Assessment of Air Pollutant Concentration Levels in High and Low Traffic Density Areas in Urban City: A Case of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

What is it about?

This study assessed air pollutants concentration levels in junctions of urban and suburban cities considered to have high and low concentration of pollutants due to vehicular traffic congestions. This is with the aim of determining the pattern of air pollution, as well as the contributions of vehicular volumes and weather conditions (wind speed, humidity and temperature). It is vital to note that sufficient understanding of the characteristics of pollutants in each city is necessary for the efficient environmental control of air emissions in urban areas.

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Why is it important?

The study has demonstrated its importance by showing that there is a distinctive pattern of air pollutant emissions in the studied area, which is the urban areas and that, although traffic levels greatly influence the pollutants’ concentration, meteorological factors also had an impact. Also, pollutants emitted from vehicles advanced over the years, thereby threatening human health. Interestingly, forming, passing, implementing, and possibly enforcing current laws that provide environmental protection through efficient action towards environmental planning, as well as pollution prevention and control, will help to reduce air pollution from vehicles, which is in agreement with SDG, since the study has shown the extent of pollution caused by vehicular emissions, which poses a threat to people living and working in such areas in Port Harcourt city, Nigeria.

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