Gasoline Generators and their Effects on Air Quality of Some Selected Business Centers in Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State

Abstract

This study considered gasoline generators and their effects on air quality of some selected business centers in tertiary institutions in Rivers State. Air quality monitor was positioned 1.5m above the floor to determine the concentration levels of CO, CO2 and O2. The measurements were done on a daily for a period of three weeks. At FCE (T), Omoku, the mean concentration values of CO for Business and Institution’s generators were 109.2ppm and 62.3ppm; CO2 283.6ppm and 27.4ppm and O2 185.8% and 192.1% respectively. At IAUE, Port-Harcourt, CO for Business and Institution’s generators had mean concentration values of 144.7ppm and 89.6ppm; CO2 210.9 ppm and 188.8ppm, and for O2, 225.4% and 239.2% respectively. Similarly, for RSU, Port-Harcourt, the mean concentration of CO for Business and Institution’s generators were 144.8ppm and 84.5ppm; CO2 171.1ppm and 124.ppm; and for O2, 196.8% and 164.3%. respectively. CEAP, Port-Harcourt, CO had mean concentration values of 215.3ppm and light 92.2ppm, CO2 226.2ppm and 109.2ppm, whileO2 mean concentration values of 120.1% and 198.2% respectively. The concentration levels of CO, CO2 for business generators were much higher compared to when Institutions’ generators were used. The mean values of CO concentrations for the selected institutions for the period under study were higher than OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50ppm (55mg/m3), NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) of 35ppm (40 mg/m3) and ACGIH threshold limit value (TLV) of 25ppm (28.6mg/m3), while that of CO2 concentration levels were less than OSHA’s established permissible limit of 5000ppm, and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH) threshold limit value (TLV) of 25ppm. It was also observed that as the concentrations of CO and CO2 increase, the O2 levels also decrease. It is therefore, very important to state that tertiary institutions’ managements in Nigeria should consider the provision of regular power supply on

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