Assessment of the Impact of Sawmill Waste on the Environment

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of sawmill wastes from selected sawmills in Port Harcourt on the environment. The physicochemical and microbiological features of the air at the sawmill sites were determined using air quality analyzer and settling plate technique respectively. Soil samples were analyzed for their physicochemical and microbiological properties. The study showed that of all the parameters monitored in the air samples at all the sampling sites, only noise level, volatile organic compounds and sulphur (IV) oxide exceeded the Federal Ministry of Environment limits. Results for microbiological analysis of air samples revealed that Total Heterotrophic Bacterial Counts (THBC) ranged from 2.5 x 104 (CFU/m3) to 1.3 x 104 (CFU/m3) while Total Fungal Counts (TFC) ranged between 1.7 x 104 (CFU/m3) and 7.7 x 103 (CFU/m3). The bacteria present in the air samples were identified as species of Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Klebsiella, Serratia, Pseudomonas, Providencia and Bacillus while the fungi were identified as species of Penicillium, Aspergillus, Geotrichum, Cryptococcus, Rhizopus and Mucor. Results for microbiological analysis of soil samples revealed that THBC ranged from 2.06 x 106 (CFU/g) to 1.1 x 106 (CFU/g) while TFC ranged between 35 (CFU/g) and 1.4 x 102 (CFU/g). The bacterial isolates from the soil were identified as species of Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Serratia and Aeromonas while the fungal isolates were identified as species of Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor and candida. The soil physicochemical properties monitored (pH, nitrate, lead, copper arsenic and mercury) where all within normal limits. The study showed that there are inhalable chemical and biological agents in the air at sawmills at the study locations. Measures should be put in place at sawmills to prevent occupational exposure and the waste should be properly managed.