scholarly journals Pollution Studies on Soils from Crude Oil Producing Areas of Rivers State, Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

OALib ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 08 (09) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Chisom Onwuka ◽  
Augustine Nnaluo Eboatu ◽  
Vincent Ishmael Egbulefu Ajiwe ◽  
Ebele Joy Morah
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-124
Author(s):  
V.C Wokem ◽  
E.D. Momoh

The exploration, production and refining of crude oil has led to severe environmental degradation in the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Enhanced bioremediation of tropical rainforest soil artificially polluted with crude oil, bioaugmented with nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB) and biostimulated with poultry droppings was carried out ex situ. Soil sample was collected at 15cm depth from tropical rainforest soil of the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The NFB was isolated from roots of leguminous plant Arachis hypogea, identified as Nitrobacter species. Bioaugmentation by application of NFB served as option A, option B (biostimulation by application of poultry droppings), option C (No amendment) served as the control. Bioremediation was monitored for 28 days for interval of 14 days, and determined using the percentage ratio of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) losses for each period to TPH at initial day (day zero). Results of total culturable heterotrophic bacterial (TCHB) counts showed that highest range in option B (1.9×104- 2.4×109Cfu/g) than in option A (7.8×106 -2.29×107Cfu/g) and C (6.75×106 -2.6×107Cfu/g) respectively. Similarly, hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial (HUB) counts had higher range in option B (1.20×105 - 1.9×107Cfu/g) than in option A (8.30×104 - 2.30×105Cfu/g) and option C control (4.3×104 −1.69×105 Cfu/g) respectively. Changes in physicochemical parameters during the study showed reductions in nitrate, phosphate and TPH in all the options expect pH which showed slight increase in option C (6.20-6.24). Characterization and identification for bacteria revealed the following HUB genera Pseudomonas, Citrobacter, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Micrococcus, Klebsiella, Staphylocuccus and Nitrobacter). The percentage losses in TPH from gas chromatography (GC) results showed the following; option A (44.24%) option B (61.08%) and option C - control (27.28%) respectively. The results from this study showed that option B, the application of poultry droppings as biostimulant was more efficient than the application of NFB in enhanced bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil, hence the use of poultry droppings which is available as organic waste, eco-friendly and cost-effective is recommended asbiostimulant for enhanced bioremediation in environmental cleanup of crude oil impacted-sites of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Key Words: Bioremediation, Crude oil polluted-soil, Biostimulation, Bioaugumentation, Poultry droppings, Nitrogen fixing bacteria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-61
Author(s):  
Grace A. Tonye-Scent ◽  
Endurance Uzobo

Health insecurity is a major problem affecting the well-being of internally displaced persons in Nigeria. In the Niger Delta region, the situation remains virulent with attendant consequences on the displaced population. This study investigated health insecurity among the internally displaced persons. Data were sourced across three States of the Niger Delta Region, identified among areas with a high rate of internal displacement. Human Security Approach was employed as a theoretical framework. A total of 582 respondents (Bayelsa = 206, Delta = 211, and Rivers = 165) who had been displaced between the year 2012 to 2018 were randomly selected, and a questionnaire was administered. Findings indicated that 51.9% of respondents in Delta state, 50.0% in Rivers state, and 35.7% in Bayelsa state were diagnosed with diseases resulting from flood displacement. The diseases diagnosed were high blood pressure, cholera, hernia, malaria, measles, tuberculosis, and typhoid. While the diagnosis of blood pressure was high in Bayelsa (3.9%) and Delta (3.5%), the diagnosis of cholera was not recorded in Bayelsa and Delta States but Rivers state (3.4%). Those displaced by flood were 0.4 times less likely to experience abnormal health status than those displaced by other causes. The study concluded that displacement has serious implications on the health of internally displaced persons. It, therefore, recommended that medical centres should be cited in displaced camps to cater for the medical needs of the displaced population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-483
Author(s):  
Ndidiamaka Chijioke ◽  
Susan Audu-Bako ◽  
Ikechukwu Uwakwe

The discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri-a town in the present Bayelsa state, Niger-Delta region of Nigeria) in 1956 and the subsequent exploration activities have over the years impacted tremendously not only on the ecosystem and livelihood pattern of the Niger Delta but on the pattern of conflicts that has trended.. While resources accruable to Nigeria from sale of crude oil are shared by all, the impacts of oil spill an offshoot of crude oil exploration activities are borne solely by the Niger Delta region. Oil spill appears to have found a permanent abode in Bayelsa state; from Southern Ijaw to Sagbama local governments, Olodiama to Azuzuama communities. Local communities are faced with the problem of continuous oil spill. This in turn has brought about conflicts between oil bearing communities and oil companies. These conflicts in some instances led to shut down of operations of oil companies, vandalism, and reduction of Nigeria’s crude export. In view of the illustrated background, this study examined the strategies for management of oil spill related conflicts in Bayelsa state regarding that oil spill is a key impact of crude oil exploration activity. Findings revealed that the strategies deployed in the management of oil spill in the state can be categorised into three: community strategies, regulators and non-governmental organisations strategies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deinkuro Nimisngha Sanchez ◽  
Charles W. Knapp ◽  
Raimi Morufu Olalekan ◽  
Nimlang Henry Nanalok

Abstract Background: Over the years, the issue of environmental degradation of ecological resources from crude oil pollution and its human health impacts is receiving more global attention. The utilization of environmental models capable of predicting the fate, transport and toxicity of chemicals in spilled crude oil can provide essential knowledge required to deal with the complexity associated with the fate of volatile petroleum chemicals in the environment. Objective: This paper explores environmental fate of toxic volatile organics from oil spill in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.Methods: A critical analysis of available literatures/data from PubMed, Scopus, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, Jstor, including expert working group reports and environmental modeling using a screening tool (USEPA EPI Suite™) was carried out to determine the environmental partitioning of Benzene, Toluene and Naphthalene (BTN) respectively. The organic-carbon partitioning coefficient (Koc) was computed as a function of soil-water distribution coefficient (Kd) and percentage organic matter (%OM). This was utilized to determine the distribution of BTN in the environment and the possible risk posed on delicate ecological resources from crude oil pollution due to exploration and production activities within the Niger Delta Region (NDR), Nigeria. Results: Results from literature implicated sabotage and operational failures from pipelines as primary causes of crude oil spillages. Generation of a fugacity model using EPI Suite™ revealed that the behavior of BTN is greatly influenced by Koc values. The default Molecular Connectivity Index (MCI) showed that benzene and toluene will partition more into the water compartment while naphthalene will partition into the soil compartment. However, user-entered values showed all three chemicals partitioning more into the soil compartment. Aquatic toxicology estimation using Ecological Structural Activity Relationship (ECOSAR) revealed all chemicals not to be toxic even at over-estimated Koc values. Conclusion: This research established the usefulness of screening level environmental modelling tools in assessing environmental risk and hence helpful in developing site-specific models for monitoring chemicals in the environment which can assist governments, policy makers and industries in the design of appropriate regional disaster management plans.


2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augustine Ikelegbe

AbstractEconomies of war underpinned by greed and opportunities have been posited to underlie causality, dynamics and the sustenance of conflicts – particularly Africa's resource wars. This study examines the economy of conflict in the resource conflicts in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It found that a conflict economy comprising an intensive and violent struggle for resource opportunities, inter and intra communal/ethnic conflicts over resources, and the theft and trading in refined and crude oil has blossomed since the 1990s. This paper examines the interfaces between the Nigerian state, multinational oil companies, the international community, and youth militias with the economy. This paper found that though the economy did not cause the conflict, it has become a part of the resistance and a resource for sustaining it. The economy underpins an extensive proliferation of arms and the institutions of violence and the pervasiveness of crime, violence and communal/ethnic conflicts.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 145-151
Author(s):  
Edem Etim Peters

Niger Delta region is very rich in oil and gas deposits, clay, agricultural land, fisheries, extensive forest and other resources. They are nine states which make the region namely, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers. The most oil producing communities among them are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo, Delta and Rivers State. Clay is equally found in abundance in all the states like crude oil is found in Niger Delta communities. The available clay mineral in the region has the capacity to transform the nation’s economy if properly utilized. Clay is the basic material for pottery or ceramics production. It is also used to ease the penetration of pipes in drilling of crude oil. This paper looks at the practice of pottery in Niger Delta Area with a focus on pottery practice in both Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. Indigenous and contemporary pottery or ceramics practices in these communities indeed have played vital role in the economic, social religious and cultural ways of life of the people. Clay products such as dinnerware and sanitary wares and others are highly sought for and they have the capacity to boast the national economy as experienced in other nations such as Japan, Italy, Britain, United States of America, India and China among others. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources and were subsequently assessed. The result shows that proper utilization of clay found in Niger Delta has the potential to create numerous job opportunities for the teaming population of youths in the region. The availability of abundant clay in the region, if well harnessed could adequately compete with crude oil exploitation for economic purposes in the region.


Author(s):  
Enegide Chinedu ◽  
Chukwuma Kelechukwu Chukwuemeka

Background. Heavy metals are known to elicit toxic effects which negatively affect human health. Crude oil is known to contain heavy metals and oil spills contaminate the environment and can result in human exposures to heavy metals. As the seat of crude oil activities, the Niger Delta region experiences the highest rate of oil spills in Nigeria. Objective. The purpose of this study was to estimate the quantity of oil spilled into the Niger Delta region from 1976 through 2014 and to assess the resulting heavy metals exposures of the local population. Methods. Secondary data from governmental and non-governmental bodies were analyzed and the amount of oil spilled in the Niger Delta region from 1976 through 2014 was determined. The heavy metals present in crude oil from this region and the quantities released into the environment within the study period due to spillage were then extrapolated. Results. The Niger Delta region is continuously exposed to a higher rate of oil spills, and about 3.1 million barrels of crude oil enriched in manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) were spilled from 1976 to 2014 in this region. Therefore, the occupants of this region may be at risk of heavy metals toxicity. Conclusion. To minimize heavy metals exposure and toxicity in the Niger Delta region, effective strategies must be adopted to reduce oil spills. In addition, curtailment and remediation of oil spills should be more rapid. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests


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