Environmental Biogeochemistry

On a global scale, the Niger Delta region of Nigeria is one of the most crude oil impacted deltas, with the region witnessing over five decades of oil-related contamination resulting in severe environmental degradation. This persistent pollution is causing great damage to the environment with severe impacts on the health of flora, fauna and humans and affecting the livelihood of the inhabitants of these communities who gain their sources of income and nourishment from fishing, consumption of sea food and locally grown produce. Hence, there is an urgent need to assess the environmental and health impacts of crude oil spills on the local environment.

Aim of the Study

The aim of the study is to assess the environmental behaviour and risk to human health of crude oil contamination within an oil-impacted community to allow risk-focused practical recommendations to be made for low cost, sustainable methods of remediating oil-impacted environments.

Objectives of the Study

The following specific objectives will be addressed to deliver the aim of the research. To:

1. better understand the environmental behaviour and identify pathways for crude oil contamination using both field-based (collected samples from Niger delta) and laboratory based (artificially-spiked surrogate) methods;
2. conduct targeted field sampling of the local environment of the impacted community, and subsequent analysis of collected samples to determine the distribution and level of oil-related contamination in a range of environmental matrices including but not limited to soil, sediment and aquatic biota and the impact this has on the health of the system;
3. evaluate the potential for bioaccumulation of oil contaminants in the marine environment using a predictive ecosystem modelling approach to better understand the transfer pathways that contaminants could take;
4. identify the routes of exposure and the risk to aquatic biota, soil health and human health from crude oil contamination; and,
5. develop and test in situ remediation strategies (phytoremediation and bioremediation) including novel soil amendments for oil contaminated soils and sediments.

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Funded by: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

First published: 13 October 2023