Contribution of Vehicular Emission to Ambient Air Quality in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the contribution of vehicular emission to ambient air quality in Minna, Niger State examined the concentration level of some selected air pollutants largely products of internal combustion in motor vehicle engines namely: nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO). From a fixed point, moving 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 selected gases at the selected motorways which are labelled X and Z. The point X represent 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. From the results, 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 concentration level of the sampled gases across the periods of the day at the selected motorways. Urgent precaution that seeks to minimize the level of emission of pollutants from automobile is required in Minna to protect the teeming population especially road users against the adverse impacts of these pollutants which ranges from difficulty in breathing to death when it is severe.