This study focused on atmospheric properties and their observable correlations with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Six gas stations and the nearest residential buildings within Port Harcourt City were selected for the study. At each of the gas stations and the nearest buildings, a well calibrated handheld IGERESS VOCs detector was positioned 1.5m above the ground and in the direction of the wind to determine the levels of VOCs concentration. Atmospheric Properties (temperature and relative humidity) of the selected gas stations and the nearest buildings were determined accordingly. These were done in the morning and evening hours for a period of two weeks. The study's findings revealed gas stations emit VOCs and that the VOCs emission concentrations in the morning and evening sessions were within safe limits. But the measured mean VOCs concentration at the gas station (0.343ppm) is above the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) maximum allowable air concentration Standard of 0.20 ppm. The recorded mean value of the VOCs concentration at the gas stations (0.343ppm) shows that the average exposure limit from the gas stations for the period under study is in agreement with the permissible limits of between 0.3 ppm to 0.5ppm established by World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) respectively. The calculated correlation values between VOCs concentration and temperature at the gas stations and nearest buildings are 0.0020 (weak positive correlation) and -0.0111 (negative correlation) respectively. Similarly, VOCs concentration showed a negative correlation with the relative humidity at the gas stations and the nearest residential buildings. The calculated correlation values are -0.1952 and -0.7257, respectively. These results are in agreement with some studies. A number of studies have shown that VOCs emissions are positively correlated with temperature, but that of relative humidity has no uniform conclusions. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pose numerous health challenges and serious environmental concerns such as poor air quality and shift in climate. Siting of gas stations far away from residential areas and the use of fuel recovery pumps are essential for the reduction of the impacts of VOCs on humans and the environment.

Keywords: Atmospheric properties, Volatile organic compound, Gas stations.

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Source of Funding:

This study did not receive any grant from funding agencies in the public or not-for-profit sectors.

Competing Interests Statement:

The authors have declared no competing interests.

Consent for Publication:

The authors declare that they consented to the publication of this study.

Authors’ Contribution:

All the authors took part in literature review, research, and manuscript writing equally.