Many Oil Wells, One Evil: Potentially toxic metals concentration, seasonal variation and Human Health Risk Assessment in Drinking Water Quality in Ebocha-Obrikom Oil and Gas Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundOil and natural gas extraction have produced environmental pollution at levels that affect reproductive health of indigenous populations. Accordingly, polluted drinking water from physical, chemical and heavy metals can result in serious health problems, like anemia, kidney failure, immunosuppression, neurological impairments, gastrointestinal as well as respiratory irritation, skeletal system abnormalities, liver inflammation, liver cancer, cardiovascular diseases after chronic exposure and other cancer diseases with negative health effects. These diseases types remain associated to high amounts of heavy metal elements such as lead, chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, manganese as well as nickel etc.ObjectivesCompare differences in water quality parameters in the study area (determine the level of pollutions in the different sites).MethodologyThe investigation made use of standard analytical procedures. All sampling, conservation, transportation and analysis followed standard procedures described in APHA (2012). To prevent degradation of the organic substances, all obtained samples were transferred to the laboratory, while keeping in an icebox.ResultsResult shows that during wet season, the mean values obtained for water quality parameters were significantly lower in site 9 compared with that obtained in other sites (p<0.05) with the exemptions of temperature, DO, BOD, COD, acidity, TH, TDS, K, Mg, Zn, Mn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, NH3, NO2, NO3, Ni though slightly lower in most cases in site 9 were not significantly different (p>0.05) and both alkalinity and SO4 which were significantly higher in site 9 than site 1 (p<0.05). Result obtained during dry season reveals that there is no remarkable difference in pH, acidity, Pb and Ni between the nine sites (p>0.05) while other water quality parameters were significantly lower in site 9 than other sites excluding Cl and Mg which were both significantly higher in site 9 than site 8 (p<0.05).ConclusionTo guarantee quality groundwater supply for various purposes in Nigeria’s core Niger Delta region, extra efforts must be taken to fully understand hydrogeochemical features and its suitability. Thus, this study will aid in the development of a quantitative understanding of the effects of diverse causes on groundwater level fluctuations in any aquifer around the world. Also, this analysis reinforces a valuable resource for researchers, activists and public officials seeking to help enhance community awareness, planning and performance. The verdicts would remain a valuable guideline for policymakers, the Ministry of Water Resources and development practitioners, as this highlights the requirement for suitable approaches toward mitigating toxic element of water resources contamination in the core Niger Delta toward safeguarding health of the public from carcinogenic as well as non-carcinogenic risks.HIGHLIGHTSMany tropical countries are suffering from severe groundwater pollution. Governments at all levels are doing little or very little to provide clean and accessible water to citizens, especially in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.This study aims to determine the level of pollutions in the different sites.Result depicts that during wet and dry season, the mean values obtained for water quality parameters were significantly lower in site 9 compared with that obtained in other sites.Result reveals that groundwater at location 3, 4 and 7 were heavily polluted during wet and dry season. Hence, an alliance is needed to address the rising global health emergency threat caused by groundwater pollution in Nigeria’s core Niger Delta region, which is threatening millions of people. The situation will only get worse and faster unless there is a coordinated response to the problem through a worldwide alliance of organizations capable of bringing meaningful change.The disease risk as well as illness to millions of individuals living in close proximity to gas flaring remain a cause for worry in its own right, the gases as well as toxins impact released into the atmosphere through continuously flaring gases has worldwide implications.Regarding the environmental and social conditions of the area, gas flaring significantly increases the health hazards, first through releasing dangerous pollutants directly into the atmosphere as well as through pollutants transfer to the food chain.Groundwater pollution has a financial cost that runs into billions of Naira, in addition to the human and environmental effect. Thus, there is need for tougher environmental regulations.At present, no coordinated action being taken, real change will only occur if governments as well as key stakeholder organizations form a global alliance toward addressing the issue. Starting with a strategy to finance well closure as well as relocation of sites that are most dangerous (location 3, 4 & 7) as soon as possible, as well as providing support through capital and experience is required. Even though the cost will remain substantial, it will provide an opportunity toward investing in the Niger Delta infrastructure as well as economy. Furthermore, the expense of closing the most dangerous groundwater open wells will be a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the health consequences.

Statistical and Multivariate Techniques to Trace the Sources of Ground Water Contaminants and Affecting Factors of Groundwater Pollution in an Oil and Gas Producing Wetland in Rivers State, Nigeria

“…Because groundwater is a key supply of water for human consumption, its low quality can have substantial consequences [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. While groundwater is traded in some regions of the world, it is also widely used as a supply of water for home, industrial, agricultural, and energy generation operations [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21].…”

“…While groundwater is traded in some regions of the world, it is also widely used as a supply of water for home, industrial, agricultural, and energy generation operations [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21]. Humans need water and water is at the core of sustainable development' [7,8,21,22,23,24,25,26,27]. Water resources, and the services they supply, are critical to economic growth, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability [5,28,29,30,31,32,33,34].…”

“…The year 2015 is a watershed moment on the path to long-term development. As the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) draw to an end, a new cycle of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is set to guide national governments and the international community in their pursuit of a more sustainable world [5,7,8,20,24,25,26,27,40,41]. Thus, pollution control will advance attainment of many of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the 17 goals established by the United Nations to guide global development in the 21st century.…”

“…Morufu et al [7] and Morufu et al, [8], most developed and emerging countries are at risk of severe water shortages in the 21st century if urgent steps are not taken. The problem of water supply is such a huge burden to the extent that about 1.1 billion people globally lack access to improve water supply [29,33,48].…”

A Wake-Up Call: Determination of Antibiotics Residue Level in Raw Meat in Abattoir and Selected Slaughterhouses in Five Local Government in Kano State, Nigeria

“…The authors claimed that humankind is heading beyond a "safe operating area" as the size of these consequences approaches or exceeds certain thresholds that indicate global system tipping points or natural limits for processes with no apparent limits (so-called "hazardous levels"). Numerous researchers have reported that human health is generally influenced by their environment (Ecological Security Organization (EPA), 2015), Raimi and Sabinus, 2017;Olalekan et al, 2018;Suleiman et al, 2019;Raimi et al, 2019a;Raimi et al, 2019b;Raimi et al, 2019c;Olalekan et al, 2019;Okoyen et al, 2020;Adedoyin et al, 2020;Olalekan et al, 2020a;Olalekan et al, 2020b;Olalekan et al, 2020c;Raimi et al, 2021a;Raimi et al, 2021b;Raimi et al, 2021c;Morufu et al, 2021a;Morufu et al, 2021b;Morufu et al, 2021c;Morufu et al, 2021d;Morufu et al, 2021e) and specifically, the nature and quality of the food (Ames, 1983;Oluwaseun et al, 2019;Afolabi and Raimi, 2021). Nature cattle products is broadly concerning public health body throughout the globe since veterinary medications have assumed a significant part in the field of animal farming and agro-industry, and increasing event of drug residues, and resistance have become issues of concern (Rokka et al, 2005).…”