Assessment of Environmental Effects of Post-Blasted Explosive on the Ecosystem of Old Netim Village in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

Oc Alaba,Pa Adesida,B Adebayo

doi:10.4314/jasem.v22i5.22

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of post-blast explosive residues on ecosystems around Prodeco Quarry industry in Calabar Nigeria by collecting explosives residues and air/fumes samples. The variation between the intensity and temperature of explosive dissolution in the mine environment shows that TNT appears at the lowest temperature of 10oC and PETN reflected at about 35oC and NG shows almost at 58oC. Consequently, 5-15 kg of ANFO produced 10-30 lit/kg of nitrogen oxide compound (NOx) fumes while 20 kg ANFO produced 40 lit/kg of carbon monoxide fume. Also, 0.2 μg/L concentration of explosive in water recorded the highest mean recovery of 116.0 % while 1.0 μg/L recorded the highest values of 99.0 %. The mean recovery in soil sample is range between 105.0-126.0 % while that of forest is range between 91.0-107.0 % with the 50.0 μg/L concentration of explosive. The study concluded that the contaminating effects of the explosives residues have direct and indirect influences on the growth and development of the ecosystems.

Highlights

The applications of explosive in exploration and exploitation of mineral through blasting operations have greatly contributed to the development of the utilization of numerous mineral resources
Explosive Residue: Figure 1 shows that high accumulation of explosive residue in a blasting environment yield increase in concentration of contaminating the lives of terrestrial and aquatic habitats living in the immediate surroundings of the blasting area
It was discovered that explosive contents were identified separately by the intensity of individual components as they appeared at different temperatures and compared to limit detection table whereby different explosive components signified at different temperature, such that TNT appears at the lowest temperature of approximately 100C and PETN reflected at about 350C and NG shows almost at 580C

Summary

Introduction

The applications of explosive in exploration and exploitation of mineral through blasting operations have greatly contributed to the development of the utilization of numerous mineral resources. According to Maurie and Priyadarshi (2011), the most relevance field of applications of explosives among others is in the mining through blasting operations in both surface and underground mining activities. The surface mining applications of explosives include quarrying and open pit mineral extraction for the production of granite aggregates, stone base and asphalt used in construction of building, bridges and roads; limestone, marble, shale for cement factories; metal productions coppers, gold, iron ore for steel companies (Meyer et al 2007). As a result of the frequent uses of explosive and explosive materials in Prodeco Quarry, this study, thereby assess environmental effects of post-blasted explosive on the ecosystem of Old Netim Village in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River state, Nigeria

Methods

Results

Conclusion