The impact of gas flaring on Ebocha-Egbema environment in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria was investigated. Mbutu Mbaise which has no oil-drilling or gas flaring site, was selected as the control environment. Concentrations of air quality indices: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), methane (CH4) and particulate were determined. Air quality measurements in Ebocha were made, at least, 500 meters from the flaring site. Values of important indices of soil physico-chemical parameters: pH, nitrate (NO3), sulphate (SO4) and percentage carbon were determined for the two environments. Water samples from the two environments were analysed for their physico-chemical parameters. Results obtained revealed that the mean values for air quality indices, soil and water physico-chemical parameters for Ebocha were substantially higher than those for Mbutu Mbaise except pH values obtained for soil and water, indicating that gas flaring exerts adverse ecological effect on the air, soil and water environments in Ebocha.
Keywords: Environmental impact, air quality, gas flaring. Physic chemical parameters
