Assessing the Impact of Waste Collection Points on Air Quality in Calabar South, Nigeria

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted from decomposing solid waste pose a significant threat to urban air quality and public health. This study investigates the impact of waste collection points on ambient VOC levels in Calabar South, Nigeria. Sentinel-5P satellite data were processed in Google Earth Engine to retrieve tropospheric formaldehyde (HCHO) column densities as a VOC indicator. These data were overlaid with the locations of waste collection points and associated buffer zones (50m, 100m, 300m, 500m) in a GIS environment. The results show a clear spatial correlation, with elevated VOC concentrations predominantly found in the northern part of the LGA, which also has a high density of waste points. VOC levels were highest within the 100-meter buffer zones and decreased with increasing distance. The findings confirm that waste collection sites are a localized source of VOC emissions, exposing nearby residents to potential health risks. The study advocates for the integration of remote sensing and GIS in air quality monitoring and for policy interventions to manage atmospheric emissions from urban waste infrastructure.