Strange carbon emissions create panic in Port Harcourt

Strange carbon emissions create panic in Port Harcourt

Saturday, December 10, 2016 7:54 am


Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Panic has gripped residents of Port Harcourt,the Rives State capital because of strange emission of black carbon that are being emitted into the atmosphere in the city.

At dawn, residents and car owners noticed carbon deposited on the roofs of their cars,houses and turning green pigmentation of leaves and flowers into black colour .

In some extreme cases, residents noticed black powdery deposits on the floor of their pavements and balconies that stained the soles of their feet.

This pollution of the environment of the state is causing serious health concerns.

An Environmental Rights Activist, Nimong Bassey in his reaction said the phenomenon is called “Carbon black” and may be traceable to companies in the hydrocarbon businesses in the Niger Delta. He pointed out that the sources of the emission may or may not be from the companies from the companies from the immediate environment..

The Environmentalist advised residents not to drink rain water collected from roof tops because of the health hazard.He advised people to wash their fruits and vegetables before consumption. He recalled that similar incident had happened in Warri,Delta state.

Meanwhile,the Rivers State Government has confirmed the pollution through a statement signed by the Commissioner for Environment,Prof Roseline Konya,where she said “It has come to the notice of the state government of the sudden appearance of strange black soot deposits noticeably seen on car and root tops in our environment,especially in Port Harcourt and its environs.

“The public is hereby advised not to panic as the Ministry of Environment has duly dispatched officials to different locations in the state and monitor and locate the source of the black soot for prompt action.

“It is apparently obvious that the state government can not decontaminate the airspace but it can put a spot to the pollution if the source of soot is located.

Ends


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