The Impact of Vehicular Emissions on Air Quality in Uyo, Nigeria

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Mechanics, Materials Science & Engineering, September 2016

ISSN 2412-5954

The Impact of Vehicular Emissions on Air Quality in Uyo, Nigeria Aondona Paul Ihom1, a, Ogbonnaya Ekwe Agwu1, b, John Akpan John1, c 1

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria

a

paulihom@yahoo.co.uk

b

o.agwu4@yahoo.com

c

mailjohnjohn001@gmail.com DOI 10.13140/RG.2.1.1813.7845

Keywords: air quality, pollution, vehicular emission, roads, health implications.

ABSTRACT. Roadways, especially road intersections, contribute in no small way to the degradation of air quality in modern cities. This is largely due to toxic emissions from the ever-increasing number of vehicles plying these roads. For rapidly growing cities like Uyo, Nigeria, periodic and quantitative analysis of vehicular emissions may provide knowledge needed to stave off disastrous air pollution. Consequently, this study characterised vehicular emissions in four different locations in Uyo metropolis. Particular locations of the study were: Ekpri Nsukara Junction by Nwaniba Road (Station 1), Uyo City Centre (Station 2), Ikot Ekpene Road by Udi Street (Station 3) and Edet Akpan Avenue by Oron Road (Station 4). Attair 5X Multigas Detector was used to identify and measure the air pollutant concentrations in the four stations of study from July to September 2015. The average concentration of CO obtained in stations 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 8.5 ppm, 3.58 ppm, 11.08 ppm and 3.50 ppm respectively. The highest average concentration of CO was obtained in station 3. Also, the mean concentration of NO x and SOx was less than 0.01 ppm in all four stations. These and the other pollutants measured, H2S, NH3, CO 2 and SPM, were found to be well within the habitable range of pollutant concentration as stipulated by the World Health Organization and other relevant bodies.

1. Introduction. In December 2015, a red alert, signifying very unhealthy air conditions, was triggered in Beijing, China. As part of the emergency response plan, the government reduced the number of cars on the road by half whilst consistently monitoring the air quality [1]. Three years earlier, [2] recommended reduction in vehicular emissions as a means of tackling poor air quality in China was made. Therefore, the very high levels of air pollution in places like Beijing, are partly attributable to emissions from the large number of vehicles plying the roads. Not just in Beijing, vehicular emissions are a big problem in most cities of the world today. This is because these emissions lower air quality with resultant health implications on animal and human life [3]. In the south-south Nigeria city of Uyo, vehicular traffic has rapidly increased over the last five years. Whereas the number of vehicles in Uyo is nowhere near those in Beijing, it is instructive to carry out

Several papers have been published corroborating the fact that roadways are one of the most important sites for the emanation of dangerous pollutants emitted by vehicles ([2], [5] [8]). Significant reduction in the levels of vehicular emissions and hence air pollution are recorded when vehicle speed is reduced. [9], [10]. The impact of vehicular emissions on air quality in the Indian city of Calcutta was assessed by [11]. Vehicular emission samples collected in the city were reported to contain suspended particulate matter (SPM), NOx, SO2, CO and lead (Pb) with CO at a concentration of 3 around 7000 microgram/m3 ) as the leading pollutant [12]. The work also evaluated the effects of traffic and vehicle characteristics on vehicle emissions near road intersections. They noted that vehicular emissions depend a great deal on engine loading. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) were found to increase with increasing engine loading. Similarly, [13], observed low CO emissions with the increase of engine capacity. [14] carried out a study very much like present work but in selected heavy traffic MMSE Journal. Open Access www.mmse.xyz

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