Background: Industrialization and urbanization, while associated with increased productivity, are also potential causes of increased air pollution. Urban air quality has the potential to affect the health and wellbeing of residents of urban areas.
Objectives: The present study investigated the levels of air pollutants around residential areas and transport sector locations (TSLs) in Lagos, Nigeria. Residential areas were defined as areas around inner streets and living quarters, while TSLs included busy roads, dual carriage roads, bus stops and major car parks in the Yaba Local Council Development Area of Lagos Mainland, Lagos, Nigeria.
Methods: Air quality parameters were assessed in situ using calibrated hand-held devices at selected residential and TSLs. Each sampling location was geo-referenced and concentrations of the various parameters were used to plot distribution maps.
Results: The findings from the monitoring exercise showed that levels of the measured air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), noise, temperature and humidity were within the ranges of 1.00 - 6.0 5.97 ppm, 43.345.2 - 127.2159.7 μg/m3, 20.3 23.25 - 69.058.16 μg/m3, 0.0 0 - 0.20.17 ppm, 47.7 50 - 65 70.1 dB, 26.2227.2 - 35.536.7°C and 57.0157.6 - 91.8492.3%, respectively, around residential areas. Values of the measured air pollutants at the TSLs ranged as follows: 2.011.0 - 5.397.7 ppm, 103.3360.7 - 179.77404.0 μg/m3, 50.2832.3 - 91.01184.0 μg/m3, 0.00 - 0.40 ppm, 64.2153.1 - 71.1376.3 dB, 27.1826.2 -27.9332.6°C and 60.3660.0 - 75.0178.0%, respectively. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxide (NO2) were below detection limits in both sampling locations while volatile organic carbons (VOCs) ranged from 0.00 - 0.10 ppm in the TSLs.
Discussion: Most assessed air quality parameters were significantly higher around bus stops (P < 0.05), except for CO and humidity. In addition, PM10 and PM2.5 were much higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The results indicated that the quality of air (particulate matter) in the study area was poor, especially in the TSLs.
Conclusions: The Federal Ministry of Environment, through its relevant agencies, must create policies to address urban air pollution, taking into consideration long term exposures and people that are most vulnerable within the population.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Keywords: fossil fuel; public health; road traffic; urban air quality; vehicular exhaust.