Landuse Characteristics and Environmental Health Impact of Petrol Filling Stations in Students’ Residential Areas of LAUTECH, Nigeria

Abstract

This study, against the background of informing policy direction, evaluates the landuse characteristics and environmental health impact of Petrol Filling Station (PFSs) in the students’ residential areas of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso. Nigeria. 14 PFSs are identified in the five students’ residential areas, out of which 7 (50%) were randomly sampled. Further a ring of 30 meters radius was delineated around the selected PFSs for landuse inventory, while 210 questionnaires were randomly administered to an adult representative in the delineated rings. The concentration level of air pollutants from the PFSs were determined at pump, 30 meters and 60 meters for the determination of distance decay – if any. Environmental Health Impact Index was developed to appraise the impact of the PFSs. 80.3% of the areas around PFSs in the study area are residential landuses – occupied by students, while none of the PFSs adhere to Urban Planning guidelines in the observation of setback. The concentration level of air pollutants from PFSs is low, and a distance decay is observed. There is currently a low environmental health impact of PFSs, and the prevalent impacts, among others, are Eye irritation (39.29%) and Nausea (14.73%) etc. The study recommends buffering of PFSs and an inclusively-driven development control.