Assessment of Carbon (II) Oxide and Sulphur (IV) Oxide Emissions at Some Selected Traffic Areas in Jos Metropolis, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

The concentration levels of Carbon (II) oxide (CO) and Sulphur (IV) oxide (SO₂) were determined using ALTAIR 5X Multigas Detector at seven strategic points in Jos metropolis noted for high traffic activities. This includes Polo roundabout, Hill Station Junction, Old Airport Junction, Zololo Junction-Bauchi road, University of Jos Permanent Site Gate, Faringada Market Road and ECWA Staff Secondary School (control) for a period of one month during morning rush hour (7:30am-8:30am) and off-peak hour (11:40am-12:40pm). For the morning rush hour period, the measured CO and SO₂ concentration level were 32.120ppm and 0.130ppm respectively while measured concentration levels of CO and SO₂ for the off-peak hour were 12.090ppm and 0.057ppm respectively. Student t-test statistics comparison of difference in mean in CO and SO₂ levels in the different periods of the day between the sites revealed that they were significant (p<0.05). The result revealed that the emission levels of CO and SO₂ in Jos metropolis especially during the morning rush hour (7:30am- 8:30am) was higher than the Nigerian Ambient Air Quality Standards accepted safe limits of 10 ppm for atmospheric CO and 0.01 ppm for SO₂. Thus, most of the people doing businesses, commuting along these routes and/or living around these traffic areas are at high risk of inhaling these gaseous pollutants. Environmental management that improves motor traffic flow and control which requires good city road network and creates reliable and efficient mass transport system to reduce the number of vehicles on these spots would greatly ameliorate the emissions and there deleterious effects.