Environmental and Health Consequences of Heavy Metals in Crude Oil-Polluted Soils in Ihwrekreka Community | Chapter 6 | Research Advances in Environment, Geography and Earth Science Vol. 8

Crude oil pollution has caused severe environmental issues and health risks in the Niger Delta, particularly affecting indigenous communities. This study aims to characterize and quantify heavy metal contamination in the soils of the Ihwrekreka community, a region significantly impacted by crude oil pollution due to illegal refining and bunkering activities. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for heavy metals using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentration ranges in mg/kg for metals found in the contaminated soil were 4.85–17,078 for copper (Cu), 1.01–16.1 for cadmium (Cd), 0.22–36.8 for chromium (Cr), 8.28–40.9 for nickel (Ni), 7.51–6,474 for lead (Pb), and 8.84–12,851 for zinc (Zn). These levels significantly exceed World Health Organization permissible limits, with Cu, Zn, and Pb identified as the most contaminating metals. A strong correlation (91.5%) was observed between Cr, Zn, and Ni, indicating the substantial contribution of crude oil pollution to heavy metal contamination in the soil. The hazard index for chromium indicates a high likelihood of adverse health effects from daily exposure. Elevated risk levels were also identified for zinc, copper, and lead. For example, hazard quotients for lead ingestion reached critical levels, with values up to 23.0 for children and 0.985 for adults. These findings highlight the urgent need for soil remediation and public health interventions. The study emphasizes the necessity of ongoing monitoring and protective measures to mitigate the health risks associated with heavy metal exposure from soil contamination.

 

Author(s) Details

 

Adedoyin Olubunmi Bankole
Center for Water Research, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Delta State, Nigeria P.M.B. 1221, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria and Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, College of Science, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, P.M.B. 1221, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria.

 

 

Akinyemi Olufemi Ogunkeyede
Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, College of Science, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, P.M.B. 1221, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria.

 

Taofik Adewale Adedosu
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ladoke Akintola University, Oyo State, Nigeria.

 

Uche Udeochu
Chemistry Program, Division of Science and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the District of Columbia, USA.

 

 

Harrison Agboro
Department of Biology and Environmental Science, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New Haven,300 Boston Post Road West Haven, CT 06516, US.

Benjamin Chinedu Odoh
Department of Biology and Environmental Science, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New Haven,300 Boston Post Road West Haven, CT 06516, US.

 

Khadijah Ateda Isimekhai
Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food Sciences. Ambrose Alli University, P.M.B 14, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.

 

Efe Jeffery Isukuru
Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, College of Science, Federal University of
Petroleum Resources, P.M.B. 1221, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria.

 

 

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/raeges/v8/1690

Human Health Risk Assessment under Uncertainty Via Possibilistic Approaches | Book Publisher International

Humans are significantly impacted by environmental pollutants that come from many artificial or man-made sources. The largest percentage of the radiation exposure to humans comes from the natural environment. Another cause of environmental contamination is the development of industry. Human exposure mostly occurs through air inhalation, water intake, food consumption, etc.

Therefore, it is necessary to conduct an assessment to ascertain the degree to which hazardous compounds' discharge into the environment would have an adverse effect on human health. In order to quantify the level of risk posed to people by environmentally dangerous chemicals, health risk assessments are performed. The Environmental Protection Agency, USA's health risk assessment models (EPA-USA, 2010) are used for this purpose. Models for assessing health risk depend on variables that are often of an unclear nature. To cope with the uncertain model parameters, a variety of fuzzy number types are taken into consideration. Additionally, a variety of arithmetic techniques are used to combine the fuzzy input values. Risk analyses for human health will now be carried out.

The Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence (DST) is next examined, and for that purpose, we first provide three methods for determining BPA when just the parameter's lowest, maximum, and most probable values are known. The arithmetic combination of interval focal elements is described in a similar manner. We talk about fuzzy focal elements and explain how to combine fuzzy focal elements using Dempster's rule. For fuzzy focal elements, we expanded the concept of the arithmetic combination of interval focal elements. The proposed arithmetic combination of focal elements (PACF) and Yager arithmetic combination of focal elements (YACF) are used to estimate risk for interval focal elements, and results are examined. Finally, fuzzy focus elements are used to do risk evaluation.

Few parameters in health risk assessment models are represented probabilistically, with mean and standard deviation (variance) provided as interval or fuzzy values. Some additional factors, however, are thought to be possibilistic. Therefore, the hybrid framework is also used for risk assessment.

Additionally, risk evaluation is carried out employing Probability-Possibility transformations. Similarly, utilising three separate situations and a probability-possibility transformation that satisfies consistency requirements, we have offered a comparative case study of the propagation of uncertainty.

Author(s) Details:

Palash Dutta,

Department of Mathematics, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh: Assam, India.

View Book: https://stm.bookpi.org/HHRAUVPA/article/view/7405