Determination of Air Pollution Due to Traffic in Kaduna Town, (Kasuwa, Kawo Motor Park and Sabo) Kaduna State-Nigeria

Determination of Air Pollution Due to Traffic in Kaduna Town, (Kasuwa, Kawo Motor Park and Sabo) Kaduna State-Nigeria

Determination of Air Pollution Due to Traffic in Kaduna Town, (Kasuwa, Kawo Motor Park and Sabo) Kaduna State-Nigeria

Audu Vincent E. M., Jaff Marcel, Jacob Alheri, Ibrahim A. Sukamari

Department of Civil Engineering Technology The Federal Polytechnic,

Mubi, Nigeria

Abstract-This study was conducted to investigate the amount of air pollution in three highly congested areas in Kaduna town (Kasuwa, Kawo Motor Park and Sabo), emanating from traffic emission. Data were taken on particulate matter, noise level, Carbon II Oxide (CO), Nitrogen IV Oxide (NO2), and Sulphur IV Oxide (SO2). The amount of the gases was measured through Gas-man, noise level by noise meter and particulate matter by particulate meter. The results of the study indicated that, among the three areas studied, Kasuwa was found to be the most polluted with particulate matter (65.5 µg/m3), NO2 (0.04ppm), CO (22.7ppm) and SO2 (0.007ppm). Kawo was mostly affected with noise pollution (71.4db). Sabo was found to be the least in all the observed data. The results indicated that, particulate matter and NO2 were the highest matter and gas experienced during Fridays (62.8 µg/m3 and 0.04ppm respectively). Noise pollution was highest on Wednesdays (69.1db). However, it can be concluded that Sabo (area) and Monday (day) are the safest area and day to live and move.

Keywords: Air, Pollution, Noise, Traffic, Congestion.

1. INTRODUCTION

   As industrialization and technological development continue, there is a corresponding increase in income, population and hence, cities are experiencing greater increase in the number of vehicles on roads (Ndoke and Jimoh, 2000). Vehicular emission remains a threat to environmental health problems which is expected to increase as vehicle ownership increases in the world. Over 600 million people globally are exposed to hazardous level of traffic- generated pollutants (UN, 1998). The adverse effects of air pollution due to automobile may range from health effects and greenhouse effects which may lead to global warming and to a number of climatic changes (Ndoke and Jimoh, 2000).

   Air pollution problems have been well documented in Europe and the U.S with motor vehicle being the main contributors. However, in the developing world automobile air pollution is most likely in large cities with high level of traffic such as Mexico City, Bangkok, and Lagos (Nigeria) (UK/ DOE, 1992). Even smaller urban centers such as Peshawar, Pakistan and Katmandu, Nepal, air pollution from motor vehicles are becoming an increasing problem (UK/DOE, 1992). USEPA (1993) reported that transportation sources were responsible for

   77% of CO emissions, 45% of NO2, 36% of volatile organic compounds and 22% of particulates in the United State, for example during the year 1993. Also in the United Kingdom, for example, the average concentrations of NO2 increased from 1986 to 1991 by 35%, mainly as a result of increased emission by motor traffic (UK/DOE, 1992). On the global sense, some researchers have arrived at the same conclusion that transportation is the major cause of air pollution accounting for over 80% of total air pollutants. This is a clear indication that vehicle emissions are a major source of ambient air pollution and must be controlled if acceptable air quality is to be assured. In addition, there are numerous health problems associated with high concentration of these pollutants. For example, NO2 is responsible for immune system impairment, exarbation of asthma and chronic respiratory disease: reduced lung function and cardiovascular disease (Schwela, 2000). Particulates are dangerous and are linked as facilitators in the development of lung cancer and increase rate of mortality (Schwela, 2000).

2. MATERIALS AND METHOD

   1. Materials

      1. THE STUDY AREA

         The study was conducted in Kaduna metropolis which is between latitudes 10o20N and 10o30N of the equator and longitudes 7o45E and 7o75E. It has an average annual temperature and rainfall of 35oC and 1016mm respectively with seven months rainy season and five months dry season. The study area had about 3690 automobiles. The pollution was much higher in the hours of 7:30- 9:30 a.m and 4:00- 7:00 p.m that is when the streets of the town were busy. The selected areas were Kaduna main market (kasuwa), Sabo and Kawo Motor Park which are among the heavily congested areas in Kuduna in terms of vehicular activities.

   2. Method

      1. MEASUREMENT OF AIR POLLUTION

         Five diferrent kinds of pollutants were measured viz: CO, NO2, SO2, PM and noise level. The three gases (CO, NO2, and SO2) were determined using a portable Gas-man meter (APM 410 and 415, model 2001 manufactured by VBU Ltd, India) each gas having its own meter. The PM and noise

         level determined using the PM meter and noise meter (Rion N-27, made in Japan) respectively. All these air pollutants were investigated both in the morning (7:30 9:30) and evening (4- 7) in three different locations at Kasuwa, Kawo Motor Park and Sabo. Mean average pollutants were compared with the Nigerian Air Quality Standards in Table 1.

      2. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

   The result was analysed by taking the average of each pollutant per location and day. Then mean values of the various locations and days were taken. The comparison of the result obtained was made with Nigerian ambient air quality standard shown in Table 1.

   Table 1: Nigerian ambient air quality standard

   Pollutant Time of Average limit

   Particulate		Daily average of daily values
   Matter		1hr	250µg/m3
   Sulphur	(IV)
   Oxide		Daily average of hourly	0.01ppm
   Cabon	(II)
   Oxide		Daily average of hourly- 8hourly	10-20ppm
   Nitrogen Oxide	(Iv)	Values (range) daily of hourly	0.04- 0.06ppm

   Noise Duration per day (8 hours) 90db

   Source: FEPA 1991

3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

   1. Result

      The result of the particulate matter (µg/m3) is presented in Table 2. The result shows that Kasuwa was the most polluted with PM among the three locations, with a mean value of 65.2µg/m3. Similarly, Fridays were the most polluted days with a mean value of 62.8µg/m3. Least average values of 55.6µg/m3 and 59.8µg/m3 were recorded in Sabo and Wednesday respectively. Average values of noise (db) pollution are shown in Table 3. The highest pollution from noise was recorded in Kawo (71.4db), while the lowest was recorded at sabo (61.6db). The pollution was mostly highest on Wednesdays (69.1db) and lowest on Mondays (64.5db).

      The average values of NO2 (ppm) of the various locations and days are presented in Table 4. The average values of NO2 (ppm) was highest at Kasuwa with an average value of 0.04ppm, while it was lowest at Sabo with a mean value of 0.02ppm. Fridays recorded NO2 (ppm) average value of 0.04ppm, while Mondays and Wednesdays recorded the same value of 0.03ppm of NO2.

      Average pollutant values of CO2 (ppm) are presented in Table 5. Pollution recorded from CO was highest at Kasuwa (22.7ppm) and lowestat Sabo, with a mean value of 15.1ppm. However, all the three days recrded almost same values of pollution received from CO of 18.5, 19.5 and 19.6ppm for Monday, Wednesday and Friday respectively. The average pollutant values of SO2

      (ppm) for the locations and days are shown in table 6. SO2 pollution for the three locations and days were not averagely different from each other. However, Kasuwa and kawo recorded 0.007ppm and 0.006ppm respectively of SO2 pollution while Sabo recorded 0.004ppm of SO2 pollution. All the days (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) recorded the same value of 0.005ppm SO2 pollution.

   2. Discussion

      The values of particulate matter for the three locations are below the limit (250µg/m3) set by FEPA (1991). The values range from 65.2 – 55.6µg/m3 for the different areas and vary from 62.7 – 59.8µg/m3 for the days. The low level of particulate matter in the study areas may be due to low level of commercial activities in the study areas when compared to the other centres of the world, in which both humans and automobiles produce complex mixtures of solid and liquid particles of organic and inorganic substances that are suspended in the air.

      The noise levels were also within the permissible level of 90db recommended by FEPA (1991) for eight hourly averages. This means that, the noise pollution in the study areas may not cause serious problems to humans and the environment which may include damage to the ear drum and the ossicles, reduction to property value, high blood pressure, nervousness and interference with communication (Agunwamba, 2001).

      The result of NO2 concentration was found to be within the permissible limit (0.004 0.006ppm) set by FEPA (1991). The NO2 concentration was highest at Kasuwa. This may be attributed to the fact that Kasuwa produced the highest concentration of particulate matter and NO2 is the main source of nitrate aerosoles which form an important fraction of PM2.5 (UK/DOE, 1992).

      Carbon (II) oxide (CO) concentrations were above the

      permissible limit of 20ppm set by FEPA (1991). Comparing the values of CO at the three locations, the concentration of CO at Kasuwa was highest i.e 22.7ppm (mean value). This may probably be due traffic congestion and traffic intersection hold up where long waiting time for vehicles was observed, and activities such as power generation operations. This value of 22.7ppm recorded in this work disagrees with the earlier findings of Ndoke and Jimoh (2000).

      The average values of SO2 are also below the limit set by FEPA (1991) of daily average of hourly 0.01ppm. The values recorded in this work ranges from 0.004 0.007ppm. There was a general uniformity of pollution recorded from the three study areas and the days of measurement. However, Kasuwa appears to be the highest location polluted by SO2, with mean value of 0.007ppm. This may also be due to high commercial activities, congestion of humans and vehicular/generator activities.

      The study revealed that air pollution was mostly around the congested area of the town i.e Kasuwa. Efforts should be made to reduce air pollution at Kasuwa inrespect of CO concentration, since the amount has exceeded the set standard by FEPA (1991).

      Table 2: Average pollutant values of particulate matter (µg/m3) for the three locations.

      Location

      Days Kasuwa Kawo Sabo Average

      Monday	63.5	63.8	52.5	59.9
      Wednesday	64.1	61.0	54.3	59.8
      Friday	68.1	60.1	60.1	62.7

      Average 65.2 61.6 55.6

      Table 3: Average pollutant values of noise (ppm) for the three locations

      Days	Location Kasuwa	Kawo	Sabo	Average
      Monday	65.5	79.9	51	64.5
      Wednesday	66.5	69.0	71.8	69.1
      Friday	65.6	68.3	62.1	65.3
      Average	65.9	71.4	61.6

      Table 4: Average pollutant values of NO2 (ppm) for the three locations

      Location

      Days Kasuwa Kawo Sabo Average

      Monday	0.04	0.03	0.02	0.03
      Wednesday	0.04	0.04	0.02	0.03
      Friday	0.04	0.03	0.04	0.04
      Average	0.04	0.03	0.02

      Table 5: Average pollutant values of CO (ppm) for the three locations

      Location

      Days Kasuwa Kawo Sabo Average

      Monday	22.5	18.8	14.3	18.5
      Wednesday	22.8	20.1	15.5	19.52
      Friday	22.8	20.5	15.4	19.6

      Average 22.7 196.8 15.1

      Table 6: Average pollutant values of SO2 (ppm) for the three

      locations

      Location

      Days Kasuwa Kawo Sabo Average Monday 0.006 0.006 0.004 0.005

      Wednesday 0.008 0.006 0.005 0.005

      Friday 0.007 0.006 0.004 0.005

      Average 0.007 0.006 0.004

4. CONCLUSION

Air pollution was evaluated in three different parts of kaduna town, kaduna state in Nigeria, namely; Kasuwa (Kaduna main market), Kawo (Motor-park) and Sabo which are among the highly congested places in kaduna interms of automobile activities. The monitoring was done with different monitors for the three categories of the air pollutants due to automobile emission. The monitoring done during peak hours of congestion 8 hours a day and three days a week for a month. After the analysis of the results the following conclusion were made:

1. Kaduna town in kaduna state of Nigeria, had a maximum concentration of noise of 71.4db which is almost the maximum allowable value as prescribed by FEPA for 8 hourly durations a day. Since the noise level has almost reached its limiting value, it implies that the populace of kaduna may suffer from the following if the noise level is not checked; damage to the ear drum and the ossicles, headache reduction in property value, interference with communication when background noise louder than the speaking voice, high blood pressure, nervousness and lack of concentration, high blood pressure flow to the brain and muscles, a reduction in the flow of gastric juice and diminished motility of the digestive system. Noise can also increase the cholesterol level in the blood and interfere with sugar metabolism leading to peptic ulcer, diabetes and high blood pressure.

2. Kaduna has already reached the limiting value of NO2 concentration as prescribed by FEPA. This implies that there will be increase in the symptoms of bronchitis in asthmatic children and also reduction in lung function growth as shown by epidemiological studies. NO2 is also a greenhouse gas which has the potential to contribute to global warming. The warming might be enough to turn now temperate zones in to deserts. NO2 can also cause Conjunctivitis.

3. The CO concentration of 22ppm in Kaduna has exceeded the maximum value of 20ppm as stated by FEPA. The high concentration of CO emission may imply that the CO may tie with hemoglobin in the blood to a sufficient amount to put added stress on those suffering from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. CO is also a grenhouse gas which also has a potential to contribute to global warming. This CO also contribute to heart disease in that the COHb blocks the transportation of O2 in the blood stream and those with heart disease need high O2 supply. Also pregnant women when exposed to high level of CO during pregnancy may be likely to put to bed a child with low weight and a delay in postnatal development.

4. The safest day to move around Kaduna is Wednesday which also has the lowest emission of the pollutants.

   V. RECOMMENDATIONS

   Based on the results of this research, the following recommendations are given thus:

   1. The land area should be planned properly in such a way that certain areas should be reserved for noise production activities. The entry of certain vehicles to some areas should be banned while much space be provided between buildings and road. This will help the noise produced by various sources to be spread through a wider space before reaching the buildings.

   2. Vehicles should be fitted measuring instruments that could measure the amount of pollutants and such vehicles should be checked at regular intervals. This will help the regulatory bodies to identify the automobiles that could produce much pollutant that the atmosphere can absorbed, so that they can be taken off the road.

   3. Vehicles should be fitted with afterburner that can convert the carbon (II) oxide into carbon (IV) oxide which can relatively be absorbed by the plants in the surroundings thereby reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted.

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