STOP THE SOOT




There is an environmental hazard currently building up in Rivers state, Nigeria. There are black particles everywhere. Residents first noticed this SOOT in November 2016. This is a toxic black particle, composed of carbon, produced by incomplete combustion of coal, oil, wood, or other fuels. Soot can consist of acids, chemicals, metals, soils, and dust. They are extremely tiny and can travel deep into the lung. This can cause serious damage.
While SOOT may sound so simple, it is dangerous to our health. Compounds from soot - sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides - combine with moisture to form acid rain, which worsens water quality, amongst other things. Rain puddles are dark as engine oil.

We also breathe in this particles. If you use a white handkerchief to clean your nostrils you'll see that it is black. This can cause coronary heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, and many other respiratory illnesses. All these can lead to premature deaths.

We have had too many assumptions about the source of the soot. Some claim it's the illegal oil refining in the creeks "kpofire", others say its pollution control in Ogoni. But what we are sure of is that over a million people are exposed to a life threatening hazard


We are calling on relevant authorities to do something about this situation. Fresh air shouldn't be a luxury. We deserve a clean atmosphere.

While we wait on them to address this issue, the least we can do is protect ourselves;

- wash your hands daily with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer as well.
- do not expose your food and do not consume food/drink that have been exposed for a long time.
- sweep and mop the floor daily.
- take a shower day and night.
- use nose covers.
- wash kitchen utensils before use.

#StopTheSoot #OurLivesMatter #WeDeserveACleanAtmosphere.


photo credit - @chalzslens @callher_jen

Thanks for reading 💋

@mstariah

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