Environmental risk factors and health outcomes in selected communities of the Niger delta area, Nigeria

Aims: The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of various health outcomes associated with exposure to environmental risk factors including industrial pollution in selected communities of Nigeria's oil-rich Niger delta area (NDA). Methods: The study involved both laboratory experiments and community health surveys using questionnaires and hospital records, A total of 14 air samples, 16 grab soil samples and 18 surface water samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters including heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using standard methods. A 77-item questionnaire was administered on randomly selected 349 subjects. A five-year record was collected from health facilities located in the two communities. Results: The laboratory results indicated that the median PAH level at Eleme as compared to Ahoada East was higher than the guideline limit 50 ng/l for surface waters. The mean TSP level at Eleme was higher than the level at Ahoada East and the guideline limit 100 mu g/m(3). The median PAH level at Eleme was higher than the level at Ahoada East and the guideline limit < 100 ng/m(3) for air. The survey results showed that at Eleme air pollution in the community was significantly associated with painful body outgrowths (p = 0.027) and the effect the air contaminants has was significantly associated with respiratory health problem (p = 0.044). At Ahoada East commonly consumed aquatic food was highly significantly associated with painful body outgrowth (p < 0.0001) while use of domestic cooking fuel types was also highly significantly associated with child deformities (p < 0.0001). Hospital records showed high proportions of respiratory disorder among males (3.85%) and females (4.39%) at Eleme as compared to the proportion of respiratory disorder among males (3.68%) and females (4.18%) at Ahoada East. Conclusions: The study shows that industrial communities such as Eleme, which are exposed to higher levels of air pollution, are more predisposed to respiratory morbidities, skin disorders and other related health risks.