Ambient Air Quality Monitoring in Metropolitan City of Lagos, Nigeria

Kelechi Longinus Njoku,Anuoluwapo Omosileola Jolaoso,Modupe Olatunde Akinola,Tosin John Rumide,Adeola Alex Adesuyi

doi:10.4314/jasem.v20i1.21

Kelechi Longinus Njoku, Anuoluwapo Omosileola Jolaoso + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v20i1.21

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Abstract

Twenty one sampling locations were assessed for carbon monoxide (CO), carbondioxide (CO 2 ), oxygen (O 2 ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), nitrogen oxide (NO), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and noise level using air pollutants measurement methods approved by ASTM for each specific parameter. All equipments and meters were all properly pre-calibrated before each usage for quality assurance. Findings of the study showed that measured levels of noise (61.4 - 101.4 dBA), NO (0.0 - 3.0 ppm), NO 2 (0.0 - 3.0 ppm), CO (1.0 – 42.0 ppm) and SPM (0.14 – 4.82 ppm) in all sampling areas were quite high and above regulatory limits however there was no significant difference except in SPM (at all the sampling points), and noise, NO 2 and NO (only in major traffic intersection). Air quality index (AQI) indicates that the ambient air can be described as poor for SPM, varied from good to very poor for CO, while NO and NO 2 are very good except at major traffic intersection where they were both poor and very poor (D-E). The results suggest that strict and appropriate vehicle emission management, industrial air pollution control coupled with close burning management of wastes should be considered in the study area to reduce the risks associated with these pollutants.© JASEM Keywords : Air, pollutants, Air quality index, carbon-monoxide, sulphur-dioxide

Highlights

The atmosphere is the gaseous envelope that surrounds the earth and constitutes the transition between its surface and the vacuum of space (Bhatia, 2009)
Across all the zones the highest noise level was recorded at vehicular traffic intersections while the least was at the residential areas
There is great evidence linking air pollution with mortality and morbidity in the general population, damage to public health with adverse effects concentrated in urban areas both in developed and developing countries, broad range of adverse health effects affecting both the respiratory and the cardiovascular system which are observed in both short-term and long-term exposures (Brunekreef and Forsberg, 2005; WHO, 2009)

Summary

Introduction

The atmosphere is the gaseous envelope that surrounds the earth and constitutes the transition between its surface and the vacuum of space (Bhatia, 2009). The atmosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2) and is made up of many layers of air, in each one which is identified by their thermal characteristics or temperature changes, chemical composition, movement and density (Narayanan, 2009). Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter or biological materials that cause harm and discomfort to humans and other living organisms (Bhatia, 2009). Air pollutant can be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. They may be natural or man-made (USEPA, 2006; Narayanan, 2009). Sources of air pollution include traffic (vehicle exhaust), industrial sectors (from brick making to oil and gas production), power plants and generating sets, cooking and heating with solid fuels (e.g. coal, wood, crop waste), forest fires and open burning of municipal waste and agricultural residues (Akanni, 2010; Komolafe et al, 2014)

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