World Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2016, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1-5 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/wjee/4/1/1 © Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/wjee-4-1-1 Environmental Sustainability: Assessing the Impact of Air Pollutants Due to Gas Flaring - Qua Iboe Estuary Case Akpan Anyanime O. * Department of Science Education University of Uyo, Nigeria *Corresponding author: okonbee@yahoo.com Abstract This study presents physicochemical characteristics (NO 3 - , SO 4 2- , CO 3 2- , suspended particulate matter, CO and pH) in air from Qua Iboe Estuary investigated as a result of the gas flare site located in Mkpanak, Ibeno in coastal area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Air and rainwater samples were collected during the dry and wet seasons in (2011-2012) and analyzed for the above physicochemical species using standard methods. Mean and standard deviation were used to assess the impact of these species in the region. Results obtained revealed that the mean concentrations of NO 3 - (44.77mg/m 3 and 19.95 mg/m 3 ) and SO 4 2- (7.54 mg/m 3 and 4.53 mg/m 3 ) in dry and wet seasons were very low and were within the safety limits, suggesting minimal or no adverse effects on the environment. However, the mean concentrations of CO 3 2- (2777.46 mg/m 3 and 2859.69 mg/m 3 , CO(60.29 mg/m 3 and 32.65 mg/m 3 ) and pH (5.98 and 6.68) in dry and wet seasons respectively, were higher than the acceptable ambient air limits specified by the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigeria. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that within the studied region, the activity of constant gas flaring is one of the major sources of high concentration of these physicochemical species, with significant implications for the sustainability of the environment and life forms in this area. Recommendations are made to address these issues as best practices are presented. Keywords: air pollutants, environmental sustainability, gas flare, pollution, qua Iboe estuary Cite This Article: Akpan Anyanime O., “Environmental Sustainability: Assessing the Impact of Air Pollutants Due to Gas Flaring - Qua Iboe Estuary Case.” World Journal of Environmental Engineering, vol. 4, no. 1 (2016): 1-5. doi: 10.12691/wjee-4-1-1. 1. Introduction Environment, the totality of man’s physical surroundings; air, land and water, where human beings, animals or plants live are a dynamic system. The health and well-being of everything on earth as well as the economy of nations depend on it. These environmental components have been adversely affected by man’s continuous interactions such that there has been a growing need to address the challenges posed by these factors and activities that instigate un-sustainability [17]. Indeed, Wilkinson, et al., [29] reported that human activities were particularly the cause of the disruption of the biosphere life support systems. These include biodiversity loss, changes in the composition of the atmosphere (air pollution), over-exploitation of aquifers, growing demand for energy or exploitation of fossil energy resources and increasing problems of waste disposal. This list also contains incidences of flooding, tsunamis, erosion and devastating effects all over the world[13]. 2. Environmental Sustainability Sustainability is based on the premise that social, economic and environmental systems constantly interact with people and their communities. These systems must be balance if they are to continue to function to the benefit of its inhabitants, now and in the future. A universally accepted definition of sustainable development expresses the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations satisfying their own needs [23,28]. However, it explains further that sustainability is improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting the ecosystems [20]. Environmental sustainability arose out of the growing recognition that humans are afflicting many of the earth’s critical resources, not only locally, but, also at a global scale with potential effects on human as well as ecological health [18,26]. Adedeji and Eziyi [1] identified several problems instigating against sustainability of the environment in Nigeria and subdivided them into pollution, deforestation, global warming and slum development. In Nigeria, oil companies engage in gas flaring, as a 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year practice. Some of these flares have burned without cessation for more than 50 years [3]. Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources with oil and gas as Nigeria’s major economic determinant and mainstay. Nigeria produces more natural gas than it uses, this is because most of the natural gas produced is associated gas (related with crude oil)