Atmospheric Dispersion of Co and PM2.5 Vehicular Emissions in Urban Roads using Aermod: A Case Study of Argwings Kodhek Road, Kenya

This study assessed the dispersion of vehicular emissions [Carbon monoxide (CO) and Particulate Matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5)] through simulations using the AERMOD dispersion model to derive hourly, daily, monthly, and annual concentrations within a 500m buffer along Argwings Kodhek road in Hurlingham, Nairobi, Kenya. The simulation determined the extent to which pollutants dispersed from the emission source, through the atmosphere to the predetermined receptor points within the delineated buffer zone. Modelled CO concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 21.2 PPM hourly, 0.06 to 6 PPM daily, 0.02 to 2.49 PPM monthly, and 0.02 to 1.79 PPM annually. Further, modelling of CO2 quantified the concentrations as 24 to 2094PPM hourly, 6 to 593PPM daily, 2 to 246PPM daily, and 2 to 177PPM annually. The modelled result values indicated that whereas CO was within the recommended WHO guidelines on air quality limits, the maximum PM2.5 concentration levels were beyond allowable limits.