Health and Environmental Effects of Vehicular Traffic Emission in Yenagoa City Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Elenwo E.I.

Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of social Science University of Port Harcourt,P.M.B.5323, Choba , Rivers State, Nigeria.

Accepted November 12, 2018

The study was conducted in Yenagoa city to examine the health and environmental effects of vehicular traffic emission in the city. The study adopted experimental and survey research method. Measurements were done for air quality parameters of interest which are PM₁,PM_2.5,PM₇, PM₁₀, TSP, NO₂, SO₂ and CO. Hospital records from 2015-2018 of ailments associated with air pollution were used to identify the impact of air pollution on the health of inhabitants. Anova was used to test the hypothesis of the study. The findings of the study showed that CO was the most prevalent pollutant in the study area, and that pollutant concentration varies with time and location. It was also found that traffic volume has a correlation with pollutant concentration, CO as a pollutant amongst others had high significant relationship with traffic count in Yenagoa City. Study revealed that vehicular traffic pollution has effects on the health of the people, having a high amount of persons who have suffered from different air pollutant based ailments in the area, with URTI as the ailment with the highest respondents all through the four year. Study recommends regular vehicular checks on emission limits to be enforced and subsequent withdrawal of such high emission vehicles off the road to stem the pollution of the environment. The implementation of such traffic rule will greatly rid of the environment of noxious pollutants from automobiles and engender a pollution free environment.

Key words: Health, Environmental, Effects, Vehicular, Emissions, Yenagoa.

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