DANGER: BLACK SOOT IS HERE AGAIN

#DANGER: BLACK SOOT IS HERE AGAIN!!!

Port-Harcourt city and its environs last year experienced a very bad case of air pollution. Black soot enveloped our homes, offices and the entire atmosphere.
Some said the soot was a result of illegal refining of crude oil, while the Rivers State government reported that it was a result of an asphalt processing plant.

Presently, as I write, there is a reoccurrence of this soot again. I live in Rumuodara/Eliozu axis in Obio-Akpor local government and our entire region is presently experiencing a reoccurrence of this menace.

As an Agricultural and Environmental Engineer, I know the implication of Particulate Matter (PM), which comprises of both sediments and suspended particles. Amongst the health implications are respiratory problems such as bronchitis, serious lung damage,  pneumonia in vulnerable persons,
changes in blood chemistry resulting to heart attacks, cancer, etc. PM also impedes plant growth by blockage of the stomata pores, which of cause will result to poor crop output (food shortage).
So in all, both humans and plants are seriously affected by this pollution, and animals are not left out.

Rivers people, we may have left our resources to individuals and inhuman government officials to misuse and bastardize over the years, but environmental issues is everybody's business as it affects our health whether we like it or not. We need to speak out now (as I'm speaking) and educate one another of this exposure before its too late. Our lives and that of our loved ones are at stake!

To Governor Wike: Your Excellency Sir, you need to revisit the Air pollution file that was opened last year concerning the soot rain in the state. We have a ministry of Environment that should be properly engaged to investigate this issue professionally and mitigate it immediately. The lives of all the Rivers State residents including yours are all at stake! To be very candid, I have lived almost all of my present 45years in Port-Harcourt, and I have seen different governments come and go, but I cannot remember ever experiencing an environmental crisis such as this Air Pollution issue. You need to really expedite action on this. Many thanks Sir!

Signed:
Engr.(Mrs.) Eunice MacPepple, MNSE.

#Please keep sharing to everyone resident in Rivers State and its environs.