By Ichemati Gift
Poor air quality has been of serious concern in the Niger Delta as a result of the illegal refineries being operated in the region.
It has been the source of poor quality diesel which contains high sulphur content, a serious threat to the people in the region and this has been the major source of the black soot seen in the air there.
This is a serious threat because when used in diesel engines or heavy-duty machinery, it emits sulphur dioxide, which is produced by the combustion of fuels containing high sulphur.
It should be noted that sulphur dioxide is a moderate lung irradiant along with N02, a major precursor to acid disposition (acid rain).
Emission from high sulphur diesel fuel contributes to the deteriorating of air quality which is turn affects human health, damage crops, form acidic rain and lower visibility, in addition to the negative impact on biodiversity and ecosystems.
The diesel-powered vehicles, industry and illegal refineries are all potential sources of this dangerous pollution.
The study is the first of its kind that addresses the sulphur issues in diesel and its effects on vehicle emission and ultimately on air quality.
It aims to analyse the impact of the consumed high sulphur content in diesel fuel on Urban Air Quality in the Niger Delta, investigating the possible approaches and measures to minimizing high sulphur content in diesel which ultimately reducing various emission components specifically from diesel-powered vehicles and industry to decreasing the negative impacts on the environment and human health is an additive objective.
Reducing sulphur in diesel to control air pollution is a versatile activity involving many groups of people as producers or those affected by air pollution.
An answer for the following questions is required; what is the best way to reduce sulphur in diesel and improve air quality for Niger Delta to meet ambient air quality standards? the Ministry of Environment, Health and other agencies like SON are currently pushing for lower sulphur content in diesel fuel.
This is reflected partially in the mitigation of air pollution by controlling diesel-powered vehicles emission levels and issuing regulations to produce low sulphur diesel.
Defining the responsible agencies in implementing whatever is necessary is a vital step toward acceptable air quality. This can be done by planning a strategy to limit the sulphur content of diesel fuel copying with required vehicle technology that applies in industrial countries and avoiding uncertain human exposure of diesel emissions.
Studies on impacts of diesel-powered vehicles emission on human health, reduction of exhaust emission and increase public participants and awareness using different media and languages, combinations of strategies methods technologies new fuels and solutions of reducing urban diesel harmful emission should be proposed for the case of Niger Delta.
It is a collective responsibility of the government, NGOs, private sectors and the general public to achieve a common objective to improve the air quality.
Ichemati Gift is the Director at Boardbill Energy Petroleum Marketing Company, which delivers and markets quality petroleum products. Gift is based in Port Harcourt and can be reached via [email protected].
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