Tricycles and Their Impacts on Air Pollution within Uyo urban South-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Globally, vehicular emissions contribute significant levels of contaminants into the air. Despite the contributions by tricycles to the contamination of the air, the contamination of air is mostly linked to vehicles. Hence, this work examined the contributions of tricycles to air pollution within Uyo Urban, Nigeria. Major tricycle parking bays at Akpandem and Itam Markets, Etuk Street Market, Udi Street by Ikot Ekpene Road, Ikpa Road by University of Uyo Gate, Urua Ekpa, Ekom Iman, and Shelter Afrique Junctions were designated for this research. Portable air quality monitors were used to quantify the concentrations of NO₂, SO₂, H₂S, CO, CO₂, and PM_2.5 at these locations. Results obtained showed the following mean concentrations 0.43±0.07 ppm, 0.55±0.09 ppm, 0.22±0.09 ppm, 7.25±2.37 ppm, 890.06± 300.26 ppm, and 208.72±250 µg/m³, respectively. The mean concentrations of NO₂, SO₂, CO, and PM_2.5 were higher than their recommended safe limits by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), while H₂S and CO₂ were within their safe limits. The air quality index (AQI) analysis revealed that, NO₂ and PM_2.5 belong to the hazardous class, SO₂, H₂S, CO, and CO₂ belong the class unhealthy for the sensitive class. Principal component analysis (PCA) established that, emissions from tricycles were the principal source of air contaminants determined at the studied locations. The outcome of the study confirmed that, green plants can reduce air contaminants. The study substantiated those tricycles can release significant levels of obnoxious substances into the air.