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<\/div>\n<\/a> This wastewater, known as \u201cproduced water\u201d, is often heavily contaminated with salt, oil and grease, as well as potentially dangerous compounds. Some are linked to lung, skin and bladder cancer in humans. These compounds can also harm or kill aquatic life.<\/p>\n So, the act of producing energy compromises another key element of human and environmental health: water. This won\u2019t change any time soon. The Produced Water Society<\/a>, made up of oil and gas professionals focused on water quality, forecasts a doubling in produced water volumes globally over the next ten years. <\/p>\n Adequate wastewater treatment systems are crucial to ensure that produced water does less damage. Proper treatment means the water can be recycled and reused for irrigation, livestock and in other industries. In this way, it won\u2019t be entirely wasted and humans will be far safer. <\/p>\n There are global standards<\/a> for such systems. But in oil rich countries in sub-Saharan Africa \u2013 such as Nigeria<\/a> \u2013 there is little to no adherence to such standards. Studies<\/a> show, too, that most of the treatment systems are tailor-made for the removal of a few families of compounds, in order to achieve the specific treatment objectives of each production site in this region. <\/p>\n In recent research<\/a>, we studied samples of produced water from an oilfield in Warri, in Nigeria\u2019s Niger Delta Region. The samples were examined before and after treatment. Our findings were troubling: dangerous compounds were present at far higher levels than permitted by global standards. The treatment process wasn\u2019t robust enough to filter everything out.<\/p>\n The Niger Delta region produces some 2 million barrels (320,000 cubic metres) of oil a day and has always accounted for more than 75% of Nigeria\u2019s export earnings<\/a>. Together oil and natural gas extraction comprise 97% of Nigeria\u2019s foreign exchange revenues, 80% of government\u2019s annual revenue and 70% of budgetary expenditure. <\/p>\n <\/a> But despite the fact that the oil industry has contributed significantly to the nation\u2019s prosperity, the producing regions have suffered severe environmental damage. The people who live there<\/a> have been subjected to untold hardship<\/a> through oil pollution, environmental degradation, destruction of aquatic life, and other negative activities as a result of unhealthy extraction and treatment of oilfield waste.<\/p>\n A number of studies<\/a> have reported various effects of exposure to heavy metals and organic pollutants from produced water discharge. There have been numerous anecdotal reports of health complications<\/a> that are attributed to oil and gas operations in this region.<\/p>\n Most reservoirs in the Niger Delta oil fields<\/a> are in a mature stage of their productive life. This means they tend to produce less oil and more water. So they could discharge more toxic contaminants into the environment, doing more ecological harm.<\/p>\n There are no regulatory guidelines to guarantee that an increase in produced water does not cause additional environmental and health hazards. There is also very little data available about the quality of existing produced water. Without this sort of information, it\u2019s impossible to scientifically evaluate the risks and potentially negative effects of produced water in the region. That\u2019s what prompted our research.<\/p>\nDamage done<\/h2>\n
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<\/div>\nWorrying findings<\/h2>\n