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Environmentally unfriendly Oil exploration activities have been ongoing in the Soku area of the Niger Delta of Nigeria since 1956. This study evaluated the concentration of hydrocarbons and heavy metals in Shellfish and drinking water sources in the study area. It revealed the absence (<0.001 mg/l) of most heavy metals (Ni, Ch, Cd, Pb mg/l) in the water column; a high concentration of the major ion composition of seawater (sulphates 5 -1018; calcium 0.502 -53.502; sodium 1.247 -63.337; potassium 0.508 -102.745; magnesium 0.354 -42.574 mg/l); and high PAHs (<0.001 -0.032 mg/l) levels occurring above WHO limits (0.007 mg/l) with some risk of exposure to cancer. Results from the analysis of shellfish showed that concentrations of chromium and zinc were below permissible limits while cadmium concentrations were slightly above permissible limits of the European Community. Nickel and lead were above permissible limits in the fish samples in all standards while PAHs occurred at the cancer risk levels of 10 −6 . A review of the public health situation in the Soku area with a view to understanding current trends, sources of perturbations and preferable solutions to the potential public health challenges raised in this study is hereby recommended. Also, this study recommends that relevant agencies and developmental partners should launch a national drive to create awareness among people/environmental/public health professionals'/health workers/administrators on this regional concern.

This study aimed to provide a perspective on landfill gas emissions, environmental health effects of the urban waste management system in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and the city's potential for power generation using landfill waste. Real time air quality measurement techniques, field observations and LFG modelling were applied to Port Harcourt city landfills. These disposal areas receive, per year, up to one million tons of domestic and hazardous waste, and produce around 68 million m3/year of LFG (biogas). Additionally, if properly harnessed, this waste may generate more than 11 million KWh /year of electricity. It was also discovered that SO2 emissions from the landfill sites were above the USEPA limits (75ppb), while other regulated gases were within acceptable limits. Particulate matter was mostly above acceptable limits and tended to increase up to 250m radius from landfill sites. Thus, this excess poses serious respiratory and cardiovascular health dangers to the public, especially among inhabitants and workers who operate within 250 metres of the landfills. With this in mind, the following are recommended: a) the outright closure of two of the landfills in the city; b) acquisition of all property within 300 metres radius from the centre of the landfills which is within the "planning area" of each landfill and adequately compensating for all property so acquired; and c) construction of four properly engineered landfills with full capacity to capture leachate and convert LFG into power, through public-private partnerships.Keywords: landfills; urban waste management; biogas production; particulate matter; landfill gases; Nigeria. RESUMO:Este estudo teve como objetivo fornecer uma perspectiva sobre as emissões de gases de aterro e os efeitos ambientais do sistema de gestão de resíduos urbanos na cidade de Port Harcourt, na Nigéria, e seu potencial de geração de energia. resíduos domésticos e perigosos de até um milhão de toneladas por ano e produzem cerca de 68 milhões de m3/ ano de biogás que, adequadamente aproveitado, pode gerar mais de 11 milhões de KWh/ano de eletricidade. Também foi descoberto que as emissões de SO2 dos aterros estavam acima dos limites da USEPA (75ppb), enquanto outros gases regulamentados estavam dentro de limites aceitáveis. As partículas estavam acima dos limites aceitáveis e tendiam a aumentar até 250m de raio dos aterros, colocando sérios riscos para a saúde respiratória e cardiovascular, especialmente entre os habitantes e trabalhadores que operam a menos de 250 metros dos aterros sanitários. Com isso em mente, recomenda-se o seguinte: a) o encerramento definitivo de dois dos aterros na cidade; b) aquisição de todos os bens a menos de 300 metros do raio do centro dos aterros que estão dentro