Transcript Scope of presentation

OIL POLLUTION & HEALTH RISKS IN THE
NIGER DELTA
DR CAL AMAYO
(PRINCIPAL COORDINATOR, ETHIOPE FOUNDATION)
A presentation for the “Governance and Oil Extraction in the Niger
Delta” Seminar jointly organised by the IDEARS Centre (London
South Bank University) & the Ethiope Foundation, June 21st 2012
SCOPE OF PRESENTATION
Analysis of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP)
Report 2011 on environmental assessment of Ogoni Land
•
•Extrapolate
of the health hazards resulting from the oil extraction
in Niger delta
•Examination
of Benzene pollution incident in water (and air) as
the distinctly main the true main health risk to Niger Delta
residents
•Presentation
of remedial solutions the health hazards identified.
AIM
The incidence pollution health risks in the Niger Delta is
an acute “emergency problem”: Urgent action that is
urgently required to stem benzene toxicity afflicting
Niger Delta residents
OBJECTIVES
To assess the level of health hazard risks to Niger
Delta residents due their daily exposure to benzene
•
•To
develop new / introduce existing strategies and
techniques that can remedy / mitigate the risk of
exposure of Niger Delta residents to benzene
To develop and implement a robust health manage
structure as a starter program
•
BENZENE CONTAMINATION
•Sources
of human exposure to benzene
contamination:
•Drinking water (from borehole water, well water,
rain water & stream / river water)
•Outdoor
•Dermal
and indoor air
(skin) contact with (mainly ) surface water
(e.g. stream / river water)
DRINKING WATER
Sampled well
Benzene (μg/l)
001-005-BH-102
9,280
001-005-BH-103
161
001-005-BW-100
7,090
001-005-MED-101
8,370
001-005-GW-104
7,140
Nigerian Drinking water
3
EPA Maximum contaminant level goals
0
EPA Maximum contaminant level
5
UNEP assessment of water from wells
and boreholes in Ogoni vs standards
CONCENTRATION OF TOTAL HYDROCARBON IN
SURFACE WATER
Sampling location reference
Total hydrocarbons in microgram/litre
001-001
218
009-010
716
100-001
74
101-001
132
104-003
7,420
Examples from UNEP report from
Ogoni-30 sites tested, benzene
was 3/5 per weight of
hydrocarbons
BENZENE OUTDOOR/INDOOR AIR
Outdoor air samples
Benzene microgram/m3
UNEP report in ogoni
0.155-48.2
California 1996
2.26
From a cigarette emission
30-40
It was emission from cigarette that caused
cigarette smoking to be banned from public
places
WHAT DO WE MAKE OF ALL CONTAMINATIONS



Niger Delta residents are exposed to benzene at
levels of 1000 and more above the World Health
Organisation (WHO) guideline
No safe concentration of benzene can be
recommended because it is genotoxic and
carcinogenic (WHO)
All over the world benzene/hydrocarbon levels in
drinking water are monitored and if found above
MCL (5microgram/l) , the water is treated to
remove benzene
ADVERSE EFFECTS OF MODERATE AND LONG
TERM EXPOSURE TO BENZENE






Bone marrow damage –aplastic anaemia
Changes in circulating blood cells
Developmental and reproductive effects
Alterations of immune response
Nerve damage
Cancer
CANCER AND BENZENE EXPOSURE
Excess life time cancer risk
Corresponding concentration of benzene in the
air(WHO)in microgram/lm3
1 in 10,000
17
1 in 100,000
1.7
1 in 1000,000
0.17
A survey by UNEP to evaluate the effect of the pollution on the
health of the people was inconclusive-records unavailable
WHAT TO DO
1. Ensure that all drinking water wells where hydrocarbons
found are fitted with filters to remove hydrocarbons.
2. Provide adequate sources of drinking water to those
households whose drinking water supply is impacted
3. People who have been consuming water with benzene over
900 times the WHO guideline are recorded on a medical
registry and their health status assessed and followed up
4. Introduce information initiative around all the sites identified
as having contamination exceeding intervention values warning
the community not to walk through or engage in any other
activities at these sites
WHAT TO DO (CONT.)
6. Introduce information initiatives that warn / prohibit
residents from engaging in activities such as fish, swim or
bathing in surface waters that identified to be polluted by
benzene
7. Undertake household surveys to determine risks of past
and exposure to contaminated. In addition, each household
will receive personalised advice on the risks of benzene
contamination / exposure
8. Mount a public awareness campaign to warn individuals
who engage artisanal refining oil of the immanent risks of
such activities
STRUCTURE

Deployment of well equipped medical centres

Emphasis to screen, track and manage benzene
toxicity in water / human exposure

Set up agency to coordinate the removal benzene
from potable water

Introduce carbon filtration using aeration towers.
ACTION PLAN?

The Ethiope Foundation (EF) has put together a
comprehensive plan to address problems and implement
the strategies / techniques we recommend for health risk
mitigation

EF has built a number of working alliances with relevant
organisations in the UK and Nigeria focused on
eliminating health risks oil pollution to Niger Delta
residents


EF is also building working alliances with informal
traditional groups in the Niger Delta

The progress of the EF work will be reported in the
Ethiope Quarterly to be launched in December 2012 and
on our website - www.ethiope.org
.
THANK YOU