Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Pollution and its Associated Human Health Risks in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: a Systematic Review

Author(s):  
Samuel Appiah Ofori ◽  
Samuel Jerry Cobbina ◽  
Abubakari Zarouk Imoro ◽  
Dzigbodi Adzo Doke ◽  
Thomas Gaiser
Author(s):  
Samuel Appiah Ofori ◽  
Samuel Jerry Cobbina ◽  
Abubakari Zarouk Imoro ◽  
Dzigbodi Adzo Doke ◽  
Thomas Gaiser

The frequent incidents of oil spills and other forms of pollution arising from crude oil exploration and exploitation (OEE) in the Niger Delta have caused several investigations on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution. This study aimed at developing a comprehensive report on PAH pollution and its human health risks recorded in the Niger Delta. Studies were extracted from Google Scholar, PubMed, and ResearchGate using a defined selection criterion. The quality of each study was assessed using the Newcastle – Ottawa Scale. Thirty-eight studies were selected with the majority reporting on PAH pollution in aquatic environments. Across all the selected studies, the total number of PAHs recorded ranged from 7 to 28 PAH congeners. Also, PAH potential sources reported in the studies were of pyrogenic and petrogenic sources. PAH concentrations recorded in water, sediment, aquatic organisms (fish and shrimp), soil, dust, and crop samples ranged from below detection limit (BDL) to 450 ± 117.9 mg/L, BDL to 1821.5 mg/kg, 0.005 to 1.098 mg/kg, ND to 4154 ± 3461 mg/kg, 165.1 to 1012 mg/kg, and 0.020 to 3.37 mg/kg, respectively. Majority of the selected studies reported PAH levels which were higher than the permissible limits. Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) assessment of PAHs in samples ranged from low to high via ingestion and dermal routes of exposure to humans. It is recommended that the Federal Government of Nigeria promotes environmentally friendly operations of OEE. Future studies should focus on PAH pollution in farmlands, ambient air and the associated human and ecological health risks.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Luka Latinović ◽  
Marjan Marjanović

Metalworking fluid (MWF) is the name given to a range of oils, emulsions and other fluid used in metalworking processes to reduce friction, heat, rust, and evacuate swarf. However, most of these fluids are based on finite resource - mineral oil and contain biocides, thus representing an environmental threat at each life cycle stage from resource extraction to disposal. The basic methodological approach of this research was based on the systematic review of relevant academic literature in the field of health issues caused by MWF application. An academic electronic reference source was queried for the related terms while search engine was set to sort the results by relevance. Based on the systematic literature review, this study has identified and noted 31 reports in the peer reviewed literature directly relevant to human health risks associated with MWF exposure effects. The majority of these studies were case series and cross-sectional studies of which 13 addressed malignant diseases; 7 respiratory effects; 6 skin effects or allergies; and 7 pathogenic microbial contaminants. The major studies identified excess malignant diseases including lung, liver, skin, pancreatic, and laryngeal cancer in cohorts exposed to MWF. In addition, a strong association has been established with asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The research did not categorise the results according to the MWF formulation, nor according to the method of application.


Author(s):  
C. P. Ononugbo ◽  
G. O. Avwiri ◽  
J. I. Ekpo ◽  
Y. E. Chad-Umoren

Aim: The aim of this study is radiometric survey of oil and gas wastes and its health risks in Niger Delta region of Nigeria.  Study Design: This study was purely an experimental work which involves collection of samples and laboratory analysis. Place and Duration of the Study: This study was carried out at oil and gas company waste stream facilities and waste pipe market within Niger Delta region between June 2018 and May, 2019. Methodology: Sixteen samples (4 drill cuttings, 4 pipe scales, 2 sludges and 6 produced water) were randomly collected from four waste streams in six locations within the oil and gas production facilities and used pipe market. These samples were taken to the laboratory, prepared following the ISO procedure and packaged in a porcelain bottle, sealed and kept for twenty eight days in order to ensure secular equilibrium between 238U, 232Th and their progenies and counted with high purity Germanium detector (HPGe). The activity concentration of all the radionuclides were used to determine the radiological health risks using mathematical models. Results: The lowest and highest specific activity concentrations  of 226Ra, 238U , 232Th  and 40K, in solid wastes are 5.28±1.08 and 25727.75 Bqkg-1, 3.61±0.76 and 23021.73±1041.58 Bqkg-1, 2.40±0.56 and 21468.25±1125.57 Bqkg-1 and 35.31±2.38 and 1527.73 ±86.60 Bqkg-1 respectively. In the liquid waste, the lowest and highest activity concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K are 0.34±0.15 and 1.11±0.28 Bql-1, 0.63±0.17 and 1.06±0.18 Bql-1 and 9.60±0.66 and 14.20 ±1.04 Bql-1 respectively. 226Ra was below detectable limit in the liquid waste except in one sample (CZI). Downhole pipe scales recorded the highest activity concentration of all the radionuclides. Surface pipe scale also recorded very high activity concentration of all the radionuclides. The radiological health risk parameters assessed from the activity concentration of these radionuclide were all above the safe reference levels in downhole pipe scales and surface pipe scales while they are within the safe values in other samples. The estimated Exposure rate for both solid and liquid wastes were higher than the recommended reference level of 600 µRh-1 and the associated dose rate was also higher than reference level. Conclusion: The result of this work revealed that downhole and surface pipes from oilfield commonly used in the construction of buildings and domestic overhead tank-stands are associated with high levels of ionizing radiation which may be detrimental to human health and the environment.


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