TITLE:
Assessment of Some Gaseous Emissions in Traffic Areas in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Joseph A. Ameh, Terrumun A. Tor-Anyiin, Ishaq S. Eneji
KEYWORDS:
Carbon (II) Oxide, Nitrogen (IV) Oxide; Sulphur (IV) Oxide, Environmental Pollution, Health Effects
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Air Pollution,
Vol.4 No.4,
November
19,
2015
ABSTRACT: The level of gaseous emissions (CO, NO2 and SO2) at four strategic places in Makurdi metropolitan area of
Benue State was determined using handheld TO Crowcon Gasman gas meters for a
period of one month, during peak periods of traffic flow at the selected
locations within the city. The level of emission recorded
at the major road junctions in Makurdi showed CO with highest
concentration (0.57 - 10.2 ppm), followed by NO2 (0.01 - 0.11 ppm) and
SO2 (0.00 - 0.1 ppm) in all the sampled sites. This showed a
concentration pattern of SS1 > SS2 > SS3 > SS4 in all the sampling
stations. The results established that
the emission levels in metropolis especially in the afternoon were slightly
higher than the Nigerian air quality standard accepted safe limits of 10 ppm
for atmospheric CO, 0.04 - 0.06 ppm for NO2 and 0.1 ppm for SO2,
respectively. These will have adverse health effects and may contribute to
climate change, in the long term, if unmitigated.