AIR QUALITY AND NOISE LEVEL ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED MARKETS IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The study seeks to evaluate the air quality and noise quality of three major markets within Benin City, Edo State. Uselu Market, New Benin Market and Oka Market were used as the sample locations for the course of the study. This study assessed pollutants concentration at the selected markets in Benin City metropolis. These markets were purposively selected after careful consideration of all major markets in the study area; the selected markets were considered to be more congested during the day as a result of open assess to road junctions coupled with a high density of vehicular movement, presence of offices, residential buildings, and human activities. Five air pollutants were monitored, namely: carbon dioxide (CO₂), TVOC, formaldehyde (HCHO), particulate matter (PM 2.5) and particulate matter (PM 10). Assessments were carried out within 4 hours per day using the adequate devices for collecting respective readings.

Results show that the highest level of CO concentration (0.293 - 0.387 ppm) was recorded at Alaba market and is less than the permissible limit of 35 ppm given by national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The highest range of CO₂ (533-1047 ppm) was recorded from New Benin market which is higher than the ambient standard of 314 ppm. The highest level of TVOC (0.092 ppm) was also recorded from New Benin market which is also lower than the permissible limit (0.100 ppm) of NAAQS. By mean weight analysis, the highest of particulate matter of PM 2.5 and PM 10 was recorded from New Benin market (81.72 μg/m³) and (127.32 μg/m³) respectively which is beyond the permissible limit for PM_2.5 but is far lower than the permissible limit (150 μg/m³) for PM₁₀ of NAAQS and WHO standards.

The study recommends that an adequate mechanism should be put in place by the government and respective environmental agencies to decongest tight spaces within market place and the roads of these near markets be decongested of traffic density so as to have a substantial reduction in vehicular emissions and improve the livability of the citizens.