Environmental Health Implications of Motorcycles Emitted Gases in a Metropolitan Nigeria

A study to assess the various gases emitted by motorcycles in a metropolitan State, Uyo, in Nigeria was carried out. Two hundred commercial motorcycles the mostly available means of transport were used for the study drawn from seven motorcycle parks. The gases examined were nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, chlorine, hydrogen sulphide and ammonia. The overall collection results per motorcycle parks showed the following gases concentrations: Motor Park –A; NO2; 12.7ppm, SO2; 13ppm, CO; 1337ppm, H2S; 20.2ppm, NH4; 97ppm, Cl2; 20.3ppm, HCN; 80ppm. Motorcycle Park B-NO2; 12.1ppm, SO2, 11ppm, CO; 1508ppm, H2S; 20.4ppm, NH4; 116ppm, Cl2; 19.6ppm, HCN; 71ppm. Motorcycle: Park-C NO2; 11.7ppm, SO2; 8.7ppm, CO; 1084ppm, H2S; 14.1ppm, NH4; 48ppm, Cl2; 18.6ppm, HCN; 65ppm. Motorcycle Park D: NO2; 5.1ppm, SO2; 4.7ppm, CO; 550ppm, H2S; 18.4ppm, NH4; 48ppm, Cl2; 25.9ppm, CO; 550ppm, H2S; 18.4ppm, NH4; 48ppm, Cl2; 25.9ppm, HCN; 101ppm. Motorcycle Park E:NO2; 5.4ppm, CO; 596ppm, H2S; 4.9ppm, NH4; 48ppm, Cl2; 79ppm, HCN; 101pm. Motor Park F: NO2; 51ppm, SO2; 5.4ppm, CO; 596ppm, H2S; 4.9ppm, NH4; 48ppm, Cl2; 7.3ppm, HCN; 40ppm. Motorcycle Park G: NO2; 11.9ppm, SO2; 10.5ppm, CO; 1616ppm, H2S; 18.4ppm, NH4; 185ppm, Cl2; 25.9ppm; HCN; 101ppm. The most harmful gas; carbon monoxide was significantly high in all the parks and the general results showed an alarming degree of polluted gases emission.