Modelling of risk of health burden based on residents’ exposure near trafficked intersection

Introduction

Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is a serious public health risk in today's cities, causing premature death and a wide range of global diseases such as respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders. The study assessed the impacts of vehicle emissions exposure on the risk of health burden for residents near major urban intersections in Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods

Using portable gas detectors, air pollutants emitted from vehicles as well as traffic flow, vehicle fleet composition and speeds were measured as they traversed selected segments of the route. 400 structured questionnaires were also administered to roadside vendors, and other workers near the intersection of emission monitoring to solicit their perception of the implications of exposure to emissions on their health. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

The concentration level of the air pollutants is highest between 8 and 9 am morning peak periods and 4–7 pm evening peak but lowest between 12–1 pm afternoon off-peak. The questionnaire results also revealed that 74% of the sampled respondents around the corridor suffered from chest pain, frequent cough, nose running, sneezing, eye irritation, sore throat, difficulty breathing, body weakness, fatigue, eye irritationloss of appetiteheadache, and fast breathing, of which 6% of children and 54% of women were the most susceptible. The logistic regression model showed statistically significant respondents' proximity in distance to the road corridor, years spent at the corridor, daily work duration, perceived health symptoms and risk of health burden disease (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Therefore, exposure to traffic-related air pollution is a public health concern. Real-time emission monitoring and health impact assessment are important to comprehensively quantify the impact of air pollutants on the health of the public, especially near roadways in developing African cities.

File Name: CSIR-BRRI Website Publication.docx
File Size: 11.34 KB
File Type: application/msword
Hits: 168 Hits
Created Date: 08-21-2024
Last Updated Date: 08-21-2024

The Institute

Achievements

Divisions

Contact Us

Address:
P. O. Box UP40,
Kumasi, Ghana

Telephone:
+233244190056 / +233244190037
+233244190038 / +233322060064
Fax:
+233-032-206-0080
Email:
brriadmin@csir.brri.org            

FACEBOOK LOGO YOUTUBE LOGO INSTAGRAM LOGO LINKEDIN LOGO TWITTER X LOGO