Assessment Of The Spatio – Temporal Variations Of Vehicular Emission And Air Quality In Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
Assessment Of The Spatio – Temporal Variations Of Vehicular Emission And Air Quality In Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
This study assessed the level of some selected air pollutants which are largely products of internal combustion in motor vehicle engines namely: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in Minna.
Number of vehicles were counted at morning, afternoon and evening time while Crowcon (Tetra 3) model number IECEx BAS 05.0059 was used for monitoring the concentrations of the three gases at the selected motorways which were labelled X and Z.
The point X represented road intersections where samples were obtained within the metropolis (urban Area namely Top Medical junction, Kpakungu Roundabout, and Obasanjo Complex Roundabout), while point Z is the control station which is situated at the Government residential area ideal for less traffic flow in the city.
Traffic volume ranged between 1775±06 at the various sampling points. The concentrations of CO, SO2 and NO2 ranged between 51.05±0.04 ppm, 0.119±0.017ppm and 0.115±0.029ppm respectively, they were found to exceed the stipulated threshold by Federal Ministry of Environment.
Significant relationship (p< 0.05) was established between the volume of traffic and the concentrations of the sampled gases across the periods of the day at the selected motorways.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page ……………. i
Declaration ………….. ii
Certification ………… iii
Dedication ………….. iv
Acknowledgement ………….v
Abstract ……………….. vi
Table of Contents ……………. vii
List of Figures ………….x
List of Tables ………….. xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study ……………………………………………………………………………………1
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem …………………………………………………………………….4
1.3 Aim and Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………………..7
1.4 Research Hypotheses ………………………………………………………………………………………..8
1.5 Scope and Delimitation ……………………………………………………………………………………..8
1.6 Significance of the Study …………………………………………………………………………………..8
CHAPTER TWO: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………10
2.2 Conceptual Frame Work ………………………………………………………………………………….10
2.2.1 Air Pollution…………………………………………………………………………………………………..10
2.2.2 Traffic Air Pollutants ………………………………………………………………………………………11
2.2.3 Nigeria Air Quality Standards …………………………………………………………………………16
2.2.4 Sources of Air Pollutants …………………………………………………………………………………18
2.2.5 Causes of Air Pollution from Transportation………………………………………………………22
2.2.6 Factors that increases Air Pollutant …………………………………………………………………..23
2.2.7 Health Effect Associated with High Concentrations of Transport-Related
Pollutants……………………………………………………………………………………………………….25
2.3 Review of Related Studies ……………………………………………………………………………….27
CHAPTER THREE: THE STUDY AREA AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………33
3.2 The Study Area ………………………………………………………………………………………………33
3.2.1 Location ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..33
3.2.2 Population ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..33
3.2.3 Climate ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….34
3.2.4 Economic Activities ………………………………………………………………………………………..34
3.2.4 Drainage and Geology …………………………………………………………………………………….36
3.2.5 Soils and Vegetation ……………………………………………………………………………………….36
3.3 Methodology ………………………………………………………………………………………………….37
3.3.1 Types of Data …………………………………………………………………………………………………37
3.3.1.1 Primary data …………………………………………………………………………………………………..37
3.3.1.2 Secondary Sources ………………………………………………………………………………………….37
3.3.2 Sources of Data ………………………………………………………………………………………………38
3.3.3 Equipment used for the Study …………………………………………………………………………..38
3.3.3.1 Hardware ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….38
3.3.3.2 Software ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..38
3.3.4 Method of Data Collection……………………………………………………………………………….38
3.3.4.1 Sampling Procedure ………………………………………………………………………………………..38
3.3.4.2 Calibration of Crowcon (Tetra 3) ……………………………………………………………………..40
3.3.4.2.1 Calibration………………………………………………………………………………………….40
3.3.5 Technique of Data Analysis ……………………………………………………………………………..40
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………43
4.2 Concentration of So2, Co and NO2 in the Study Area ……………………………………………43
4.3 Relationship between the Rate of Traffic Flow and Concentration Level of the
Pollutants……………………………………………………………………………………………………….45
4.4 Pollutants Concentration across the Sampling Points ………………………………………….46
4.4.1 Test of Hypothesis 2 ……………………………………………………………………………………….49
4.5 Difference in Pollutants Concentration At The urban Centre and the Control Point ..50
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………51
5.2 Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….51
5.3 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………………….52
5.4 Recommendation ……………………………………………………………………………………………53
References …………………………………………………………………………………………………….54
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Issues of environment and its component parts have become a front burner from the policy makers, through the academia, the local communities and the general public.
One common feature of the issues relating to the environment in Nigeria is that it is fast becoming unfriendly, unsustainable and endangers species (Phil-Eze, 2009) Human activities and the environment are inter-related.
This is because any activity of man is done in the environment and the resultant effect is either positive or negative to man.
Human activities are however diverse. According to Uchegbu (1998), negative effects arise from such economic and domestic activities of man.
For instance, burning of fossil fuels, exhaust fumes: All these emit harmful pollutants like sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc, that cause acid rain, global warming, and the malfunctioning of human haemoglobin, etc. Ukpong (1994). The emittance of such gases is known air pollution.
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