FACTORS INFLUENCING COMMUNITY EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION WITHIN WARRI REFINING AND PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY (WRPC) ENVIRONS, NIGERIA

The study examined socio-economic factors which instigate and enhance exposure to pollution by residents of communities (Ubeji, Ifie-Kporo, Jeddo and Ekpan) around Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company of Nigeria (WRPC). Knowledge of such factors would provide basis for reducing exposure to pollution from point sources by enforcing planning regulations and extensive buffering around industries. The factors were determined using information retrieved from 379 copies of questionnaire, and analyzed descriptively using the Drivers, Pressures, State, Exposures, Effects and Actions (DPSEEA) framework. The results of the study revealed that refinery activities (32.5%) and a high proportion of migrant population (67.3%), the use of private owned electric power generating sets (74.%), vehicular traffic (2.4%) and bush burning (2.4%) were the major instigating factors which exposed residents to pollution in the study area. Family ties/ marriage (31.4%), employment and business opportunities (18.2%) and security and cheap housing (3.4%) were also reported to be the major reasons attracting new settlers to the area. The study recommends the enforcement of legislations reducing or banning emissions from industries and bush burning (37.5%), the use of alternative energy source (33.2%) and the use of ‘controls in refinery processes (11.9%), in preventing and managing the factors which instigate and enhance exposure to pollution.