Ambient Particulate and Gaseous Air Pollution Exposure among Secondary School Children in Lagos State, Nigeria
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2026-04-28
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Geography, University of Dar es Salaam,
Abstract
Air pollution remains a major environmental health concern globally, with
children being particularly vulnerable due to the ongoing development of their
respiratory systems, which typically continues through adolescence. This study
analyses exposure to selected air pollutants among school children in Lagos
State, Nigeria. A field-based quantitative approach was adopted, involving
real-time in-situ air quality measurements conducted across 45 purposively
selected secondary schools located in high-traffic, industrial, and residential
zones. Measurements were collected during peak school hours using an
Aeroqual Series 500 portable monitor (8-hour mean), capturing temporal
variations associated with student activity and traffic intensity. Exposure was
further quantified using the Total Respiratory Deposition Dose (TRDD) model,
which integrates pollutant concentration, inhalation rate, and exposure
duration to estimate the actual dose of particulate matter deposited in the
respiratory system. The results indicated that while gaseous pollutants
generally remained within acceptable limits, particulate matter concentrations
frequently exceeded recommended thresholds. The findings also revealed that
increased physical activity significantly elevates inhalation dose, indicating
that children may experience higher internal exposure during routine school
activities such as outdoor play. The elevated exposure and dose levels observed
suggest increased risk of adverse respiratory effects, particularly in high
exposure environments. These findings highlight the importance of addressing
micro-environmental pollution within school settings. The recommended
practical interventions include improved school siting, vegetation buffers, dust
control measures, and regulation of traffic emissions around schools.
Description
Keywords
air pollution exposure, gaseous pollutants, particulate matter (pm2.5 and pm10), TRDD, school micro-environments.