An assessment on concentrations of No2, So2, Co and their allied health risks alongside Ilorin-Osogbo expressway, Nigeria
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Date
2019-06-22
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International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research
Abstract
This research evaluated in-vehicle and ambient air samples for three pollutants; NO2, SO2, CO and
deduced the air quality index, emission factors and health risk assessments from the pollutants
concentrations. The concentrations of these pollutants were measured in-vehicle using two modes of
transportation with open-window scenario while ambient measurements covered three hours of the day
at six sampling points covering two states along the highway. NO2, SO2 and CO concentrations were
measured with Altair-5X MGD. Vehicular volume was conducted per 45 minutes and self-administered
forms were used to draw health data on the samples. The values of the in-vehicle exposure in μgm-3
ranges from 90–1270 NO2; 124-810 SO2 and 3262-23800 CO. The highest average in-vehicle exposure
appeared in cars with the following μgm-3 average NO2, 426±109; SO2 571±61 and CO 10433±1650.
The Ambient air pollutants results showed that the mean concentrations of NO2 and SO2 exceeded the
1-hour averaging time-limit of 40 μgm-3 set by FEPA but within the 1-hour averaging time-limit set by
EPA while the mean concentration of CO falls within minimal limit stipulated by WHO. Air Quality
Index was deduced with rating for NO2 and SO2 which ranged from good “A” through unhealthy for
sensitive group “UHFS’ to hazardous “F” and rating for CO, F across the sampling points. The study
established strong evidence that traffic volume affects the quality of air in the atmosphere at all
sampling points. Results from questionnaire indicated some key health risks related with contact to
pollutants by commuters and other road users.
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Altair multi-gas detector, automobile emissions, gaseous air pollutants, health risk, assessments, traffic volume