Impact of Gas Flaring on Cardiopulmonary Parameters of Residents in Gas Flaring Communities in Niger Delta Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of gas flare on cardiopulmonary parameters in some states of the Niger Delta. The study aimed to determine the impact of gas flare on blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, peak expiratory flow rate and associated changes of these parameters with duration of exposure to gas flare. Two communities (a test and a control) were studied in five states in the Niger Delta - Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Delta. The study adopted the direct administration of questionnaire, observation, recording and free medical checkup methods. The stratified random sampling method was used. The sample size was 1008 participants (504 in gas flaring communities and 504 in non-gas flaring communities). The electronic blood pressure kit was used to measure blood pressure and pulse rate of participants. Respiratory rate of participants was manually recorded while the peak flow meter was used to measure the peak expiratory flow rate of participants. The questionnaire was directly administered to obtain vital information from participants. Data generated were expressed as mean ± SD. A significant difference between the means was determined by student t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). A level of p≤0.05 was accepted as significant. Findings showed that gas flare increases mean blood pressure (GFC-184.96±24.07, NGFC- 123.00±2.96), pulse rate (GFC-100.37±3.79, NGFC-78.09±4.68) and respiratory rate (GFC-33.63±0.80, NGFC-23.83±0.82) of residents in gas flaring communities. There was a decrease in mean peak expiratory flow rate (GFC-272.78±16.79, NGFC-460.83±6.53) of residents in gas flaring communities. Findings also showed that these cardiopulmonary parameters increases with longer duration of exposure (blood pressure >10 years -125.10±7.47, 1-5 years -117.25±3.81, pulse rate >10years-91.84±1.77, 1-5 years- 85.16±5.14 and respiratory rate-26.64±2.08, 1-5 years 24.00±1.51), except peak expiratory flow rate that decreases with duration of exposure (>10 years 301±88, 1-5 years 313.87±35.64).