Evaluation of the Impacts of Hydrocarbon Pollution on the Health of Residents of Oil Producing Communities

Abstract

Hydrocarbon pollution has become a global problem bedeviling the whole world and has so attracted significant attention in international deliberations. Man can stay for days without food but not without air. Every biological organism world over, depend on air for survival. In this study, provision of fundamental information for decision making and policy implementations on the control and adaptation strategies to hydrocarbon pollution events in the study area is highlighted. Analysis of data generated from this study shows a positive relationship between SO2 with prevalence of cough (R2=75.85%), skin rashes (R2=90.24%), and stooling/vomiting (R2=61.96%) in the study area. While a negative relationship exists between the concentration of SO2 in the study area and nose irritation (R2=7.62%), breathing difficulty (R2=27.42%) and chest pains (R2=0.54%). The study revealed the prevalence of cough and skin rashes as strongly correlated with the concentration of sulphur V1 Oxide in the area.

Country : Nigeria

1 Okoro Goodluck2 Nnodu V.C3 Ekwuluo M.O

  1. PhD Scholar, Department of Environmental Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State, Nigeria
  2. Senior Lecturer, Department of Environmental Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State, Nigeria
  3. Director, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

IRJIET, Volume 4, Issue 12, December 2020 pp. 22-27

doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2020.412004

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