warming –Combating It through Managed Cyclical Solid Waste
Management Processes. International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research,
3(2015). 10.70729/J2013471.
Kaza, S., Yao, L., & Bhada-Tata, P. (2018). What a waste 2.0: A global snapshot of solid waste
management to 2050. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the
World Bank, Washington, DC: World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1329-

Kumar, A., Patil, R. S., Dikshit, A. K., & Kumar, R. (2019). Assessment of spatial ambient
concentration of NH3 and its health impact for Mumbai City. Asian Journal of
Atmospheric Environment, 13(1), 11-19.
Ngele, S. O., Uduma, A. U., & Alisi, I. O. (2017). Amient air ammonia (NH₃)
concentration in two solid waste dumpsites in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, Nigeria. Chem
Search Journal, 8(1), 2384-6208.

Nasralla, M.M. (1985). An investigation of some motor vehicle exhaust pollutants in Jeddah
streets. Intern. J. Environmental Studies, 26, 217–222.

Nnadozie, C. F., Nkwoada, A. U., & Akagha, C. I. (2020). Ammonia Variations in Owerri
Metropolis and Ecological Impact. J. Atmos, 3, 15-22.
Nordin, A., Sheppard, L.J., & Strengbom, J. (2011). Background document: Nitrogen
deposition and Natura 2000: Science and Practice in Determining Environmental
Impacts. COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). 115–129.
Phan, N. T., Kim, K. H., Shon, Z. H., Jeon, E. C., Jung, K., & Kim, N. J. (2013). Analysis of
ammonia variation in the urban atmosphere. Atmospheric Environment, 65, 177-185.
Rathod, S., Edwards, M., Roy, C., Warnecke, L., Rafaj, P., & Kiesewetter, G., & Klimont, Z.
(2023). Air quality and health effects of a transition to ammonia-fueled shipping in
Singapore. Environmental Research: Health. 1. 10.1088/2752-5309/acfb2e.
Seinfeld, J. H., & Pandis, S. N. (2016). Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air
Pollution to Climate Change. John Wiley & Sons.
Sommer, S. G., & Hutchings, N. J. (2001). Ammonia emission from field applied manure and
its reduction—invited paper. European Journal of Agronomy, 15(1), 1-15.
Sutton, M. A., Dragosits, U., Tang, Y. S., & Fowler, D. (2000). Ammonia emissions from non-
agricultural sources in the UK. Atmospheric Environment, 34(6), 855-869.

Sutton, M.A., Reis, S., Riddick, S.N. (2013). Towards a climate-dependent paradigm of
ammonia emission and deposition. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of
London, Biological Sciences 368(1621), 20130166.

The Royal Society. (2020). Ammonia: zero-carbon fertiliser, fuel and energy store. Policy
Briefing.https://royalsociety.org/-/media/policy/projects/green-ammonia/green-
ammonia-policy-briefing.pdf

USEPA. (2002). Climate change and Municipal solid waste: Environmental ssues with an
important underlying link. Climate Change and Waste Reducing Waste Can Make a
Difference. https://archive.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/web/pdf/climfold.pdf




Van Damme, M., Clarisse, L., Whitburn, S., Hadji-Lazaro, J., Hurtmans, D., Clerbaux, C., &
Coheur, P. F. (2018). Industrial and agricultural ammonia point sources exposed.
Nature, 564(7734), 99-103.

Wang, S., Nan, J., Shi, C., Fu, Q., Gao, S., Wang, D., Cui, H., Alfonso, S., & Zhou, B. (2015).
Atmospheric ammonia and its impacts on regional air quality over the megacity of
Shanghai, China. Scientific Reports, 5, 15842. 10.1038/srep1584

Wyer, E.K., Kelleghan, B.D., Blanes-Vidal., V., Schauberge., G., &., Curran, P.T. (2022).
Ammonia emissions from agriculture and their contribution to fine particulate matter: A
review of implications for human health. Journal of Environmental Management,
323(2022), 116285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116285.

Zhu, L., Henze, D., Bash, J., Cady-Pereira, K., Shephard, M., Luo, M., & Capps, S. (2015).
Sources and Impacts of Atmospheric NH3: Current Understanding and Frontiers for
Modeling, Measurements, and Remote Sensing in North America. Current Pollution
Reports, 1, 95-116. 10.1007/s40726-015-0010-4.

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back