Implications of Lack of Maintenance of motorcycles on Ambient Air Quality

Abstract

This paper reported the results of the investigation of motorcycle emissions in selected roads in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Five roads: Ijaye, Kuto, M.K.O. Abiola way, Olabisi Onabanjo, and Olorunsogo roads were considered with five different motorcycle types (Bajaj, Day Long, Frajend, Hajue Suzuki and Honda) on each road. Motorcycles were parked 8.0m away from the main road in downwind direction. The motorcycle exhaust emissions monitored were CO2, O2, CO, and HC emissions. The total mean concentration of measured CO2 emission from motorcycle exhaust on all the roads, ranged between 18800ppm for Frajend and 37400ppm for Bajaj, while O2 ranged between 139200ppm for Honda and 171800ppm for Frajend, also CO ranged between 14500ppm for Hajue Suzuki and 30700ppm for Bajaj, and HC ranged between 674ppm for Honda and 3289ppm for Day Long. It could be noted that the air pollutants are high for almost every type of the motorcycles, and significantly higher than the National standards. This implies that these motorcycles, which are mostly used for commercial purposes are poorly maintained. This study therefore concluded that motorcycle pollution in Abeokuta is significant with possible serious environmental and health consequences.