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A Review of Impacts of Gas Flaring on Vegetation and Water Resources in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Received: 12 May 2017     Accepted: 6 June 2017     Published: 14 July 2017
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Abstract

Nigeria is an oil and gas producing nation. The Niger Delta is the Nigerian oil and gas province. About 10 – 40% of produced associated gas is underutilized and is flared into the environment. This is the usual trend in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Gas flaring has adverse impacts on the environmental components and its associated biota. This paper reviews the impacts of gas flaring on the vegetation and water quality resources in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study found that gas flaring alters water ions (especially sulphate, carbonate, nitrate), pH, conductivity heavy metals (such as lead and iron) concentration especially in rainwater. It also affects vegetation leading to decrease in growth and productivity probably due to changes in soil quality parameters. The paper concludes by suggesting promulgation/implementation of gas glaring laws in Nigeria.

Published in International Journal of Economy, Energy and Environment (Volume 2, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijeee.20170204.11
Page(s) 48-55
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

Gas Flaring, Impacts, Vegetation Structure, Water Quality

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    Enetimi Idah Seiyaboh, Sylvester Chibueze Izah. (2017). A Review of Impacts of Gas Flaring on Vegetation and Water Resources in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. International Journal of Economy, Energy and Environment, 2(4), 48-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijeee.20170204.11

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    Enetimi Idah Seiyaboh; Sylvester Chibueze Izah. A Review of Impacts of Gas Flaring on Vegetation and Water Resources in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Int. J. Econ. Energy Environ. 2017, 2(4), 48-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijeee.20170204.11

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    AMA Style

    Enetimi Idah Seiyaboh, Sylvester Chibueze Izah. A Review of Impacts of Gas Flaring on Vegetation and Water Resources in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Int J Econ Energy Environ. 2017;2(4):48-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijeee.20170204.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijeee.20170204.11,
      author = {Enetimi Idah Seiyaboh and Sylvester Chibueze Izah},
      title = {A Review of Impacts of Gas Flaring on Vegetation and Water Resources in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria},
      journal = {International Journal of Economy, Energy and Environment},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {48-55},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijeee.20170204.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijeee.20170204.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijeee.20170204.11},
      abstract = {Nigeria is an oil and gas producing nation. The Niger Delta is the Nigerian oil and gas province. About 10 – 40% of produced associated gas is underutilized and is flared into the environment. This is the usual trend in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Gas flaring has adverse impacts on the environmental components and its associated biota. This paper reviews the impacts of gas flaring on the vegetation and water quality resources in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study found that gas flaring alters water ions (especially sulphate, carbonate, nitrate), pH, conductivity heavy metals (such as lead and iron) concentration especially in rainwater. It also affects vegetation leading to decrease in growth and productivity probably due to changes in soil quality parameters. The paper concludes by suggesting promulgation/implementation of gas glaring laws in Nigeria.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    AU  - Enetimi Idah Seiyaboh
    AU  - Sylvester Chibueze Izah
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijeee.20170204.11
    T2  - International Journal of Economy, Energy and Environment
    JF  - International Journal of Economy, Energy and Environment
    JO  - International Journal of Economy, Energy and Environment
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    AB  - Nigeria is an oil and gas producing nation. The Niger Delta is the Nigerian oil and gas province. About 10 – 40% of produced associated gas is underutilized and is flared into the environment. This is the usual trend in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Gas flaring has adverse impacts on the environmental components and its associated biota. This paper reviews the impacts of gas flaring on the vegetation and water quality resources in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study found that gas flaring alters water ions (especially sulphate, carbonate, nitrate), pH, conductivity heavy metals (such as lead and iron) concentration especially in rainwater. It also affects vegetation leading to decrease in growth and productivity probably due to changes in soil quality parameters. The paper concludes by suggesting promulgation/implementation of gas glaring laws in Nigeria.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 4
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Author Information
  • Department of Biological Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria

  • Department of Biological Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria

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