Measurement of Vehicular Emission in Karu Metropolis, North Central Nigeria

The level of gaseous emissions (CO, NO2, SO2, H2S, and PM) was measured at four selected locations (Masaka, Ado, Aso and Mararaba Sharp-Corner) in Karu metropolitan area of Nasarawa State using handheld croncon gasman gas meter/detector and particulate monitor from morning to evening for 30minutes and readings were recorded for time zero (0) and then after each 2 minutes interval at each location for a period of three days. The level of emission recorded at the major road junctions are within the range of 20-30PPM, 5-6PPM, 0.1-0.3PP, 0.0-0.1PPM for PM, CO, NO2, SO2 and H2S in that order. This showed a concentration pattern for all the four sampling sites. The result established that the emissions levels of CO and PM in the metropolis especially morning and evening at Masaka and Mararaba sharp-Corner were higher than the permissive Nigeria air quality standard of 10ppm for atmospheric CO, 006ppm for NO2, 0.1 for SO2, 0.1 for H2S and 006ugm-3 for PM. These will have adverse health effect and may contribute to climatic change in the long term if unmitigated. To this effect, it is recommended that vehicle owners should stop using poor quality petrol and more roads should be constructed within the metropolis