Maritime shipping has been a major facilitator of
economic prosperitythroughout the world
and it is likely to grow to meet continued and growing transport needs in both
developed and developing countries. However, global emissions from maritime
shipping have increased considerably, causing depletion of the
ozone layer and most importantly posing threat to lives and coastal environment
through air pollution. This study investigated the constituents of ambient air
in Onne port’s environment in Rivers State of Nigeria. Six air pollutants (O3 CO, NO2, PM2.5, PM10, and SO2) were
critically monitored with hand-held mobile Aeroqual gas monitors, series 500,
at strategic locations within the port’s environment and Eleme Junction (the control). We found that mean concentrations (μg·m3) of the following pollutants: O3 (71.776 ± 0.726), CO, (19.145 ± 0.275)
NO2 (28.145 ± 0.965) and SO2 (36.913 ± 0.378) were
significantly high. The particulates (PM10, PM2.5) also
showed higher mean concentrations of 48.400 ± 0.197 and 29.676 ± 0.352
respectively. The observed values were found to be significantly higherthan those observed in the control group and also exceeded the safe
permissible limits for gaseous pollutants when compared to the World Health
Organization’s (WHO) standards. This exceedance raises questions on Nigeria’s
commitments to implementations of (Annex VI) International Maritime
Organization’s (IMO) Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution (MARPOL 73/78) from Ships. Again, the findings portend ecological
hazards to residents, flora and fauna as elevated levels of these
References
[1]
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (2020) Review of Maritime Transport. https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/rmt2020_en.pdf
[2]
Nicolae, F., Popa, C. and Beizadea, H. (2014) Shipping Air Pollution Assessment. Study Case on Port of Constanta. 14th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geo Conference (SGEM), Constanta, Romania, 2014, 1-9. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278022990_Shipping_Air_Pollution_Assessment_Study_Case_on_Constanta_Port
[3]
Bermudez, F.M., Laxe, F.G. and Aguayo-Lorenzo, E. (2019) Assessment of the Tools to Monitor Air Pollution in the Spanish Ports System. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 12, 651-659. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-019-00684-x
[4]
Tokuslu, A. (2021) Estimation of Shipping Emissions in the Iskenderun Gulf, Turkey. International Journal of Global Warming, 23, 397-414. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJGW.2021.114345
[5]
Eyring, V., et al. (2009) Transport Impacts on Atmosphere and Climate: Shipping, Atmospheric Environment.
[6]
Song, S.K. and Shon, Z.H. (2014) Current and Future Emission Estimates of Exhaust Gases and Particles from Shipping at the Largest Port in Korea. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21, 6612-6622. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2569-5
[7]
Olukanni, D.O. and Esu, O.C. (2018) Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Port Vessel Operations at the Lagos and Tin Can ports of Nigeria. Cogent Engineering, 5, 1507267. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2018.1507267
[8]
Smith, T.W.P., Jalkanen, J.P., Anderson, B.A., Corbett, J.J., Faber, J., Hanayama, S., O’Keeffe, E., Parker, S., Johansson, L., Aldous, L., Raucci, C., Traut, M., Ettinger, S., Nelissen, D., Lee, D.S., Ng, S., Agrawal, A., Winebrake, J.J., Hoen, M., Chesworth, S., Pandey, A. (2014) Third IMO GHG Study. International Maritime Organization (IMO) London, UK. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277889594_CO2_Targets_Trajectories_and_Trends_for_International_Shipping
[9]
IMO MEPC Resolution MEPC.213(63) (2012) 2012 Guidelines for the Development of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP). https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MEPCDocuments/MEPC.213(63).pdf
[10]
Nwachukwu, A.N., Chukwuocha, E.O. and Igbudu, O. (2012) A Survey on the Effects of Air Pollution on Diseases of the People of Rivers Sate, Nigeria. African Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, 6, 371-379. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST12.024
[11]
Olayimka, O.O., Adedeji, O.H. and Ajibola, F.O. (2015) Monitoring Gaseous and Particulate Air Pollutants Near Major Highways in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 19, 751-758. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v19i4.23
[12]
Abulude, O.F., Damodharan, U., Acha, S., Adamu, A. and Arifalo, K.M. (2021) Preliminary Assessment of Air Pollution Quality Levels of Lagos, Nigeria. Aerosol Science and Engineering, 5, 275-284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-021-00099-1
[13]
Jimoda, L.A., Odediran, E.T., Adebanjo, S.A., Ojetunji, O.E. and Lawal, O.L. (2017) Emission Inventory of Criteria of Air Pollutants from Tin-Can Island Seaport in Southern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Scientific Research, 16, 21-27. https://journal.abu.edu.ng/index.php/njsr/article/view/201/198
World Health Organizations (WHO) (2021) Global Guidelines for Air Quality; Particulate Matter Ozone, Nitrogen Oxide, Sulphur Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/345329/9789240034228-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
[16]
The European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Air Pollution from Ships (2004), The European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) Seas at Risk (SAR). The Swedish NGO Secretariat on Acid Rain Updated November 2004. https://www.airclim.org/sites/default/files/documents/shipbriefing_nov04.pdf
[17]
Ezzati, M. and Kammen, D.M. (2002) Household Energy, Indoor Air Pollution and Health in Developing Countries: Knowledge Base for Effective Interventions. Annual Reviews of Energy and the Environment, 27, 233-270. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.27.122001.083440
[18]
Odedrai, A., Burley, A., Lewis, A., Hardmanand, M. and Haynes, P. (2005) Oil Spill and Gas Flaring. Petroleum Geology Conference Series, 6, 577-587
[19]
Merico, E., Cesari, D., Gregoris, E., Gambaro, A., Cordella, M. & Contini, D. (2021) Shipping and Air Quality in Italian Port Cities: State-of-the-Art Analysis of Available Results of Estimated Impacts. Atmosphere, 12, 536. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12050536
[20]
Onwuegbuchunam, D.E., Ebe, T.E., Okoroji, L.I. and Essien, A.E. (2017) Analysis of Ship-Source Marine Pollution in Nigeria Seaports. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 5, 39. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse5030039