THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF OIL SPILL POLLUTION

IN NIGER DELTA REGION, NIGERIA

Yusuf I¹., Gambon.², Sule G.Tabita.³, Ibrahim. Binta.⁴

^1&2Department of Chemistry Umar Suleiman College of Education Gashua.

^3&4Preliminary Department Umar Suleiman College of Education Gashua.

Emails: ibrazuby@yahoo.com, ibratimah74@gmail.com.

ABSTRACT

An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially marine areas, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is usually applied to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land. Oil spills may be due to releases of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs and wells, as well as spills of refined petroleum products (such as gasoline and diesel). Oil spills penetrate into the structure of the feathers of birds and the fur of mammals, reducing its insulating ability, and making them more vulnerable. This study described the damages caused by the oil industries in the Niger Delta Region; they resulted in violations of the right to an adequate standard of living, including food and water, violations of the right to gain a living through work and violations of the right to health. Different plants and animal species which are known for long history have now disappeared as a result of crude oil exploration for over 50 years causing ecological damage to the region. The study look at the impact of the oil spills in the following areas (Water, soil fertility, fisheries as well as human health). Impact on soil oil spills reduced soil fertility as well as destroying economic trees and food crops either by completely killing trees or reducing their production yield. Impact on human health, oil spill is associated with a significant increase in the period prevalence for diarrhea, sore eyes, itchy, skin and occupational injuries, shock acute, renal failure, extensive epiderolysis, conjunctivitis, microsites, esophagitis and chemical Pollution on water bodies, the Niger Delta region’s ecosystem as noticed by the Shell Petroleum Development Company has undergone Sensitive changes in water quality such as salinity, PH, and heavy metals. 75% of families in the Niger Delta region rely on fishing in Land Rivers and offshore for income and food to survive, damage to fisheries is widely acknowledged. A study shows six major causes of death diseases in Nigeria (measles, tuberculosis, dysentery, tetanus, malaria and pneumonia) the coastal area forms a zone for these diseases as a result of oil spills.