BUS 5004
Module 4
Research Process Assignment
TOPIC
Black soot's effects on the public health of Port Harcourt Residents
The city of Port Harcourt's air quality has been steadily declining, which has greatly
alarmed the population. There is the frequently seen, highly carbonized aerosols that are
commonly called "black soot." They originate from a variety of sources and settle as dry
deposition in the city. The universal presence of the ash comprises risks of air contamination and
hence apparently affect air quality, perceivability and at last worsens the changing environment
influences in Port Harcourt city and the encompassing networks in the area. Air contamination
significantly affects human wellbeing, influencing various frameworks and organs. They pose a
present and/or potential hazard to human health; based on clinical, epidemiological, and/or
animal studies which demonstrate that exposures to these pollutants are associated with health
effects (Kampa & Castanas, 2008), hence the need for this topic.
RESEARCH QUESTION
What are the effects of black soot on the health of residents in Port Harcourt?
KEYWORDS
Black soot, Effects, Health, Air Pollution, Carbon, Residents, Port Harcourt
DATABASES AND WEBSITES
Scholarly Sources
IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-
JESTFT)
Direct Research Journal of Social Science and Educational Studies
Non-scholarly Sources
Business Day Newspaper
Punch Newspaper
The Keywords and databases capture most of the information to be used in this research
work.
SUMMARY OF SCHOLARLY SOURCE #1
IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-
JESTFT)
Christopher & Ejikeme (2022) in their research work ‘Impact of Black Soot on Public
Health of Residents in Woji Community of Rivers State’ discovered that there was a
deterioration of health of the residents of the area due to the black soot in the atmosphere.
In order to determine the concentrations of heavy metals, total petroleum hydrocarbons
and polyaromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter within the study area's atmosphere, air
quality assessment was carried out. The study examined frequencies of diseases associated with
soot inhalation before and after 2016. Questionnaires were also administered to the residents in
the study area to determine the perceived impact of soot on their health (Christopher & Ejikeme,
2022).
Findings from this study revealed higher concentrations of soot particles in the five
sampling points (10.932 ppm, 10.773 ppm, 25.615 ppm, 30.802 ppm, 12.448 ppm) than in the
control point (5.905 ppm) and the World Health Organization’s permissible limit (0.0005 ppm)
(Christopher & Ejikeme, 2022). The trend of heavy metal concentrations found in this study is
similar to what was reported by Kalagbor et al. (2019) who analyzed the carcinogenic health
hazards of the heavy metals using the target hazard quotient (THQ) and the incremental lifetime
cancer risk (ILCR) and discovered that their presence in the environment increases the risk of
various cancers in children and residents of Port Harcourt. This reveals that Port Harcourt is a
town affected by black soot and hence the need for my study.
The study also revealed that severe catarrh, nose congestion, frequently cough, chest
pain, difficulty in breathing, fever, headache, etc. were the most common symptoms reported by
residents (Christopher & Ejikeme, 2022) and this was in agreement with the studies of
Highwood and Kinnersley, (2006); Grahame et al. (2014); Srinivasarao and Muralikrishna,
(2014). Highwood and Kinnersley (2006) noticed that dark carbon, to a great extent from
ignition processes, adds to unfortunate air quality and incites respiratory and cardiovascular
issues. Graham et al. (2014) found that black carbon from various sources appeared to be
causally related to lung cancer and cardiovascular mortality, morbidity, and potentially negative
reproductive and neurological effects. Fine particles are the most severe cause of lung damage
due to their ability to penetrate air, which is also a contributing factor to respiratory diseases, as
stated by Srinivasarao and Muralikrishna (2014). The findings from this study reveals that black
soot has severe effects on the public health of the residents of Port Harcourt and is in line with
my research question.
Evaluation Of the Source Using IF I APPLY
I: My honest opinion about the topic is that black soot has negative effects on the health of
the residents of Woji
F: Unbiased references were sought out but most of the majority of them still supported my
bias
I: Intellectual courage was applied in seeking for references and authoritative voices on the
topic
A: The authors have education, expertise and experience on the field
P: I think the author’s agenda is merely to educate and inform the public. This information
also meets my own information need
P: The publisher does not have an agenda
L: The evidence is reliable, sensible, and accessible
Y: The date of publication does not affect the information
SUMMARY OF SCHOLARLY SOURCE #2
Direct Research Journal of Social Science and Educational Studies
This study carried out by Elem, (2021) on ‘Black soot and public health of Rumuolumeni
residents in Port Harcourt, Nigeria’ investigated how black soot, a recently discovered form of
air pollution in Rumuolumeni, can lead to an increase in public health problems among
Rumuolumeni residents. A qualitative study was carried out by the author who reviewed a lot of
related works.
Findings from the study revealed that soot was one of the challenges of the Rumuolumeni
residents in Port Harcourt. This finding corroborates with that of Kalagbor et al. (2019).
According to Kalagbor, Orji and Ekpete (2019), in their study of ‘Exposure to heavy metals in
soot sample, and carrier risk assessment in Port Harcourt, Nigeria’ showed that there is a soot
problem in Rumuolumeni and the community has been identified as one of Port Harcourt's
contaminated areas. The study also agrees with that of Nwachukwu et al. (2012) who revealed
that Pollution levels in Rivers State are above World Health Organization (WHO) standards,
contributing to the high incidence of disease and death in Rivers State. These findings reveal that
Port Harcourt is contaminated with black soot hence the need for my study.
Findings from this study also reveal that soot can cause problems to public health (Elem,
2021). It has also been established by Akindejoye (2018), Yakubu (2017) and Cho (2016) that
soot can cause public health problem. Similar to the findings of other researchers, this study also
found that exposure to soot can cause cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, and
skin cancer. In this work, the researcher reported that the increase in skin and lung cancer is
related to the air pollution soot (Elem, 2021). These findings are in line with my study and they
show that black soot have detrimental effects to the health of the residents of Port Harcourt.
The study recommended that government should license, fund, and turn artisanal
refineries into modular refineries which of course should be owned by the people in that
community as this would reduce the emission of black soot to the environment. The study also
recommended that residents in the community should take hygiene very seriously and that they
should eat fruits that are rich in vitamin C and E among others as their antioxidative properties
will help reduce the effects of black soot on the body.
Evaluation Of the Source Using IF I APPLY
I: My honest opinion about the topic is that black soot has negative effects on the health of
the residents of Rumuolumeni
F: Unbiased references were sought out but most of the majority of them still supported my
bias
I: Intellectual courage was applied in seeking for references and authoritative voices on the
topic
A: The authors have education, expertise and experience on the field
P: I think the author’s agenda is merely to educate and inform the public. This information
also meets my own information need
P: The publisher does not have an agenda
L: The evidence is reliable, sensible, and accessible
Y: The date of publication does not affect the information
SUMMARY OF NON-SCHOLARLY SOURCES
Business Day Newspaper
In an article written by Victor (2022) on ‘The disturbing impact of soot on public health
and economy of Port Harcourt’, it was noted that black soot does have a detrimental effect on the
health of the public. The article reported that the soot had two main causes; the activities of
illegal oil thieves who use crude and primitive techniques and the improper burning of these
illegal refineries by the security forces during the pursuit and attack of the criminals (Victor,
2022).
The article also revealed that environmental and health experts have warned that soot in
Rivers State can cause respiratory diseases, skin cancer and kidney and liver diseases and also
harms people's eyes and nostrils (Victor, 2022). The writer also reported that soot threatens air
quality as a result of pollution and can lead to a full-scale health crisis and shorten the lives of
residents.
Punch Newspaper
In an article in the Punch Newspaper on ‘Nigerian Thoracic Society position regarding
the soot pollution in Port Harcourt’ it was reported that soot in Port Harcourt is mainly produced
by the refining or combustion of petroleum and allied products. The article reported that cancer
is one of the potential hazards soot can cause due to damage of DNA (Nigerian Thoracic Society,
2023). The article also stated some of the adverse effects of soot on health to include increase in
prevalence and severity of respiratory diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstructive
pulmonary diseases, and tuberculosis (Nigerian Thoracic Society, 2023).
The article then gave some recommendations to reduce soot which includes
To stop all gas flaring in Port Harcourt and do the same in any other place where gas
flaring is going on in Nigeria.
Relevant government agencies should locate and completely shut down all illegal
refineries.
Provide, modify or improve other possible sources of air pollution such as reducing
traffic congestion and using cleaner sources of household cooking fuel.
Livelihood development: Some stakeholders have recognized poverty and unemployment
as contributors to illegal crude refining which can be ameliorated by improving youth
employment in the affected area (Nigerian Thoracic Society, 2023).
Evaluation of Non-scholarly Sources
Lateral reading was used to evaluate the information used from the non-scholarly
sources. Google search engine opened on different tabs was used to search for more information
on each of the non-scholarly sources to know if they were credible and reliable sources. The
results of the evaluation showed that the information was credible and reliable.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The overall outcome from this study revealed that the prevalence of soot in Port Harcourt
has degenerated into a real and potential public health problem. All the sources used in the study
agree that soot has a lot of severe effects on the health of the residents which include; cancer,
respiratory issues like coughing, difficulty in breathing, chest pain etc., fever, headache,
cardiovascular and neurological issues. Continuation of the current level of air pollution in cities
and other parts of the state is certainly a recipe for rapidly deteriorating our quality of life, as
well as compromising its beauty.
A positive, swift response is required by the government, academic institutions, corporate
organizations, civil society, and all other relevant parties due to the current state of air pollution
in Port Harcourt and the adjacent cities. In order to fully address the problem of black soot
pollution, government regulations must be closely enforced, and oversight bodies must be
established to hold the relevant industries accountable. Oil waste-related industries ought to face
consequences for their environmental pollution. Research initiatives that would provide an
empirical base on the detrimental effects of black soot in southern Nigeria must be intensified.
REFERENCES
Akindejoye, E. (2018). The impact of soot to human health: an environmental analysis of the
Niger Delta. Retrieved from [Link]
environmental-analysis-of-the-niger-delta on 29th January, 2024.
Cho, R. (2016). The damaging effects of black carbon. Columbia climate school, climate health
and society. The Damaging Effects of Black Carbon ([Link]) (accessed online on
30th January, 2024).
Christopher & Ejikeme (2022). Impact of Black Soot on Public Health of Residents in Woji
Community of Rivers State. IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and
Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT), 16(02), pp 01-11.
Elem, M. (2021). Black soot and public health of Rumuolumeni residents in Port Harcourt,
Nigeria. Direct Research Journal of Social Science and Educational Studies. Vol.8, Pp. 9-
13, 2021 ISSN 2449-0806. DOI: [Link]
Grahame, T. J., Klemm, R. & Schlesinger, R. B. (2014). Public health and components of
particulate matter: The changing assessment of black carbon, Journal of the Air & Waste
Management Association, 64(6): 620-660.
Highwood, E. J. and Kinnersley, R. P. (2006). When smoke gets in our eyes: the multiple
impacts of atmospheric black carbon on climate, air quality and health. Environ Int. 2006
May;32(4):560-566
Kalagbor, I. A., Orji, D., Amala, N. & Ekpete, O. A. (2019). Exposure to heavy metals in soot
samples and cancer assessment in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Journal health pollution 9(24).
Proceedings of the America national academy of science.
Kampa, M., & Castanas, E. (2008). Human health effects of air pollution. Environmental
pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 151(2), 362–367.
[Link]
Nigerian Thoracic Society position regarding the soot pollution in Port Harcourt (2023, 7th
September). Retrieved from [Link]
regarding-the-soot-pollution-in-port-harcourt/ on 29th January, 2024.
Nwachukwu, A. N., Chukwuocha, E. O. & Igbudu, O. D. (2012). A survey on the effects of air
pollution on diseases of the people of Rivers State, Nigeria. African journal of
environment, science and technology 6.
Srinivasarao, R., & Muralikrishna, K.V.S.G. (2014). Simulation Study to Minimize Soot and
Unburnt Hydro Carbons from Steam Assisted Flares and Health Effects of Soot.
International Journal of Science and Research, 3(10): 1501-1506.
Victor, A. (2022). The disturbing impact of soot on public health and economy of Port Harcourt.
Retrieved from [Link]
public-health-and-economy-of-port-harcourt/ on 29th January, 2024.
Yakubu, O. H. (2017). Particulate (soot) pollution in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria- double
air pollution burden? Understanding and tackling potential environmental public health
impact. Environment 5(2).