Physicochemical Analysis of Gas Flaring Impact on the Environment of Host Communities in the Niger-delta

Abstract

This paper is focused on the application of physical, chemical and meteorological parameters to assessing the level of impacts on environments exposed to gas flaring. Three locations, P, Q and R, where gas flaring activities are ongoing in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria were selected for this study. Another location (S) with no gas flaring activity was used as control. Soil, rain-water and air samples were collected from study locations for the purpose of analysis. The results from the physicochemical parameters measurements showed that pH of soil and rain-water samples collected at set radial distances of 20, 50 and 100 m from flare points were generally acidic, hence indicating the presence of acid rains and acid soils around the flare locations. Heavy metals (Cr, Cd, As, Pb, Zn, Fe etc.) contaminations of the soil and rain-water samples were also evident, and the distribution followed similar trends as that of pH. Air quality parameters (such as SO2, NO2, H2S, CO, VOC, SPM etc.) also showed higher concentration at test distances near the flare point and lower values at distances farther away from flare point. Based on these findings, it was observed that no safe human activity can take place at radial distances < 2 km away from the flare point. This is adduced to the prevalent abnormal air temperature; poor air quality, soil and rain-water acidity which characterized the selected gas flare locations.