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AMBIO 2013, 42:685701DOI 10.1007/s13280-013-0412-8
REPORT
Oil Contamination in Ogoniland, Niger Delta
Olof Lindn, Jonas Plsson
Received: 13 July 2012 / Revised: 19 November 2012 / Accepted: 29 April 2013 / Published online: 8 June 2013
Abstract The study shows extensive oil contamination of rivers, creeks, and ground waters in Ogoniland, Nigeria. The levels found in the more contaminated sites are high enough to cause severe impacts on the ecosystem and human health: extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPHs) ([10-C40) in surface waters up to 7420 lg L-1, drinking water wells show up to 42 200 lg L-1, and benzene up to 9000 lg L-1, more than 900 times the WHO guidelines. EPH concentrations in sediments were up to 17 900 mg kg-1. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations reached 8.0 mg kg-1, in the
most contaminated sites. The contamination has killed large areas of mangroves. Although the natural conditions for degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons are favorable with high temperatures and relatively high rainfall, the recovery of contaminated areas is prevented due to the chronic character of the contamination. Oil spills of varying magnitude originates from facilities and pipelines; leaks from aging, dilapidated, and abandoned infrastructure; and from spills during transport and artisanal rening of stolen oil under very primitive conditions.
Keywords Nigeria Niger Delta Ogoniland
Oil spill Pollution Mangrove
INTRODUCTION
Oil contamination originating from anthropogenic activities such as drilling operations and transportation is a well-known and well-studied environmental pollution problem. However, due to their visibility and dramatic appearance,
oil spills still attract the attention of the media and consequently the public and politicians, as in the case of the Deepwater Horizon blowout in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. However, the oil spills occurring in the Niger Delta have received less attention in global media, despite signicantly higher impacts on human health and the local ecology (UNEP 2011).
Oil spills mainly impact vegetation and wildlife, such as seabirds. Most of the impacts are due to the physical characteristics of the oil. The adhesive properties lead to reduced mobility and dissolution of natural fats and waxes on body surfaces, feathers etc. (NRC 2003; ITOPF 2011a). Certain aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons may also cause direct toxic impacts due to ingestion or penetration through body surfaces such as gills (Middleditch 1984; Jenssen 1996;...