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Environmental Effect of Gas Flaring on the Soil pH Value in Some Communities in Niger Delta of Nigeria

Received: 15 November 2016     Accepted: 29 November 2016     Published: 4 January 2017
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Abstract

This paper presents the environmental effects of gas flaring on pH values of the soil and rain water in some areas in Niger Delta. Different soil samples and rain water at various proximities from the gas flaring locations were taken. The samples collected were evaluated to determine the pH values of rain-water and that of the soil in the area under investigation. The result obtained shows a remarkable trend as the values of the pH of the soil and that of the rain water increased as we moved away from the gas flaring stations. The pH actually changed from extreme acidic (3.5 - 4.4) to moderate alkaline (7.9 - 8.4) as we moved away from the flaring points. The pH values tend to normalize at distances of more than 2 km away from most of the gas flaring points. The low pH values imply that there is formation of acid rain which has dangerous consequences on the environment and on the plants and animals. The resultant health implications of extreme acidity in the rain water and consequently in the soil was also discussed.

Published in American Journal of Physics and Applications (Volume 4, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpa.20160406.14
Page(s) 158-164
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

pH Values, Acid Rain, Environmental Effects, Gas Flaring, Dangerous Consequences

References
[1] Abdulkareem, A. D., Odigure, J. O &Benege, S. (2010): Predictive Model for Pollutant Dispersion from Gas Flaring: A Case Study of Oil Producing Area in Nigeria. Journal of Energy Sources, Part A, 1004-1015. ISSN 1556-7036.
[2] Anee, J., 2004. Oil of Poverty in the Niger Delta. A Publication of the Africa. Network for Environment and Economic Justice. Retrieved from: www.fao.org/docrep/003/x8346E/x8346e02.htmp1-10.
[3] Ansalem, O. A. (2013): Negative Effects of Gas Flaring, the Nigerian Experience. Journal of Environmental Pollution and Human Health, 1(1): 6–8.
[4] Avwiri, G O; Nte, F: Environmental sound quality of some selected flow Stations in the Niger delta of Nigeria; Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) - University of Port Harcourt ISSN: 1119-8362Vol. 7, Num. 2, 2003, pp. 75-77
[5] Awosika, L. F. (1995) Impacts of Global Climate Change and Sea Level Rise on Coastal Resources and Energy Development in Nigeria. In: Umolu, J. C., (Ed.), Global Climate Change: Impact on Energy Development. DAMTECH Nigeria Ltd., Nigeria.
[6] Ewona, I. O., Osang, J. E, Obi, E. O., Udoimuk A. B., Ushie, P. O.: Air Quality And Environmental Health In Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria: (2013): IOSR Journal Of Environmental Science, Toxicology And Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT) e-ISSN: 2319-2402, p- ISSN: 2319-2399. Volume 6, Issue 6 (Nov. - Dec. 2013), PP 55-65 www.iosrjournal.org
[7] FAO, 2008. Expert Meeting on Global Perspectives on Fuel and Food Security: Technical Report, 18-20 February, Rome.
[8] Jike, T. V, 2004. Environmental Degradation, Social Disequilibrum and the Dilemma of Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. J. Black Stud, 34(5): 686-701.
[9] Nyong, A.; Adesina, F and OsmanElasha, B (2007). The Value of Indigenous Knowledge in Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies in the African Sahel. Journal of Mitigation, Adaptation and Strategic Global Change, Vol. 12, 787-789.
[10] Obi, E. O., Osang, J. E., Ewona, I. O., Udoimuk A. B.,Kamgba, F. A. (2013):, Environmental health Effect and Air Pollution from cigarette smokers in Cross River State, Nigeria;www.iosrjournal.org
[11] Penner, J. E. (1999) Aviation and global atmosphere, Inter governmental parley on climate change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 2-4, 1999.
[12] U. S. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Washington, DC. “Soil Survey Programs” 2009.
[13] Yusuf, R. O. & Oyewunmi, M. O. (2008) Qualitative Assessment of Methane Generation Potential from Municipal Solid Wastes: A case study. Environmental Research Journal, 2(4): 138-144.
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  • APA Style

    Obi E. O., Osang J. E., Pekene D. B. (2017). Environmental Effect of Gas Flaring on the Soil pH Value in Some Communities in Niger Delta of Nigeria. American Journal of Physics and Applications, 4(6), 158-164. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20160406.14

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    ACS Style

    Obi E. O.; Osang J. E.; Pekene D. B. Environmental Effect of Gas Flaring on the Soil pH Value in Some Communities in Niger Delta of Nigeria. Am. J. Phys. Appl. 2017, 4(6), 158-164. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpa.20160406.14

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    AMA Style

    Obi E. O., Osang J. E., Pekene D. B. Environmental Effect of Gas Flaring on the Soil pH Value in Some Communities in Niger Delta of Nigeria. Am J Phys Appl. 2017;4(6):158-164. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpa.20160406.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpa.20160406.14,
      author = {Obi E. O. and Osang J. E. and Pekene D. B.},
      title = {Environmental Effect of Gas Flaring on the Soil pH Value in Some Communities in Niger Delta of Nigeria},
      journal = {American Journal of Physics and Applications},
      volume = {4},
      number = {6},
      pages = {158-164},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpa.20160406.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20160406.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpa.20160406.14},
      abstract = {This paper presents the environmental effects of gas flaring on pH values of the soil and rain water in some areas in Niger Delta. Different soil samples and rain water at various proximities from the gas flaring locations were taken. The samples collected were evaluated to determine the pH values of rain-water and that of the soil in the area under investigation. The result obtained shows a remarkable trend as the values of the pH of the soil and that of the rain water increased as we moved away from the gas flaring stations. The pH actually changed from extreme acidic (3.5 - 4.4) to moderate alkaline (7.9 - 8.4) as we moved away from the flaring points. The pH values tend to normalize at distances of more than 2 km away from most of the gas flaring points. The low pH values imply that there is formation of acid rain which has dangerous consequences on the environment and on the plants and animals. The resultant health implications of extreme acidity in the rain water and consequently in the soil was also discussed.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    T1  - Environmental Effect of Gas Flaring on the Soil pH Value in Some Communities in Niger Delta of Nigeria
    AU  - Obi E. O.
    AU  - Osang J. E.
    AU  - Pekene D. B.
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20160406.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpa.20160406.14
    T2  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
    JF  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
    JO  - American Journal of Physics and Applications
    SP  - 158
    EP  - 164
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-4308
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpa.20160406.14
    AB  - This paper presents the environmental effects of gas flaring on pH values of the soil and rain water in some areas in Niger Delta. Different soil samples and rain water at various proximities from the gas flaring locations were taken. The samples collected were evaluated to determine the pH values of rain-water and that of the soil in the area under investigation. The result obtained shows a remarkable trend as the values of the pH of the soil and that of the rain water increased as we moved away from the gas flaring stations. The pH actually changed from extreme acidic (3.5 - 4.4) to moderate alkaline (7.9 - 8.4) as we moved away from the flaring points. The pH values tend to normalize at distances of more than 2 km away from most of the gas flaring points. The low pH values imply that there is formation of acid rain which has dangerous consequences on the environment and on the plants and animals. The resultant health implications of extreme acidity in the rain water and consequently in the soil was also discussed.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Physics, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria

  • Department of Physics, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria

  • Department of Physics, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria

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