Abstract

Air pollution generated through combustion of fossil fuels presents difficult environmental challenge to societies as it could degrade the environment and affect human health and quality of life. Road transportation is a prominent pollutant contributor especially in urban areas. Smokes from exhausts of petroleum tankers generate harmful gases into the atmosphere. The paper is on the level of concentration of generated gases by petroleum products tankfarms along the main Apapa-Oshodi Expressway Lagos, Nigeria. It assesses the levels of noise, NO₂, CO and SO₂ around six (6) bus stops through direct field measurements over 6 months, lasting February and July 2010. The field data are correlated with existing regulatory standards of Federal Ministry of Environment with a view to identify the areas high concentration. The surrounding land uses are characterized to identify the source points. The results show that noise level is low in almost all the stations measured. NO₂ is nil within the axis. SO₂ is recorded at the bus stop sited around the foot of a bridge. High concentrations of CO are reported around bus stops proximate to the marketing depots and garages for imported fairly-used vehicles. The implications of the findings for sustainable environment are discussed in the conclusion.

Key words: Green house gases (GHGs), emissions, petroleum depots, tankers, Nigeria.