Spatial Variability of Pm₂.₅ and Pm₁₀ Concentrations Across Urban Land-Use Types in Jalingo Metropolis, Northeastern Nigeria: Identification of Pollution Hotspots and Implications for AIr Quality Management.

Particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere is one of the most pressing problems faced by the environment and public health in rapidly developing cities in developing nations. This study looks at how fine (PM₂.₅) and coarse (PM₁₀) particulate matter vary across different land-use types in Jalingo Metropolis, northeastern Nigeria. The primary objectives are to identify pollution hot spots and to assess the relationship between land use and the levels of pollution. The APM 460 NL respirable dust sampler was used to measure PM at six sites: industrial, traffic, commercial, and residential. An average analysis on the PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ for each site and drew comparisons with air quality guidelines internationally. The results indicated statistically significant differences in PM pollution levels among the areas of Jalingo. The levels of PM₂.₅ varied between the lowest of 40.65 μg m⁻³ at Shagari Quarters and the highest of 97.85 μg m⁻³ at Nukai Timber Shed. The PM₁₀ ranged from 26.53 to 81.58 μg m⁻³. Mayogoi Market reported the lowest value, and the highest value was reported at Dinyavoh Stone Crushing Centre. The concentrations in industrial areas were the highest, followed by traffic-intensive sites, and residential and commercial areas were the lowest. Pollution levels were ranked as industrial, traffic, commercial, and residential. The air quality in all the sites was below the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 standard for PM₂.₅, indicating that poor air quality is prevalent across the city. The results indicate that the main sources of particulate pollution in Jalingo are industrial work, quarrying, vehicle emissions, and road dust. The city is provided with a set of baseline air quality data that will help inform sustainable management in the city while also identifying areas that require specific emission controls and continuing monitoring.