A Comparative Analysis of Air Quality and Respiratory Health in Under-Five Children from Crude Oil-Impacted Communities

Pearl Abereton (), Best Ordinioha, Jacob Mensah-Attipoe and Oluyemi Toyinbo
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Pearl Abereton: Environmental Health Department, African Centre of Excellence, Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port-Harcourt, Choba 500004, Rivers State, Nigeria
Best Ordinioha: Environmental Health Department, African Centre of Excellence, Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port-Harcourt, Choba 500004, Rivers State, Nigeria
Jacob Mensah-Attipoe: Environmental Health Department, African Centre of Excellence, Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port-Harcourt, Choba 500004, Rivers State, Nigeria
Oluyemi Toyinbo: Environmental Health Department, African Centre of Excellence, Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port-Harcourt, Choba 500004, Rivers State, Nigeria

J, 2025, vol. 8, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: Crude oil spills create environmental hazards, leading to air pollution and respiratory health risks in under-five children due to their developing organs. This study compares ambient air quality (AAQ) and the respiratory health (RH) of under-five children in crude oil-impacted and less-impacted communities. The study involved 450 under-five children (mean age: 3 years) from three Niger Delta communities: Bodo, K-Dere, and Beeri. AAQ was measured using sensors, and RH was assessed through interviewer-administered questionnaires between July and October 2022. Mean concentrations of pollutants, including PM 2.5 , PM 10 , TVOCs, and HCHO, were consistently higher in Bodo and K-Dere (oil-impacted communities) compared to Beeri (less-impacted community), with levels frequently exceeding both WHO and national standards. These concentrations were highest near spill sites and during evening periods, highlighting localized and temporal factors influencing air pollution. Respiratory symptoms such as cough, difficulty breathing, and persistent nasal congestion were significantly more prevalent among children in oil-impacted communities. Logistic regression analysis indicated a higher likelihood of respiratory issues in these communities, with odds ratios ranging from 2.53 to 14.18 for various symptoms. Elevated air pollution from crude oil spills correlates with a higher prevalence of respiratory conditions in children from impacted communities, underscoring the need for public health interventions in these areas.

Keywords: ambient air quality; crude oil; under-five; children; respiratory health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I1 I10 I12 I13 I14 I18 I19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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