User:OMOLLO AUSTINE

Researcher OMOLLO AUSTINE FROM KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITYAIR POLLUTION AND NOISE POLLUTION RESEARCH AT THE ENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

ABSTRACT

Airports bring many benefits among them promoting development around the globe, but airport operations can have a significant impact on those working or living nearby. Airport activities affect the environment in several ways, contributing to increased noise and emissions, and degrading air quality. Concern over the effects upon Noise and ambient air quality of airport and aircraft-related emissions, both inside and outside airport boundaries, have been expressed in recent years. The air pollution problem inside Airport has different sources, including Aircraft emission, surface traffic activity and the transportation of air pollutants from the surrounding areas and activities. The aim of this study was to determine levels of concentration of air pollutants at different regions inside the Entebbe international Airport. Different air pollutants were measured including Particulate matter, CO2, CO, SO2, H2S, O3 and VOCs. At the same time, Noise level was also determined, this was with several motives, firstly aviation is predicted to grow significantly, secondly emissions at altitude however, are thought to have greater effects on climate change than those at ground level and finally was due to limited thesis related to the aircraft-environmental disturbance despite being a 24 hour public exposed zone. The determination of all the air pollutants and noise pollution was done and results obtained onsite by the use of Aeroqual S500 (CO2, CO, SO2, H2S, O3 and VOCs), Particulate Matter Hand Held Sensor (PM2.5 and PM10) and Noise meter GA112 Sound level meter for determining Sound pollution. The samples were taken twice a week for two weeks from four different major sites (Airstrip, Terminal, CAA Head office and Upper hill) around the Airport with each site given a day (8:00am-4:00pm). Most of the Air pollutants were low as compared to the WHO standards, there was also no any trace of SO2 and Ozone was only obtained at the Upper Hill of the Airport with much concentrations in the morning. In general, most Air pollutant concentration levels were much experienced by morning hours then reduce by mid-morning then increase by midday and decline by early afternoon hours then finally increase by evenings onwards, Terminal exhibited much pollution than any other site and the Upper Hill showed the least pollution. Midday Noise pollution was much and exceeding the WHO Aviation day-time noise standards. Clarification of all the findings and pollution deviations depended on various factors mostly Surface traffic and ongoing constructions aimed at expansion of the Entebbe Airport which also contributed to increase in pollution concentrations, therefore this means that there is a gap which calls for further research to ascertain the actual pollution related to Aviation Industry.