Experts urge reduction of air pollution through LPG

Experts have urged members of the public to reduce air pollution by using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and avoid using biomass fuels, which pollute the air.

Speaking at the commemoration of this year’s World Environment Day with the theme: Beat Air Pollution, EBS Advisory Senior Consultant, Abbas Agbaje, said the use of biomass fuels, particularly wood fuel, creates public health crisis.

Chairman, Managing Director, Chimos Gas Limited, Baylon Duru said Nigeria has abundant LPG and has been tipped to have 182 trillion metric tons of natural gas, while Head of Marketing, Aji-No-Moto, Isa Challawa, noted that LPG burns efficiently without producing smoke and with low pollutant emissions.

Agbaje said a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) review showed that inhaling indoor smoke from biomass fuel including kerosene, doubles the risk of pneumonia and other acute infections among children under five.

He said approximately seven million people die prematurely worldwide each year from air pollution, which necessitates eradication of biomass fuels.

“The trees felled for fuel are essential in filtering the air. They produce the oxygen we breathe, so we should stop felling and rather plant more trees,” he added.