Black Soot In Port Harcourt- Precautionary Measures You Can Take
Since late last year (2016), residents of Port Harcourt have reportedly complained of the heavy presence of black soot in the atmosphere and on surfaces. While the Government is yet to state clearly the cause for this or actively prove that there are deliberations going on to solve this menace. Most people suspect the soot may be as a result of illegal refining of oil, gas flaring or mismanagement of domestic waste.
“Soot” is a mass of impure carbon particles, resulting from incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. It can be caused by a number of activities, including coal burning, internal-combustion engines, waste incineration, local field burning, house fires, forest fires, fireplaces, and furnaces. It is reported to be one of the causes of cancer and lung diseases and the second largest contributor to global warming.
While we hope that the relevant authorities will swing into real action and curb this pollution here are measures you can take to keep you and your loved ones safe.
- Use a nose mask as often as you can
- Clean your house regularly and avoid picking things up from the floor to eat as the soot rests on all surfaces
- Ensure you wash your hands regularly. Teach this to your kids also.
- Let your kids wear socks while they at home.
- Never leave your food or drinking water uncovered.
- If you have a toddler who likes to crawl please ensure he or she wear socks and mittens.
- Wash your children’s toys regularly as they tend to put toys in their mouth.
- Wash food items purchased from the market and store properly. Wash kitchen utensils before use.
Some experts claim that since the soot is visible the hair in our nostrils may block the inhalation of the particles. Even with this, we have to protect ourselves and do our possible best to minimize the effect of the black soot.
Use the #stopthesoot while engaging on social media to lay your complaints and observation. Our lives matter a lot.