Hydrocarbon Pollution and Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in the Sediments of the Oturuba Creek, Niger Delta, Nigeria

This study aimed at examining the impact of oil pollution from artisanal oil refineries on the Oturuba river ecosystem using active river bottom sediment. Specific objectives included to determine the level of hydrocarbons and trace metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, V and Mg) in the sediments and to relate this with general ecosystem health. The study found elevated concentrations of both hydrocarbons and heavy metals in the range above most sediment quality guidelines exceeding the respective Threshold Effects Level and Probable Effects. Level guideline values and occurring at levels where impairment to biological communities is certain an d where toxicity levels can lead to negative impacts on benthic animals or infaunal communities. Heavy metal geochemical accumulation index and potential ecological risk analysis also returned anomalously high concentrations in the range of very highly polluted sediment environments with very high ecological risk indices, thereby ranking the Oturuba Creek as one of the most polluted coastal river systems in the world

Landfill Emissions and their Urban Planning and Environmental Health Implications in Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria

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.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. Técnicas de medição da qualidade do ar em tempo real, observações de campo e modelagem de LFG foram aplicadas aos aterros da cidade de Port Harcourt, que recebem uma mistura de 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 da "área de planejamento" de cada aterro e compensando adequadamente todas as propriedades assim adquiridas; e c) construção de quatro aterros devidamente projetados com capacidade total para capturar lixiviação e converter LFG em energia, através de parcerias público-privadas

Hydrocarbon pollution and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the sediments of the Oturuba creek, Niger delta, Nigeria

This study aimed at examining the impact of oil pollution from artisanal oil refineries on the Oturuba river ecosystem using active river bottom sediment. Specific objectives included to determine the level of hydrocarbons and trace metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, V and Mg) in the sediments and to relate this with general ecosystem health. The study found elevated concentrations of both hydrocarbons and heavy metals in the range above most sediment quality guidelines exceeding the respective Threshold Effects Level and Probable Effects. Level guideline values and occurring at levels where impairment to biological communities is certain an d where toxicity levels can lead to negative impacts on benthic animals or infaunal communities. Heavy metal geochemical accumulation index and potential ecological risk analysis also returned anomalously high concentrations in the range of very highly polluted sediment environments with very high ecological risk indices, thereby ranking the Oturuba Creek as one of the most polluted coastal river systems in the world

Toxicants in Water: Hydrochemical Appraisal of Toxic Metals Concentration and Seasonal Variation in Drinking Water Quality in Oil and Gas Field Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Groundwater pollution is a major issue in many tropical countries. Governments at all levels are doing little or nothing to supply inhabitants with clean and accessible water, particularly in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. This study compares differences in water quality parameters in the study area (determine the level of pollutions in the different sites). The investigation made use of standard analytical methodologies. All sampling, conservation, transportation as well as analysis followed the usual APHA procedures (2012). To prevent degradation of the organic substances, all obtained samples were transferred to the laboratory, while keeping in an icebox. Result shows that during wet season, the mean values obtained for water quality parameters were significantly lower in site 9 compared with that obtained in other sites (p  0.05) and both alkalinity and SO4 which were significantly higher in site 9 than site 1 (p  0.05) while other water quality parameters were significantly lower in site 9 than other sites excluding Cl and Mg which were both significantly higher in site 9 than site 8 (p < 0.05). Extra efforts must be made to completely understand the hydrogeochemical properties and appropriateness of groundwater in Nigeria’s core Niger Delta region in order to ensure quality groundwater supply for varied applications. As a result, this research will contribute to the establishment of a quantitative understanding of the effects of many causes on groundwater level changes in every aquifer worldwide. This analysis also reinforces a useful resource for scholars, activists, and public officials looking to improve community awareness, planning, and performance. The verdicts will serve as a valuable guideline for policymakers, the Ministry of Water Resources, and development practitioners, as they highlight the need for appropriate approaches to mitigating toxic elements of water resource contamination in the core Niger Delta in order to protect public health from carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks

Responding to the Call through Translating Science into Impact: Building an Evidence-Based Approaches to Effectively Curb Public Health Emergencies [Covid-19 Crisis]

COVID-19 demonstrated a global catastrophe that touched everybody, including the scientific community. As we respond and recover rapidly from this pandemic, there is an opportunity to guarantee that the fabric of our society includes sustainability, fairness, and care. However, approaches to environmental health attempt to decrease the population burden of COVID-19, toward saving patients from becoming ill along with preserving the allocation of clinical resources and public safety standards. This paper explores environmental and public health evidence-based practices toward responding to Covid-19. A literature review tried to do a deep dive through the use of various search engines such as Mendeley, Research Gate, CAB Abstract, Google Scholar, Summon, PubMed, Scopus, Hinari, Dimension, OARE Abstract, SSRN, Academia search strategy toward reretrieving research publications, “grey literature” as well as reports from expert working groups. To achieve enhanced population health, it is recommended to adopt widespread evidence-based strategies, particularly in this uncertain time. As only together can evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) can become a reality which includes effective policies and practices, transparency and accountability of decisions, and equity outcomes; these are all more relevant in resource-constrained contexts, such as Nigeria. Effective and ethical EIDM though requires the production as well as use of high-quality evidence that are timely, appropriate and structured. One way to do so is through co-production. Co-production (or co-creation or co-design) of environmental/public health evidence considered as a key tool for addressing complex global crises such as the high risk of severe COVID-19 in different nations. A significant evidence-based component of environmental/public health (EBEPH) consist of decisions making based on best accessible, evidence that is peer-reviewed; using data as well as systematic information systems; community engagement in policy making; conducting sound evaluation; do thorough program-planning frameworks; as well as disseminating what is being learned. As researchers, scientists, statisticians, journal editors, practitioners, as well as decision-makers strive to improve population health, having a natural tendency toward scrutinizing the scientific literature aimed at novel research findings serving as the foundation for intervention as well as prevention programs. The main inspiration behind conducting research ought to be toward stimulating and collaborating appropriately on public/environmental health action. Hence, there is need for a “Plan B” of effective behavioural, environmental, social as well as systems interventions (BESSI) toward reducing transmission