Potential impact of pollutant emitted by generator-powered telecommunication masts on air quality of Oja Oba in Akure metropolis

The main aim of this study is to simulate the concentrations of three major air pollutants, namely carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter of diameter less or equal to 10 μm (PM₁₀), commonly emitted from base station of telecommunication masts powered by a generator running on diesel and evaluated the simulated pollutants in terms of health risks they pose to people living at close proximity to the telecommunication masts. In this study, we engaged the AERMOD model to simulate the concentrations of pollutants emanating from the use of generators in powering telecommunication base stations around a major busy market place in Akure, Nigeria, a tropical location. The simulation of pollutants was carried out for both dry months (January, February, and March) and wet months (June, July, and August) of 2018. Results showed that CO has the 1-h highest simulated concentration of 1013.4 μg/m³, and it was found during wet seasons, while NOx has 1-h highest concentration of 78.8 μg/m³, and the corresponding value of PM₁₀ was 58.7 μg/m³. While highest concentrations of CO and NOx occurred during the wet season, PM₁₀ highest concentration occurred during the dry season. Measured concentrations of the pollutants also showed similar pattern; however, the measured concentrations are higher than their corresponding simulated values. This difference between measured and simulated is accounted for as background concentration from other sources of pollution. The risks posed to human health by these pollutants were evaluated using hazard quotient (HQ) against some air quality related such as asthma, aggravated asthma, eye irritation, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. CO posed greater human health risks in both wet and dry seasons having HQ greater unity, while PM₁₀ human health risk is noticeable during the dry season. NOx do not pose a human health risk due to very minor content of nitrogen compound emitted by the generators. It is has been demonstrated that the use of a generator to power electrical need of telecommunication base stations has a high impact on air quality within the vicinity of these stations. The hazard could be escalated where many base stations are co-located close public places. Renewable sources of energy could be used in place of generators in the base stations to reduce the impact on air quality and safeguard human health.