Ambient Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide Concentrations and Residents’ Perception of Carbon Emission Sources in Selected Local Government Areas of Lagos State, Nigeria

                @article{CRSIJ26000376,
                  author = {Buhari Mohammed , Adiama B. Y, Olaniyi O. A, Sakariyawu O. A},
                  title = {Ambient Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide Concentrations and Residents’ Perception of Carbon Emission Sources in Selected Local Government Areas of  Lagos State, Nigeria},
                  journal = {Cosmo Research and Science International Journal},
                  year = {2026},
                  volume = {2},
                  number = {2},
                  pages = {267-274},
                  issn = {3108-1584},
                  url = {https://cosmorsij.com/published/CRSIJ26000376.pdf},
                  abstract = {This study assessed ambient carbon dioxide (CO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations and residents’ perception of the sources of carbon emissions in four selected Local Government Areas (Oshodi-Isolo, Ikeja, Apapa and Alimosho) of Lagos State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytical design was adopted, combining environmental monitoring with a structured questionnaire survey administered to 400 residents selected through multistage sampling. CO₂ and CO concentrations were measured at four locations during morning, afternoon and evening periods over a 30-day monitoring period using portable gas monitoring equipment, while residents’ perceptions of seven potential emission sources were assessed on a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS version 24.0. Results showed that Location B recorded the highest overall mean CO₂ concentration (649.30 ± 53.21 ppm) while Location D recorded the highest overall mean CO concentration (7.00 ± 1.15 ppm); the overall means across all locations were 593.33 ± 60.14 ppm for CO₂ and 5.98 ± 1.23 ppm for CO. Concentrations of both pollutants varied significantly across the periods of the day, peaking in the evening (CO₂: F = 19.23, p < 0.001; CO: F = 84.51, p < 0.001), yet all 360 recorded readings for each pollutant remained below the WHO 8-hour guideline values (1,000 ppm for CO₂ and 9 ppm for CO). Residents perceived vehicular emissions from traffic as the leading source of carbon emissions (mean = 4.18 ± 0.91), followed by generator fumes from households (3.96 ± 1.05), industrial emissions (3.68 ± 1.15) and burning of waste/refuse (3.53 ± 1.24), giving a grand mean perception score of 3.57 ± 0.34. Perception scores differed significantly across the four locations (F = 4.82, p = 0.003), with the highest score recorded in Location B, the same location with the highest CO₂ concentration. The study concludes that although measured pollutant concentrations complied with WHO guidelines, spatial and temporal variability was evident and closely mirrored by residents’ perception patterns, particularly around vehicular and generator-related emissions. Continuous environmental monitoring and targeted emission-reduction interventions, especially around traffic and household generator use, are recommended.},
                  keywords = {Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ambient air quality, residents’ perception, carbon emission sources, Lagos, Nigeria},
                  month = {September}
        }