Outdoor Air Quality and Acid Rains within Warri Refinery and Its Environs

Abstract

The focus of the research was to assess the impact of the Warri Refinery operations on the outdoor air quality within the refinery and its environs. The Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) is an industrial complex of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) downstream sector, located between Ekpan and Ubeji communities of Delta state of Nigeria. Outdoor air quality within the refinery, Ubeji and Ekpan communities were checked for the concentration of hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, toluene, benzene and perchloroethylene. The results from the study revealed the presence of benzene, toluene and hydrogen sulphide within the outdoor air of the refinery and its environs in almost constant concentrations. However, these gases/vapours are present in concentrations lower than the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) listed limits. Also, rain water samples from within the refinery, Ubeji and Ekpan communities were collected for three consecutive years during the raining season and the water samples checked for acidity. There were complaints by some residents of the environs about frequent eye irritation which they link to the rather heavy gaseous emissions. The results from the study also further underscores the need for continuous monitoring of outdoor air quality especially in settlements and rural communities bordering areas with high industrial activities.