Environmental Health Assessment of Fuel Stations and Their Impacts on Adjacent Communities in Akure, Ondo State

The proliferation of fuel retail stations in residential neighborhoods raises concerns about exposure to petroleum-related pollutants, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX compounds). This study conducted an environmental health assessment of twenty fuel stations and their adjacent communities in Akure, Ondo State, South West Nigeria. Ambient air BTEX concentrations were measured at station boundaries and at 50, 100, and 200 metre distances using passive diffusion samplers. Soil samples near storage tank areas were analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons. A health survey was administered to 300 residents within 200 metres of selected stations. Results showed benzene concentrations at station boundaries averaging 28.4 micrograms per cubic metre, exceeding the WHO annual guideline of 1.7 micrograms per cubic metre. Soil hydrocarbon contamination was evident in seventeen of twenty stations, with three sites showing evidence of underground storage tank leakage. Residents reported higher rates of headaches, eye irritation, and dizziness compared to control communities located more than 500 metres from any fuel station. Children and pregnant women were identified as priority vulnerable groups. The study recommends establishment of buffer zones between fuel stations and residential dwellings, mandatory double-walled underground storage tanks, and baseline health monitoring for affected community residents. Keywords: fuel stations, BTEX, benzene, Akure, community health.