Assessment of the Health and Environmental Impacts of Oil Spills on Fishing Communities in Ogoni Land, Rivers State

Oil spills in Ogoni Land have caused decades of environmental degradation, with lasting consequences for ecosystem health, food security, and community wellbeing that remain inadequately quantified in the epidemiological literature. This study assessed the health and environmental impacts of persistent oil contamination on fishing communities in Khana and Eleme local government areas of Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was employed, combining hydrocarbon contamination data from water and sediment samples collected at thirty sites, health surveys administered to 480 community members, and dietary exposure assessments among fishing families. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations and total petroleum hydrocarbons were the primary analytical targets. Community health outcomes measured included respiratory symptoms, dermatological conditions, neurological complaints, and self-reported cancer diagnoses. Results showed that sediment PAH concentrations in affected creeks exceeded international sediment quality guidelines at eighty-three percent of sampled sites. Fish tissues collected from impacted water bodies had polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels exceeding European food safety limits in sixty-one percent of samples. Community health survey results showed that respiratory illness, skin rashes, and eye complaints were significantly more prevalent in highly contaminated communities than in comparator communities. Dietary exposure to contaminated fish was estimated to contribute to excess cancer risk above the 10 to the power of negative five acceptable threshold. This study provides empirical evidence filling the gap in quantified health risk data for Ogoni Land communities. Recommendations include immediate remediation acceleration, alternative livelihood programs, and comprehensive health screening. Keywords: oil spills, Ogoni Land, environmental contamination, fishing communities, health impacts.