Mathematical-model Analysis of the Potential Exposure to Lead, Zinc and Iron Emissions from Consumption of Premium Motor Spirit in Nigeria

Abstract

Environmental pollution has been on the increase due to emission from vehicles using fossil fuels. This research investigated the exposure of air, soil and water bodies to trace metal emissions: Pb, Zn and Fe, as a result of the consumption of premium motor spirit (PMS) in Nigeria. The exposure of air, soil, and water bodies to these emissions also lead to exposure of humans, food and animals to the emissions. This was done to estimate the emission rates, emission rate per capita, and emission rates per land areas (or land distribution). The results showed that: the annual emission rates ranged between 4.66 kg/y for Pb in 2012 in Jigawa State and 5.050∙10³ kg/y for Fe in 2015 in Lagos State; the emission rates per capita ranged between 0.52∙10⁻⁶ kg/(y∙person) for Pb in 2012 in Kwara State and 2.33∙10⁻³ kg/(y∙person) and this was recorded in Lagos State in the year 2015; while the rate per land area ranged between 0.093∙10⁻³ kg/(y∙km²) for Pb in 2012 in Taraba State and 1.38 kg/(y∙km²) for Fe in 2015 in Lagos State. Results showed that residents of Lagos are at the highest risk of trace metal poisoning because they had the highest emission rates per capita, followed by Abuja, Osun, and Ogun. The states at the lowest risk are Yobe and Taraba, with Yobe as the lowest. It is recommended that regulations concerning the trace metal contents of fuels imported and distributed in Nigeria should be created and implemented to curb these risks.