Impact of Vehicular Carbon Emission on Ambient Air Quality in Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

Movement of vehicles from one point to another is crucial to the enhancement of economic development of any society, and it leads to air pollution resulting from carbon emission. While there are substantial studies that had investigated this phenomenon, majority of it are conducted in more developed countries and some developing countries including Nigeria. However, there is limited study on this subject in the north-central, Nigeria, which has experienced tremendous influx of different category of vehicles over the last one decade. Thus, in order to address this gap, the main objective of this paper is to assess the influence of vehicular carbon emission on ambient air quality in Minna town, with a view to ascertaining the level of carbon emission and the variation of various emissions from different vehicular classes. For data collection, MSA Multi-Gas Detector, Smoke Meter and Handheld Gas Monitor were used to measure and determine the level of carbon emission around some roundabouts. Descriptive analysis and one sample T test were conducted. The findings of the study shows that average carbon emission around Tunga roundabout, Mobil roundabout, Kpakungu and Obasanjo complex roundabout are 14.6ppm, 26.0ppm, 24.4ppm, and 20.8ppm respectively. All of these values are above the limit set by USEPA and WHO, and therefore classify as “highly unhealthy” limits. The study also found a highly significant variation in carbon emission around the roundabouts and various types of vehicle. The study recommends enforcement of relevant regulations on pollution control as it relates to vehicular carbon emission.