Abstract
Environmental hazards associated with release of emission from petroleum refineries have caused serious concerns for the host communities. The study focused on the assessment of the contribution of Nigerian refineries to the ambient air quality. Total emission of toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (TEX) from Nigerian twenty-six (four existing and twenty-two proposed) refineries were estimated using emission factor approach, under no-control measure (worst case scenario) option. Results showed that the four existing refineries emit 2.90 × 1013 tons of toluene, 1.93 × 1013 tons ethyl benzene and 1.06 × 1013 tons per year while the twenty-two proposed refineries have the capacity of releasing annually 9.17 × 1013 tons of toluene, 6.69 × 1013 tons of ethyl benzene and .95 x 1013 tons of xylene. If operated at full capacity, the total estimated TEX emission from the existing refineries stood at 5.89 × 1013 tons/year while the proposed refineries have the potential of adding additional 2.01 × 1014 tons/year. These concentrations were considered as environmental menace that could have adverse health challenge of the residents of the host communities. Some technologically driven measures to control and subsequently reduce TEX emission from these refineries were suggested.
Highlights
Continuous increase in both global population and energy consumption has led to a decrease in air quality and this phenomenon is being rapidly recognized as a major environmental and public health issue in both developing and developed nations (WHO, 2005)
This study aims at assessing the potential contribution of petroleum refineries to emission of toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene in Nigeria’s airshed using the emission factor approach
For emissions from Port Harcourt Refinery II, average value of 2.43 × 1011 tons/yr was recorded for toluene, 2.21 × 1011 tons/yr for ethyl benzene and 4.26 × 1010 tons/yr for xylene
Summary
Continuous increase in both global population and energy consumption has led to a decrease in air quality and this phenomenon is being rapidly recognized as a major environmental and public health issue in both developing and developed nations (WHO, 2005). Clean air ensures safe and resilient environment, retards climate and its impacts and promotes environmental sustainability. Several health issues such as asthma, bronchitis, acute respiratory infection, cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer and nervous system disorder have been traced to adverse effect of air pollution (Brauer et al, 2007; McConnell et al, 2010; Odekanle et al, 2016; Pope et al, 2006). Industrialization and urbanization accompanied by increase in energy consumption have signifi cantly contributed to air pollution problem in Nigeria as a result of the release of emission from anthropogenic activities such as domestic, industrial, and vehicular activities (Odekanle et al, 2017; Shukla et al, 2008)
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