Impact of gas flaring in Ubeji metropolis of Delta State Nigeria: a comparative survey of environment health effects

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The impact of gas flaring in Ubeji metropolis, relative to other communities of Delta is of interest. This study assessed the environmental impact of gas flaring in Ubeji metropolis of Delta State. The objective of this study is to study the comparative assessment of the environmental impacts of gas flaring on five communities of unequal distance from gas flaring site.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Questionnaire survey was used to evaluate three research questions that included the level of knowledge in the survey communities regarding health impact of gas flaring; prevalence level of assessed health conditions in Ubeji metropolis relative to communities farther from or nearer to Warri gas flaring site; and perceived impact of gas flaring on air quality indicated by health and environmental toxicity indices. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Descriptive evaluation of data shows Ubeji appears to have the highest proportion of persons suffering respiratory problems, but the figure for family members is less than some other communities. The respondents nearer flaring site show more awareness compared to those farther away. Critical evaluation showed no directional change in prevalence of disease linked to gas flaring. There is linear relationship between ‘distance to gas flare site’ and ‘toxic impact on air quality’.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This report submits further data to the discourse that, on the basis of nearness to gas flaring site, there is significant difference between communities experience of environmental and health impact.</p><p> </p>

Public Health Impact of Environmental Pollution in Areas with Gas Flares

“…Post-hoc test (LSD) showed duration of working to possibly be more influential (Table 3b). This observation further corroborates with our preliminary report [12] and a study by I Mbachu [19].…”

“…This result agrees with other findings that showed air pollutants from the gas flaring stations to be responsible for respiratory and dermal diseases [20]. It is noteworthy that the perception of gas flaring on respiratory health impact was not statistical significant in our preliminary study [12], hence, acceptance of this hypothesis calls for further studies.…”

“…A resident of Ebedei community in Niger Delta who lives near a gas flare expressed concern about the effects of gas flaring on lives and livelihood [10,11]. However, a survey on the impact of gas flaring in a community in Niger Delta [12], which was preliminary to this study yielded no significance findings to corroborate the concern. It is for these reasons that it is important to study the impact of gas flaring on communities to allow policy making that contributes to control of gas flaring thereby alleviating community concerns.…”

“…However, the level of perception or knowledge is yet to be clearly evaluated. Our preliminary observation was that knowledge of the public health impact was more in people living or working near the gas flare site [12], hence the current study investigated a large population.…”

Impact of gas flaring on communities in Delta region of Nigeria, narrative review part 1: environmental health perspective

“…This narrative review is a first step in the continuation and expounding of a preliminary work previously published. 8…”