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Background.Nigeria has a growing spray painting industry, however, the burden of occupational health problems related to organic solvent exposure among spray painters in Nigeria is under-studied.Objectives.This study aimed to assess workshop characteristics and ambient concentration of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in spray painting workshops and to compare lung function status and total serum bile acid levels of spray painters and controls.Methods.A cross-sectional study design was employed to survey 120 spray painters and 120 controls (electronic technicians). A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographics characteristics of the respondents. Weight, height and lung function of respondents were measured. In addition, a checklist was used to survey the spray painting workshops. Total VOC levels were determined in 37 spray painting and 31 electronic workshops. Data were analyzed using Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and a p-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results.Windows were present in only 5 (13.5%) spray painting workshops and 23 (62%) workshops had a retractable tarpaulin at the entrance. Only 9 (24%) workshops had changing rooms, while fire extinguishers and first aid kits were not present in any of the surveyed workshops. A respirator with filter was sighted in only 1 (3%) workshop. The 8-hour time weighted average concentration of total VOCs in spray painting workshops was 13.4 ppm, which is above the national permissible exposure limits of 1.9 ppm. Forced vital capacity (FVC) percent predicted was significantly lower in spray painters (93.9 ±10.8%) than controls (96.7± 8.2%) (t = −2.326, df=238 p< 0.001). In addition, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) percent predicted was lower in spray painters (94.6±12.2%) than controls (100.3±9.1%) (t=−4.058, df=238, p=0.002). FEV1/FVC% was significantly lower among spray painters (85.48±8.70%) compared with controls (87.88±6.22%) (t=−2.861 df=238, p= 0.005). Total serum bile acids was significantly elevated in painters (8.71±3.39 mmol/l) compared to controls (4.67 ±2.15 mmol/l) (t=10.358, df=213, p<0.05).Conclusions.Spray painters in the present study conduct their activities in hazardous work settings. More needs to be done concerning workplace regulation and enforcements to ensure that spray painters comply with minimum standards of occupational safety, workplace hygiene and sanitation.Patient Consent.ObtainedEthics Approval.Ethical approval was granted by the Health Research and Ethics Committee of the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University.

The contribution of SO 2 emissions from the consumption of petroleum products to Nigerian airshed has been of great concern over the years because of the resulting adverse environmental and health effects. It is in the light of this that air emissions of SO 2 from gasoline and diesel consumed in the Southwestern States of Nigeria were estimated in this study. Lagos state being the highest consumer of gasoline and diesel in Southwestern Nigeria emitted the highest quantity.

The current electricity shortage from Nigeria's national grid and the scarcity of refined petroleum products including kerosene which is used for domestic purposes make the use of fuelwoods more dominant in the country; especially in the rural areas. Air emissions from open burning of predetermined quantity of some common fuelwoods identified in regions were characterized for gaseous air pollutants using the E8500 combustion analyzer. The measured concentrations were used to calculate emission factors of the air pollutants. The emission factors for the gaseous emission from the fuelwoods were 181.84-6547.57 g/kg for CO, 44.07-2986.40 g/kg for HC, 2.24-267.36 g/kg for NOx while SO2 had 0.0-9.87 g/kg. This study establishes that Gliricidia sepium had the minimum emission factor for all the considered gaseous pollutants except for SO2, thus all stakeholders considering the adoption of fuelwood in the country's quest for increased energy mix can be properly guided on the pollutants associated with the investigated fuelwoods. This may help in the choice of appropriate air pollution control.

The rapid increase in the amount of tyres discarded yearly leads to the problem of scrap tyres littering the country, Nigeria thereby leading to environmental pollution. This paper looks at the extent of the menace scrap tyres has caused, the methods of their disposal and the effects on the environment. The study calls for a concerted effort from researchers, industry operators and regulatory bodies to be up and doing in the disposal of scrap tyres in Nigeria to check the degradation of the environment in its three compartments: air, water and land, with a view to upholding environmental sustainability and embedded economic advantages.