Community health perspective of gas flaring on communities in Delta region of Nigeria: narrative review

Abstract

The Nigerian gas flares emit as many imaginable pollutants that cause several health concerns. However, there is no comprehensive study done on the health impact of gas flaring on humans in Delta state. Hence, this paper seeks to identify the risks associated with gas flaring in relation to human health and the knowledge of gas flaring in the communities of Delta region of Nigeria. Following a non-systematic approach to develop this narrative, s tudies that link various diseases such as hypertension, cancers, birth defects, diabetes, respiratory problems, cardiovascular and kidney disease to gas flaring in the region, the risk perception and the policies and regulations were examined. Findings from most of the papers reviewed show an association between gas flaring and the diseases identified and prevalence of most of the diseases in oil and gas communities compared to areas where gas flaring is not practiced. In conclusion, insufficient data on the prevalence and association of diseases such as hypertension, cancers, birth defects, diabetes, respiratory problems, cardiovascular and kidney disease with gas flaring were some of the gaps identified. These results necessitate the need for epidemiological studies on the health effects of gas flaring on humans.