Exhaust Emission Assessment of Haulage Trucks at Onne Port, Nigeria

Haulage trucks are among the primary causes of air pollution in urban areas. The effect of air pollution caused by transportation, especially freight transportation, on public health is a major concern globally. In this study, emissions of haulage trucks operating at Onne Port, Rivers State in Nigeria were assessed to understand their contribution to local air pollution and environmental impact. Real-time measurements of air pollutants were taken using a portable Testo 350 Analyzer and a portable IGRESS Intelligent Detector from seventy (70) haulage trucks at Onne Port grouped according to production years, region of origin, and truck length, and the data obtained were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standards. The results revealed that the trucks’ emissions exceeded WHO limits for six criteria pollutants, including NO2, SO2, CO, PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, which are associated with adverse health effects such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Other notable findings included higher concentrations of NO2 at 35.48 ppm and PM2.5 at 300.73 µg/m3 from trucks produced between 2011 and 2021, while older trucks exhibited increased emissions of SO2 at 31.16 ppm, CO at 775.87 ppm, PM1 at 216.75 µg/m3, and PM10 at 341.75 µg/m3. There were no significant variations in pollutant emission concentrations observed within the four categories across different production years. Trucks manufactured in Asia consistently emitted lower pollutant concentrations compared with those from other regions, suggesting the influence of varying emission standards. Interestingly, truck length did not significantly impact emission levels. These findings underscore the urgency of addressing the air quality issues associated with haulage trucks in the region, highlighting the need for stringent emissions control measures.