Description
ABSTRACT
Many rural communities in the Nigeria beyelsa Region have been exposed to the flaring of Associated (AG) gas due to increased extraction of petroleum in the area. The study aimed at assessing the effect of gas flaring on the built environment using buildings as the main observed objects. Two rural communities (Obrikom and Omoku) were used for the case-control study. The study, carried out within a period of 11 months, combined modeled and measured estimates, considered emissions inventory and location data and combined expert judgment to assess possible effects of gas flaring on a sample of 106 buildings. Results shows that SO2, NO2 and PM10 were the major pollutants that may have acted as causative agents of the observed impacts (corrosion of roof tops, coloration of walls, leakage of roof tops etc), due to their toxic properties. There was high positive correlation between pollution levels and the level of impact on the sampled buildings (OR = 3.2, 95%, C.I. 1.3 – 6.7). The study concluded that epidemiological studies on the communities around gas flaring points have become imperative to determine the health effects from continuous exposure.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER PAGE
TITLE PAGE
APPROVAL PAGE
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
CHAPTER ONE
- INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
- AIMS OF THESTUDY
- LIMITATION OFSTUDY
- PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
- RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
- GAS FLARING
- REVIEW OF GAS FLARING AROUND THEWORLD
- REASONS FOR GASFLARING
- COMPOSITIONS OF THE FLARED GASES
- IMPACTS OF GAS FLARING ON THE ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE
- THE NIGERIA AND STATELESSNESS
- EFFECTS OF GAS FLARING ON BUILDINGS IN IMIRINGI
CHAPTER THREE
- METHODOLOGY
- Study area
- SAMPLE COLLECTION
- 3.4 DATA ANALYSIS
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.2 EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
CHAPTER FIVE
- CONCLUSION
- RECOMMENDATION
- REFERENCES
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Gas flaring has been a challenge in Nigeria ever since the commercial production of crude oil in commenced the early 70’s. It was purported as a means of stimulating the economic growth of the nation. However, like every other similar activity in the country, holistic attention is drawn to the secular benefits it offers without minding the negatives. In Nigeria today, the cons of gas flaring has overshadowed the fiscal advantages it draws to the governments of the day.
Vehement decline has been witnessed in the life expectancy of the people of Niger Delta region ever since the discovery of commercial scale of crude oil in this community in 1958. Generally, the life expectancy in Nigeria is assumed to be 52.34years [1], but in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, it is deduced as 49.44 years [2], [3], [4]. After Malaria, respiratory tract related problem is accountable for 19% of death annually [5]. Roofs get corroded before its established lifespan. The painting on the walls also followed similar trend. The compressional and tensile strength of concrete mixes in this region also witnessed a decline to the established standards. All of these are the efferent effects associated with the composition of the flared gases in this region. The locals of this community have been encouraged to accept it as a norm and form conformism with the pseudo- euthenics dictate of the government. They have been encouraged to accept it as “resource curse” and one of the crass that come with civilisation. This however, negates the very ethos of a free citizen of a supposed free country and thus, it has been a subject of severe deliberation of the few years.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria is the world’s biggest flarer of Associated Gas (AG) with more than 1000 gas flaring points that release over 23 billion/m3 of gas per annum (Olukoya, 2008). Due to poor infrastructure and unsustainable practices among oil companies, only 19% of the total gas flared is recovered (Ibhade 2001, Evoh 2002). Recent studies have investigated the impact of gas flaring on roofing sheet (Odilison 1999, Efe 2003), air and water quality (Ekanem 2001), human health (Obajimi 1998; Oniero and Aboribo 2001) and on national economy (Oghifo 2001). Other studies associated gas flaring with increasing poverty among rural women (Obadina 2000, Gabriel 2004), climate change (Emerole 2008), and increase in political activism in the Niger Delta Region (Akingbade 2001). Although these studies differed in their findings and conclusions, some produced very astonishing results. For example, a study in Bayelsa State in 2005 found that gas flaring caused 49 roofing sheet corrosion, 120,000 asthma attacks and 8 additional cases of cancer (ERA and CJP 2005). Despite these efforts, studies on the impact of gas flaring on built environment are limited. Increasing concerns about long-term effects due to residential proximity to gas flaring points prompted this research since operations of industrial facilities near human habitations may lead to increased hazards and environmental degradation (Pezzoli et al 2007). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of gas flaring on the major components of the built environment, namely, buildings. These structures constitute elements that relate to public health and safety, local economy and cultural heritage (Transande et al 2009). Our working hypothesis was that greater exposure of buildings to gas flaring may be associated with their increased degradation.
1.2 AIMS OF THE STUDY
Therefore, primarily, this research aims to analyse the validity of existing literature on this subject before adopting an analysis methodology. In that vein, this research aims to discuss the composition of the flared gases, how it affects the building – specifically the roofing sheet and how it affects the life expectancy of the indigenes of Imiringi village, Ogbia municipality in Bayelsa state. Furthermore, the negative effects of the flaring activity on the built environments within the axis of the refinery in the community will be discussed and this study will postulate why this practice should be discouraged.
1.3 LIMITATION OF STUDY
This research is primarily focused on discussing the health implication of this practice on the people and its effect on the building and the built environment. Imiringi village, Ogbia municipality – Bayelsa state, Nigeria will be the subject of this research. The social, economic, political, laws and reforms effects of it will not be discussed within this context.
1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of gas flaring on the major components of the built environment, namely, buildings – the roofing sheet.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This project was designed to investigate the adverse effects of gas flaring on galvanized roofing sheets at Ogbia Community, Bayelsa state. While these sheets are inanimate, the corrosive effect on them when exposed to gas flaring gives an indication of how serious the effects are on some human organs including the skin, eyes, ears, skull, lungs
etc. Gas flaring leads to emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and a variety of air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (which include carcinogen and air toxics) nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), toxic heavy metals and black carbon soot.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions will be answered during the course of the study:
- How does gas flaring affect roofing sheet?
- Does gas flaring affect other part of human life?
- What impact does gas flaring have on the inhabitant of Ogbia community, Bayelsa State?
- To what extent are the impacts of gas flaring on the indigenes of the community?
- What are the remedies to the gas flaring?
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The following hypothetical statements serve as a direction on which the work will be premised:
HO1: There is no significant relationship between gas flaring and roofing sheet
HO2: There is no significant effect of gas flaring on the indigene of the community.
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