Implications of portable gasoline electricity generators on residential indoor air quality

Abstract

Introduction: Toxic gases emitted from electricity generating plants used for energy production process diffuse in the environment thereby causing environmental air pollution. The effect of the installation and usage of portable gasoline electricity generating plants at the balcony of different households on the indoor air quality was assessed in this study.

Materials and methods: The data collected were the air quality chemical composition variables which include carbon-dioxide, formaldehyde, total volatile organic compounds, coarse (PM10), and fine (PM2.5) particulate matters at the indoor of the households in Abeokuta metropolis, Ogun state, Nigeria. Physical measurement techniques used for the data collection was through the instrumentation design of two air quality testers, models WP6910 and ZN-202S. The indoor air quality assessment followed the generator nighttime usage routine between the hours of 6:30 – 10:00 pm at a measurement height of 1.3 m and the center in the living rooms of the residences assessed.

Results: The analysis of the data obtained showed that the mean values for each of the air quality parameters obtained during generator usages were significantly higher when compared to the indoor air quality parameters before generator usages at p<0.05. The air pollutant levels before and during generator usages were within the established safe standard air quality limit by the world health organization.

Conclusion: However, for the installation of a portable electricity generator at the residents’ balcony, it is recommended that the generators should be adapted with an emission reduction device for the exhaust composition amelioration to avoid possible accumulation effect over time.