Finding scientific evidence for health impacts of gas flaring in the Niger Delta
Following our efforts in mapping and reporting on gas flaring, we sought to monitor environmental conditions in the oilfields.
We are a group of reporters investigating the practice of gas flaring by oil extraction companies, and in particular its effects on the health of communities in the Niger Delta.
You can read about our on-going project here.
In order to assess the impact of gas flaring, we began by testing rain water. Specifically, we were looking for acidity in the water, which could be caused by burning gases.
Reporter Okonta Emeka Okelum sourced a pH meter in Onitsha, but following some practical challenges, he eventually resolved to using universal indicator fluid. He collected rain water samples from a number of gas flaring sites, and tested these alongside his local water and bottled water. He then sent labelled photographs of the tests via WhatsApp, where we were able to chart and analyse the results. Though our initial tests have not indicated any severe incidence of acid rain, we plan to use the testing kit to carry out further research.
At the same time, we reached out to scientists, doctors and researchers working on the health impacts of living near a gas flare in Nigeria.
Using the online platform ResearchGate, as well as through referral from existing non-scientific contacts, we were able to build up an address book of scientists conducting controlled experiments on soil, air, and water testing around gas flaring sites, as well as surveys into local health. We also compiled a significant number of academic papers which support the claims of local doctors, farmers and teachers reporter Okonta Emeka Okelum spoke to.
This wealth of scientific testing is incredibly valuable. These are tests run in controlled environments, and analysed by professionals. In the next stages of the project, we will seek to build on this hard evidence.
Currently, one citizen reporter has an air quality measuring kit which he will take to the gas flaring communities he has built links with. With this device, he hopes to measure the levels of particulate matter in order to illustrate the impact of gas flaring on air quality. We also plan to measure lung capacity in gas flaring communities. This is something scientists have measured in controlled environments, but through this citizen science part of the investigation, we hope to use the tests to illustrate the link between air quality and health. That link is crucial because people’s health is at the heart of this investigation. While the flow stations bring funding to local communities, it also pollutes the local community. Is it worth burning gas this close to schools and houses, or is the price just too high?
Reporting for this story was supported by Code for Africa’s impactAFRICA fund.
Code for Africa (CfA) is the continent’s largest federation of data journalism and civic technology laboratories, with labs in four countries and affiliates in a further six countries. CfA manages the $1m/year innovateAFRICA.fund and $500,000/year impactAFRICA.fund, as well as key digital democracy resources such as the openAFRICA.net data portal and the GotToVote.cc election toolkit. CfA’s labs also incubate a series of trendsetting initiatives, including the PesaCheck fact-checking initiative in East Africa, the continental africanDRONEnetwork, and the African Network of Centres for Investigative Reporting(ANCIR) that spearheaded Panama Papers probes across the continent.CfA is an initiative of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).
