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Elevated Indoor Volatile Organic Compound Exposure in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • Kalé Z. Kponee

    (Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Jamaji C. Nwanaji-Enwerem

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and MD-PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Xianqiang Fu

    (School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA)

  • Iyenemi I. Kakulu

    (Department of Estate Management, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State PMB 5080, Nigeria)

  • Marc G. Weisskopf

    (Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Chunrong Jia

    (School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA)

Abstract

The implications of environmental contamination on human health in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria remain a topic of growing international public health interest. To better understand ongoing air pollution and initiate remediation efforts, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report recommended the monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) across different media (water, soil, and air) in Ogoniland, an at-risk population in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. In this pilot study, we measured indoor VOC concentrations in the indoor air of 20 households in Ogale, an Ogoniland community whose groundwater system is contaminated with benzene at levels 900 times the World Health Organization guidelines and evaluated self-reported health conditions and predicted cancer risks and hazards from inhalation exposure to VOCs. We detected higher concentrations of benzene (mean = 25.7 μg/m 3 , SD = 23.2 μg/m 3 ) and naphthalene (mean = 7.6 μg/m 3 , SD = 13.8 μg/m 3 ) than has been reported in other regions. Although study participants reported health symptoms consistent with VOC exposure, we were underpowered to detect a significant association between select indoor VOCs and these self-reported health symptoms using univariate logistic regression models. These findings suggest that that the health symptoms reported by participants may be poor proxies for the underlying disease processes associated with adverse health outcomes due to VOC exposure in this community and that the burden of adverse health effects due to VOC exposure may stem from the contaminated groundwater system. We estimated a non-cancer hazard quotient of 3 from exposure to naphthalene and lifetime excess cancer risks from exposure to naphthalene, benzene, p-dichlorobenzene, carbon tetrachloride, and ethylbenzene of 3 × 10 −4 , 2 × 10 −4 , 6 × 10 −5 , 6 × 10 −6 , and 1 × 10 −5 , respectively. These results exceed common risk benchmarks in the United States, suggesting a need for further studies to characterize VOC exposures, sources, and associated health risks in the Niger Delta.

Suggested Citation

  • Kalé Z. Kponee & Jamaji C. Nwanaji-Enwerem & Xianqiang Fu & Iyenemi I. Kakulu & Marc G. Weisskopf & Chunrong Jia, 2018. "Elevated Indoor Volatile Organic Compound Exposure in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1939-:d:168141
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jerome Nriagu & Emilia A. Udofia & Ibanga Ekong & Godwin Ebuk, 2016. "Health Risks Associated with Oil Pollution in the Niger Delta, Nigeria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, March.
    2. Richard Boele & Heike Fabig & David Wheeler, 2001. "Shell, Nigeria and the Ogoni. A study in unsustainable development: I. The story of Shell, Nigeria and the Ogoni people - environment, economy, relationships: conflict and prospects for resolution," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 9(2), pages 74-86.
    3. Nerlis Pajaro-Castro & Karina Caballero-Gallardo & Jesus Olivero-Verbel, 2017. "Toxicity of Naphthalene and Benzene on Tribollium castaneum Herbst," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-10, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Onyemaechi Nwanaji-Enwerem & Andrea A. Baccarelli & Brian D. Curwin & Ami R. Zota & Jamaji C. Nwanaji-Enwerem, 2022. "Environmentally Just Futures: A Collection of Community-Driven African Environmental Education and Improvement Initiatives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-6, May.
    2. Jinsung An & Dong-Jun Baek & Jiseok Hong & Eunsoo Choi & Ijung Kim, 2022. "Continuous VOCs Monitoring in Saturated and Unsaturated Zones Using Thermal Desorber and Gas Chromatography: System Development and Field Application," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-11, March.

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