PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION by ATAKE-ENADE CADMUS

PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION 

by   ATAKE-ENADE CADMUS

The Nigerian Niger Delta region is known to be the most productive Delta in the world with abundant natural resources and biodiversity, this region play host to the major oil companies in the world such as Shell, Chevron, Texaco, Exomobil, among others. Since the discovery of oil in the region in 1956 in   Oloribiri Ogbia L.G.A of Bayelsa State, there have been series of environmental degradation and pollutions due to oil spills and gas flaring from mining and extractive activities.

This region though rich in natural resources and biodiversity is known to be the most under developed and impoverished in Nigeria.   The inhabitant of this region lacks the basic amenities of life such as good roads, pipe borne water, adequate food supplies and good health facilities which have lead to the deaths of many as a result of disease ravaging the land by pollution from extractive industries such as oil spills and gas flares.  

GAS FLARING

The world knows that the climate change challenge currently going on is caused by the release of carbon into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels/gas flaring.

Gas flaring entails burning of the natural gas associated with crude oil during extraction in places where there is no infrastructure to trap and make use of the gas. It is a process in which gas is released by pressure valve and burned-thereby releasing tones of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in a report by Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (FOEN) in 2005, about 2.5billion cubic feet of gas is flared every day.  These flares have contributed large volumes of green house gases than all of sub-Africa combine as well as the release of several dangerous toxins into the atmosphere, polluting the soil and thereby affecting the health and well being of the Niger Delta communities, exposing the inhabitants to an increased risk of premature deaths, respiratory illness such as asthma, cancer and sometimes miscarriages in pregnant women.

COMPOSITION OF FLARED GASES/GAS FLARING

The associated gas flared during oil production gives rise to the release of harmful particulate matter which comprises smoke, sulfur, CFCs and some unburned full compounds such as toluene, Benzene, and xylene, which are toxic to human health.

EFFECT OF GAS FLARING

The combination from these chemical  substances lead to significant health problems such as asthma ,coughing, and difficulty in breathing, chest pains, chronic Bronchitis and possibly premature death which have been which have been reported among children  and adults in the Niger Delta.

It has also been clearly established that exposure to benzene and its metabolites cause acute leukemia and other blood related diseases in humans exposed to these toxins released from gas flares.

AIR POLLUTION FROM GAS FLARES AND ASTHMA

Asthma is a chronic condition that has no known for now cure for now, but can be controlled /managed.

It is a condition in which the air ways narrows and swell and produce extra mucus which makes breathing difficult and triggers coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. This is a very common ailment in the Niger Delta region today yet little or no attention is given to it.

It is a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life threatening cases (in some cases death when not properly managed).

A lot of Nigerians most especially those in the Niger Delta, are carriers of this deadly ailment and yet they don’t have a clue to what it is and what causes it, unlike US, in which about 20million people are intimately acquainted with the symptoms of asthma attack but in Nigeria’s Niger Delta nothing of such. 

ASTHMA SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

For possible diagnosis and identification of this ailment (asthma) some symptoms and signs have been observed by physicians over the years which have helped in the management of the ailment worldwide. 

Asthma symptoms range from minor to severe and vary from person to person. You may have infrequent asthma attacks, have symptoms only at certain times — such as when exercising.

Asthma signs and symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness or pain
• Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
• A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (wheezing is a common sign of asthma in children)
• Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu

For some people, asthma symptoms flare up in certain situations: 

• Exercise-induced asthma, which may be worse when the air is cold and dry
• Occupational asthma, triggered by workplace irritants such as chemical fumes, gases or dust
• Allergy-induced asthma, triggered by particular allergens, such as pet dander, cockroaches or pollen

Causes

It isn't clear why some people get asthma and others don't, but it's probably due to a combination of environmental and genetic (inherited) factors with its major causes linked to air pollutions from industrial and mining activities such as gas flaring, fumes from oil spills among others.

Asthma triggers
Exposure to various substances that trigger allergies (allergens) and irritants can trigger signs and symptoms of asthma. Asthma triggers differ from person to person but the major causes of asthma in the Niger Delta region is air pollution from gas flares and oil spills others include:

·        Air pollutants and irritants, such as smoke, dust particles and choking smells from oil spills and gas flares.

·        Sulfites and preservatives added to some types of foods and beverages

·        Airborne allergens, such as pollen, animal dander, mold, cockroaches and dust mites

·        Allergic reactions to some foods, such as peanuts or shellfish

·        Respiratory infections, such as the common cold

·        Strong emotions and stress

·        Physical activity (exercise-induced asthma)

·        Cold air

·        Menstrual cycle in some women

Is therefore Recommended that

·       Gas flaring should be stopped permanently in the Niger delta region

·       Proper medical attention should be given to asthmatic patients all around Niger Delta region

·       Crude oil should be left in the soil and tar sand in their hole.

·       Asthma cases should be treated as emergency cases Nationwide.

·       Free medical attention and check up should be given to asthmatic patients.

·       Asthma care centers should be opened in all general hospitals in the Niger Delta area.

Gas flaring has been declared illegal in Nigeria but yet gas is still been fared daily in the Niger Delta region thereby causing harm to the people and a huge loss to the Nigerian economy hence it should be stopped totally.