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Indoor air pollution, according to the World Health Report 2002, is responsible for 2.7 percent of the global disease burden, signposting a public health concern that has been described as a ‘silent killer.’
However, despite a trove of information on the impact of outdoor pollution, scant data is available on the causes and effects of indoor air pollution in Nigeria.
To this end, Selemati Foundation, in collaboration with the Rivers State University Advancement and Linkage Centre, organized a roundtable discussion on ‘Indoor Air Pollution, Worker Health and Productivity in the Niger Delta’ on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 in Port Harcourt.
The event, which was in commemoration of the 2019 World Environment Day, saw the participation of members of the academia, representatives of the ministries of Health and Environment, civil society groups and the media, as well as paper presentations on ‘Indoor Air Pollution and its Causes,’ by Prof. Tubonimi Joseph Ideria, of the Institute of Pollution Studies, Rivers State University (RSU), and on ‘Effects of Indoor Air Pollution on Worker Health and Productivity,’ by Dr. Chukwunenye Kanu of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).
Selemati Foundation’s Dr. Nnesochi Offor, while reading a communiqué issued at the end of the discussions, noted that “this year’s World Environment Day with theme “Beat Air Pollution” is a call to action for everyone to combat the global crisis caused by air pollution, by considering how we can change our everyday life to reduce the amount of air pollution we produce, and thwart its contribution to global warming and its effects on our own health.
“The air people breathe in Nigeria is more likely to cause harm than the air in any other country in Africa. Current statistics show that Nigeria has the highest burden of fatalities from air pollution in Africa and 4th highest in the world with 150 deaths per 100,000 people attributable to pollution.
“Niger Delta residents have for many decades suffered the severe exposures of pollution due to various industrial and non-industrial operations and processes.
“To date, they have had to suffer environmental, health, and socio-economic costs of the various forms of pollution, including air contamination. Additionally, the current poor air quality, due to soot emission, further aggravates the existing poor air quality situation of the region,” she said.
According to Rita Kigbara, programme manager at Selemati, the foundation “decided to have this event to bring the academia together to talk about indoor air pollution, because it is often an aspect of pollution that is overlooked. Most people think that because of the peculiar situation of the Niger Delta, where the gas flares and other environmental challenges have been experienced over the years, residents in this area tend to ignore the aspect of indoor air pollution.
“So, we thought it was important to draw some attention to this, because a lot needs to be done in terms of research, so that we can find out a lot more, what these pollutants are and how we can address them. Because, we need data on the kind of pollutants that we have, and then it would be easy to proffer solutions on how these pollutants can be either eliminated or reduced,” she said.
Kigbara said Selemati is a foundation that had been set up to support research. “We fund research, academic events and professorial fellowships. It is basically set up to fill a gap in what we have in this country, where the work of the academia is not really supported. We believe that Nigerians have what it takes. So, our vision is supporting Nigerians to become global academic leaders.”
Participants commended organisers of the programme, Selemati Foundation, and urged them to continue in sensitizing the public, government and Industry on the issue of indoor pollution.
Among other observations, they however noted the absence of baseline data for indoor air quality and the need for accurate data and information on the problem and situation; the need for intensive advocacy for government to provide monitors that will check indoor air quality and set up acceptable Indoor Air pollution control measures and policies; the need for governments at all levels to engage key players in putting necessary modalities in place and need to create or build public awareness of best practices/ behavioural change on ensuring reduction in indoor Air Pollution.
The participants further recommended that following the increase “in IAQ concerns and complaints, it is important to develop a practical diagnostic tool for proper IAQ management (monitoring), such as: stepwise screening protocol to facilitate cost-effective IAQ management among building owners and managers and to identify both lower and higher risk groups for unsatisfactory IAQ; proactive approach be taken to address IAQ concerns. As failure to respond can lead to more or serious adverse health issues and government should put in place policy control on indoor air pollution.”
