The human health implications of crude oil spills in the Niger delta, Nigeria: An interpretation of published studies

Abstract

Background:The health hazards created by oil exploration and exploitation are covert and slow in action. They are not given the deserved attention in official documents in Nigeria, even as they can be major contributors to the disease burden in oil-bearing communities. This study is an interpretation of the data reported in several published studies on crude oil spills in the Niger delta region, Nigeria.Materials and Methods:A manual and Internet search was conducted to extract quantitative data on the quantity of crude oil spilled; the concentrations of the pollutants in surface water, ground water, ambient air and plant and animal tissue; and the direct impact on human health and household food security.Results:An average of 240,000 barrels of crude oil are spilled in the Niger delta every year, mainly due to unknown causes (31.85%), third party activity (20.74%), and mechanical failure (17.04%). The spills contaminated the surface water, ground water, ambient air, and crops with hydrocarbons, including known carcinogens like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and benxo (a) pyrene, naturally occurring radioactive materials, and trace metals that were further bioaccumulated in some food crops. The oil spills could lead to a 60% reduction in household food security and were capable of reducing the ascorbic acid content of vegetables by as much as 36% and the crude protein content of cassava by 40%. These could result in a 24% increase in the prevalence of childhood malnutrition. Animal studies indicate that contact with Nigerian crude oil could be hemotoxic and hepatotoxic, and could cause infertility and cancer.Conclusions:The oil spills in the Niger delta region have acute and long-term effects on human health. Material relief and immediate and long-term medical care are recommended, irrespective of the cause of the spill, to ensure that the potential health effects of exposures to the spills are properly addressed.

Evaluation on the growth response of Peanut (<i>Arachis hypogaea</i>) and Sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i>) to crude oil contaminated soil

“…Nigeria has recorded high occurrence of oil spillage in the Niger Delta ( Ordinioha and Brisibe 2013) and along pipelines traversing other parts of the country mainly due to sabotage, corrosion and rupture of pipelines, operations and transportation among others (Adelana et al, 2011). According to NOSDRA (2016), oil spillage in Nigeria has escalated to a thousand spills per year, the highest rate of spills worldwide suggesting the need for continuous search of the best methods of cleaning up crude oil to control its negative impacts on the environment.…”

Health risks from environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

“…In 2011, a United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report revealed that drinking water in Ogoniland was found to contain a known carcinogen at levels 900 times above World Health Organization guidelines (United Nations Environment Programme, 2011). In another study, it was found that oil spills reduce the ascorbic acid content of vegetables by as much as 36% and the crude protein content of cassava by 40%, which results in a 24% increase in the prevalence of childhood malnutrition in the region (Ordinioha and Brisibe, 2013). In the same study, it was found that animals that come in contact with crude oil could be hemotoxic (destroying red blood cells) and hepatotoxic (destroying the liver), and could suffer infertility and cancer.…”

Addressing Environmental Health Problems in Ogoniland through Implementation of United Nations Environmental Program Recommendations: Environmental Management Strategies

“…This is forcing farmers to travel very long distances from their localities. In terms of health impacts on the locals, [24] argue that the prevalence of diarrhea in the Niger Delta is on the rise, as a result of the consumption of fish and other animals contaminated by hydrocarbons contained in the spilled oil. Furthermore, it has been determined that bioaccumulation of benzo (o) pyrene, other hydrocarbons, and heavy…”