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Prolonged Gas Flaring and Water Quality in Obiakpu Egbema, IMO State, Nigeria

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Human Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, NIGERIA
  • 2 Department of Human Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, NIGERIA
  • 3 Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, NIGERIA
  • 4 Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NIGERIA

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 2, Issue (4), Pages 15-20, April,22 (2013)

Abstract

Water is essential for life, though human activities have made some water sources unsuitable for human comsumption. This study evaluated the effects of gas flaring on the physico-chemical characteristics of water sources at Obiakpu, Egbema , Nigeria. Surface and ground water samples from the area were compared with samples from Alaoma Owerre-Ebeiri, a non gas flared community. Both water sources were then compared with WHO standards for drinking water. The results revealed that water sources from the gas flared area have raised levels of conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, temperature, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand,chloride, nitrate, nitrites, magnesium, manganese, sulphates, cadmium, lead, copper, calcium, potassium and zinc when compared with water from non-gas flared sources. In conclusion, gas flaring can pollute water sources within oil and gas facilities, thereby making them unsuitable for human consumption. Oil and gas industries should therefore treat water sources within their areas of operations in addition to other remediation measures as part of their social responsibility.

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