Human Health Implications of Vehicular Indoor Air Pollution for Commuters in Selected Road Routes in Port Harcourt Metropolis

This study was carried out to assess the human health implications of poor vehicular indoor air quality in selected road routes in Port Harcourt Metropolis. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. Primary data were collected from questionnaire responses from commuters (drivers) who ply the selected road routes. Secondary data was also obtained from materials which have been previously documented and that relates to the study. Such documents include related research reports in the field of study from journals, textbooks and magazines. Results from questionnaire analysis revealed that vehicular indoor air pollution had significant effect on health status of the commuters. Questionnaire responses revealed that 42.7% of the total respondents were exposed to vehicular indoor air pollutants for 1-5 hours daily, 46.8% of the total respondents were exposed to vehicular indoor air pollutants for 6-10 hours daily while 10.5% of the total respondents were exposed to vehicular air pollutants for a duration of above 10 hours daily. The questionnaire responses also revealed that 74.9% of the total respondents reported cases of cough and shortness of breath while 25.1% of the total respondents did not report cases of cough and shortness of breath. The results also revealed that 35.1% of the total respondents suffered respiratory tract infections, 30.4% suffered stress disorders, 22.2% suffered heart ailments while 12.3% of the total respondents suffered pneumonia. The study recommends regular and periodic servicing of the vehicles plying the selected road routes.