Impact of Soot on the Environment, Livestock and the Well Being of Inhabitants of the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to review the impact of soot on the environment, livestock and the well being of inhabitants of the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. The study revealed that the environmental hazards caused by soot have become so alarming with the increase in artisanal refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. According to sources, the first observation of a high concentration of soot in parts of Port Harcourt was in November 2016. The soot first appears as clouds laden with dark particulate matter on the skyline in various parts of the state. The black soot accumulates in homes and makes everywhere appear dirty, even when cleaned thoroughly and regularly. It is visible on window nets, streets, walls, floors, and bedsheets, both private and public places, even on children’s feet, innocently playing. Residents frequently wake up to toxic hydrocarbon emissions from nearby creeks and waterways that remain in the air for hours. A visitor could easily conclude that heavy rain was on the way. Still, for the residents who have grown accustomed to the situation, it’s a sobering reminder of an environmental problem that refuses to go away. From this review, it is observed that soot pollution has contributed significantly to the unavailability of safe drinking water—76–80 percent in rural areas and 50–55 percent in urban areas lack access to safe drinking water. This supports the April 2018 ranking of Port Harcourt as one of the most polluted cities in the world, with an air index of 188. Similarly, Air Visual ranked Port Harcourt as “very unhealthy” for sensitive groups, having attained an air index of 207.817 in December 2020. Different impact of soot on temperature variability and the well being of inhabitants of Rivers State, Nigeria were identified that call for urgent attention.