Seasonal human health risks from emissions of gas-fired power plants in a rapidly industrializing delta region: evidence from the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Emissions from gas-fired power plants are widely promoted as cleaner alternatives to coal and oil; however, their operation still releases hazardous air pollutants, posing significant public health risks, particularly in rapidly industrializing regions with dense infrastructure and weak regulatory oversight.This study investigates the seasonal human health risks associated with air pollution from gas-fired power generation in selected host communities of the Niger Delta, Nigeria-a region experiencing rapid industrialization amidst significant environmental pressures.Ambient air concentrations of key pollutants, including particulate matter (PM₂.₅,PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), were systematically measured during characteristic dry and wet seasons.Using established U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) exposure and risk assessment models, we quantified non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks for both adult and child populations via the inhalation pathway.The results reveal that fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) are the primary drivers of non-carcinogenic health risks.A substantial majority-over 60%-of the monitored communities exhibited Hazard Index (HI) values exceeding the acceptable safety threshold of unity, with risks markedly elevated during the dry season due to atmospheric stagnation.Furthermore, lifetime cancer risk estimates from exposure to carcinogenic VOCs, such as benzene, reached concerning magnitudes on the order of 10⁻⁴ in several downwind communities, far surpassing the internationally accepted benchmark of 1×10⁻⁶.These findings provide critical empirical evidence that gas-fired power plants, even as a transitional fuel source, contribute to severe public health burdens in host communities.The study underscores an urgent imperative for robust, seasonally-aware air quality management frameworks, the enforcement of advanced emission control technologies, and the implementation of targeted public health interventions to safeguard vulnerable populations in the Niger Delta and similar industrializing delta regions globally.