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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 10, No. 9
Publication Date: September 25, 2023
DOI:10.14738/assrj.109.15572.
Akpan, E. E. (2023). Adverse Impacts of Oil Spills on Marine, Lowland and Upland Ecosystems of Niger Delta of Nigeria and the
Control Measures. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 10(9). 288-301.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Adverse Impacts of Oil Spills on Marine, Lowland and Upland
Ecosystems of Niger Delta of Nigeria and the Control Measures
Etuk Etiese Akpan
Clean Nigeria Associates Limited/Gte 18
Ken Sarowiwa Road Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
An oil spill is the accidental or deliberate release of oil into the environment
whether terrestrial or marine. Oil spill pollution is a growing environmental
concern that harms both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The Niger Delta Region
of Nigeria is a plausible victim of these frequent oil spillages caused by equipment
failures, corrosion, human errors, willful damages of pipelines and installations and
accident etc. The released oil impacts the soil fertility of the region, the surface
water, ground water aquifer and the entire marine habitats leading to health
challenges, diseases and death, unemployment, and poverty in the region. Pollution
sometimes traverses through the food chain to the human consumers. Possible
remedial actions include prevention of oil spills, prompt intervention when they
occur by containment, recovery and clean up of the spills. Environmental
restoration may be required to resuscitate the soil fertility to continue to support
agricultural efforts of the local communities in the region.
Keywords: Pollutions, Spills, Impacts, Fertility, Contaminants, Marine, Lowland, Upland,
Ecosystem.
INTRODUCTION
This study examines the adverse environmental impacts due to oil spills on land and marine
habitats and the control measures. Particular focus is on the land and Marine Environments of
the Region, where most of the oil explorations and exploitation activities are rampant.
The spill impacts are both on the physical and biological components of the ecosystem including
the marine and land environments. In the process, soil fertility and water quality are adversely
impacted by the pollution.
The extend of pollution is directly proportional to the impact on soil fertility and the water
quality in the ecosystem.
Oil spills in land or marine environment can have wide-spread impact and long-term
consequences on the soil fertility, wildlife, fisheries, coastal and marine habitats, human health
and livelihood, as well as recreational resources of coastal communities and the ancestral
heritage. Oil spill effects on fish, sea birds and other marine life are mostly due to the
smothering and physical contamination or due to the toxicity of the chemical components of
the oil. Ezeji et al (2007).
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Akpan, E. E. (2023). Adverse Impacts of Oil Spills on Marine, Lowland and Upland Ecosystems of Niger Delta of Nigeria and the Control Measures.
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 10(9). 288-301.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.109.15572
The fisheries and mariculture sector are impacted by the physical oiling of equipment and
contamination of seafood leading to tainting and the effects on commercial and subsistence
fisheries lead to substantial losses.
The repercussions of contaminated seafood on public perception are very serious and requires
restoration of market confidence and public health assurances. The impact of oil spills on land,
coastal and marine environments can be both short and long term. The degree of the damage
caused by an oil spill event depends primarily upon the quantity of oil spilt, the chemistry and
properties (type) of the oil and the sensitivity of the biological resources impacted in the
ecosystem. Pyagbara, L. (2007).
Oil Impacts on Soil
The incidence of oil spillage constitutes serious soil degradation in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
Resulting in extensive depletion of the soil flora and fauna in the ecosystem. Ezeji et al (2007).
These spills are caused from equipment failures, leaks from corroded equipment, vandalisation
(sabotage) and other operational defects. The spilled crude oil from the source, through a
plausible transport mechanism and exposure pathway, gets to the innocent receptors - soil,
vegetation, surface and ground water, marine environment, animals and humans - and pollute
the environmental media. The soil fertility, measured by physical, chemical and biological
parameters, is adversely affected. Abii et al (2009). High oil concentration on soil not only
reduces the amount of water and oxygen available for plant growth, but also interferes with
soil-plant – water relationships through direct physical contact (coating of root tissues) thereby
adversely affecting soil fertility and plant growth. Okoye et al (2014).
The impacts include loss in the productive capability and capacity of soil, with implications on
living organisms and economically on the people in the polluted area, and consequently high
poverty rate and unemployment. This study examined the application of enhanced natural
attenuation process in the remediation of oil polluted soil in the Lowland and upland Ecosystem
in the Niger Delta. It examined the effect of oil pollution on soil fertility in the region, examined
the relationship between soil nutrients and oil pollutants in the polluted soil in the study area
and how intervention by enhanced natural process of bioremediation improve soil fertility.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A farmland settlement contaminated with crude oil located in Egbeda, Rivers State, Nigeria, was
used for the study. The test soil obtained was sandy soil. The preliminary process of
bioremediation took a period of 24weeks. The bioremediation process comprises field
experiment and laboratory simulation, with some physiochemical and microbial analyses. Soil
sample were taken from the sampling grid design points. Samples were taken from a depth of
0-0.50metres. The concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), nitrogen and
phosphorus were determined via laboratory analysis. These physiochemical parameters were
monitored once every two weeks for a period of 24weeks.
Remediation by Enhanced Natural Attenuation (RENA) Techniques:
Applied RENA techniques:
The following techniques were employed to treat the contaminated farmland.
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 10, Issue 9, September-2023
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Spiking of Test Soils with Water
The soils were spiked with water uniformly to soften the soil and to allow the water penetrate
the soil matrix.
Figure 1: Spiking of the Soil
Initial Tilling
The soils were tilled in a week after they were spiked, that is mixing the soil and breaking the
lumps. This was done using shovel, composite samples were collected and sent to the
laboratory for physiochemical and microbial evaluation.
Secondary Tilling
The soils were tilled and homogenized a week after the initial tilling. The lumps were broken
to very fine particles with a shovel and a rake. The essence of the tilling and homogenization
was to uniformly distribute the petroleum contaminants and break up the soil lumps to fine
particles thereby increasing the surface area. The composite samples were taken for analysis.
Windrow Construction
Windrows/ridges were constructed after the secondary tilling of the test site. The ridges
measured about 2feet high and 4feet wide. The windrows are made to achieve better aeration
and optimize the efficiency of the attenuation processes in action, which exposes the
microorganisms to oxygen, and aids in the biodegradation process of the petroleum
hydrocarbon. Soil samples were taken for analysis.
Figure 2: Windrows Construction