Air Quality Implications of Gas Flaring in Communities Prone to Oil and Gas Activities in Rivers State

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the air quality implications of gas flaring in selected communities prone to oil and gas activities in Rivers State. The study made use of both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected from field measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), carbon monoxide (CO), suspended particulate matter (SPM), noise levels, wind speed, relative humidity and temperature while secondary data were retrieved from online journals and published articles. The results revealed that the mean concentration of NO₂, SO₂, H₂S and CO ranged from 0.03ppm-0.4ppm, 0.01ppm-0.59ppm, 0.01ppm-0.3ppm and 0.83ppm-11.12ppm respectively.  SPM concentration ranged from 2.06mg/m³-9.76mg/m³ while noise levels ranged from 67.3dBA-71.2dBA. Analysis of meteorological variables revealed that wind speed, relative humidity and temperature ranged from 0.48m/s - l.38m/s, 62.4% - 69.7% and 32.6⁰C - 38.0⁰C, respectively. ANOVA analysis on the variation in air quality parameters and noise levels between the flare site and control site showed a value of 0.00., implying a statistically significant variation in air quality parameters and noise levels between the flare site and control site. Pearson Product Moment Correlation computed for hypothesis 2 revealed that there is no statistically significant relationship between micro-climatic parameters (Temperature, relative humidity, wind speed) and the concentration levels of carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen oxide (NO₂).