INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTS OF VEHICLE EMISSIONS ON HUMAN HEALTH IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

¹Durotoluwa A. O and ²Mogaji, K. O.

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State Nigeria

²Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State Nigeria*

E-mail: mogajikehinde@yahoo.com

Abstract

The increasing volume of vehicular traffic in Nigeria contributes immensely to urban air pollution with its attendant degradation of air quality arising from it. Vehicular emissions generally include oxides of nitrogen, sulphur, carbon hydrocarbon, mercury and leads. The effects of vehicular emissions on human health, vegetation and environments were investigated in three locations of Ondo state (Ondo Town, Akure and Ikare) while, a fourth location (Okeagbe) was used as a control since it has low levels of pollution. The investigation was carried out with the use of questionnaires and laboratory experiments. Experiments were conducted on rainwater collected from each location to determine the level of acidity, pH and presence of dissolved substances such as NO₃, SO₄ and CO₂ in them. Physical effects on vegetation, buildings and structures were also observed. The results obtained from questionnaires show that on the average, 23 %, 18 %, 29 %, 5 % and 24 % were respectively affected by sleeplessness, running nose, heavy eyes, asthmatic attack and headache. The location (distance from the type of fuel, availability of industries, and concentration of traffic) determine the impacts of these emissions on the ecosystem.