To Physics Journal

Effect of Pollution due to Vehicular Emission around T-Junctions in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Osang, J. E., Isreal-Cookey C., Omubo Pepple, V. B., Briggs-Kamara, M., Horsfall, O. I.

This research is investigating pollution due to vehicular emission within congested T-junctions in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The five major T-junctions, statistically selected for this study includes: Rumuola, Waterlines, Garrison, LNG and Rumuokoro junction. The parameter measures each sampling location with six different distances of 5m away from mid-point of the T-junction on the stated following variables of interest: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), Nitrogen Oxides (NO₂),  Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂), Particulate Matter (PM), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and the Sound level (SL). The gas analyzers was determined with a digital gas instrument called Aeroqual Series 500. The gas instrument was set to stabilize, analyse the environment and read after 3 minutes at a particular distance.  For each location, the reading was taken in the morning (7.00am-10am), afternoon (1.00pm-4pm) and night (6.00pm-9.00pm) respectively for MJ, 5m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 25m and 30m away from the T-junction. This enable the determination of the value of pollutant gas concentration for each day base on average. Analyses of gases concentration over time was established via quantitative, time plots, least square regression model and analysis of variance with the aid of statistical software (E-View, Minitab, SPSS and Excel). Trend analysis of the variable of interest is determined over time with the respective equations and forecast values.  The study shows that, the emission concentration for CO, NO₂, SO₂, CO₂ VOC, PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and Sound level was found to be above the WHO limit, highest at Romuokoro, followed by Garrism, Rumuola and water lines junctions in Port Harcourt, where the intersections and traffic count is higher. It was also observed that the LNG junction recorded the least emission among all the junctions. Analysis of the forecast values was obtained for the average monthly period of two years (2020 and 2021). The study concludes that gases pollutant concentration diffusivity observed is related to vehicular movement, which indeed is significant with possible severe health consequences within the study area. It is therefore recommended that all business men and women should operate some meters away from all junctions. The road network within the research axis should be improved by constructing more routes to ease the traffic within the study area.