TITLE:
Out-Door Air Pollution Levels in Vehicular-Traffic Junctions in Nsukka Metropolis, Enugu Metropolis and Awgu Semi-Urban Area in Enugu State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Okeke Onyeka, Okeke Cecilia Ifeyinwa, Ezeh Ernest, Ikusika Bamidele Adunola, Nwigwe Juliet Onyinye
KEYWORDS:
Air Pollution, Vehicular Traffic Junctions, PM2.5, Carbon II Oxide, Sulphur IV Oxide, Nitrogen IV Oxide and Ozone
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Air Pollution,
Vol.9 No.4,
December
14,
2020
ABSTRACT: Studies were carried out to investigate the outdoor air pollution levels
in vehicular traffic junctions in the major cities of Nsukka, Enugu and
semi-urban area of Awgu all in Enugu State, Nigeria using standard analytical
procedures. PM2.5 was collected using Envirotech air sampler, APM
550 and analyzed gravimetrically. Other determined air pollutant gases such as
SO2, NO2, O3 and CO were analyzed using
colorimetric techniques. The mean hourly traffic density in the vehicular
traffic junctions in Nsukka metropolis, Enugu metropolis and Awgu were 2015, 2873 and 587
respectively. The mean range of values of PM2.5, NO2, SO2,
O3 and CO in vehicular traffic junctions within the investigated
environments were 1.67 - 12.16 μg/m3, 3.72 - 23.83 μg/m3, 2.96 -
30.09 μg/m3, 5.45 - 66.54 μg/m3 and 1.18 - 15.17 ppm
respectively. The mean levels of the determined air pollutants in the air
around vehicular traffic junctions in Nsukka metropolis, Enugu metropolis and
Awgu semi-urban area differed significantly. The mean levels of PM2.5,
and CO in the air around vehicular traffic junctions in Enugu metropolis and CO
in the air around traffic junctions in Nsukka metropolis were above the
recommended permissible limits. Traffic density was therefore seen as the
single most important factor contributing to the varying air pollution levels
observed in the investigated environments.