Hematologic Fallout: A Review of Anemia in Communities Exposed to Gas Flaring and Petrochemical Pollution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67224/ioasdjmps.2026.v03i02.005Keywords:
Gas flaring, Petrochemical pollution, Environmental anemia, Hematologic toxicity, Public healthAbstract
Gas flaring and petrochemical pollution represent significant environmental hazards in oil-producing regions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. These industrial activities release a wide array of toxic substances, including benzene, sulfur dioxide, and heavy metals, which contaminate air, soil, and water. Chronic exposure to these pollutants is increasingly associated with adverse hematologic effects, especially anemia. While anemia is often attributed to nutritional deficiencies and infectious diseases, growing evidence suggests that environmental exposures significantly contribute to its prevalence in vulnerable populations living near oil and gas facilities. This review examines the pathophysiological mechanisms through which gas flaring and petrochemical pollutants disrupt normal hematopoiesis. Key processes include bone marrow suppression by benzene metabolites, red blood cell destruction via oxidative stress, impaired iron metabolism due to inflammation, and reduced erythropoietin production from renal toxicity. Epidemiological studies from heavily industrialized regions such as the Niger Delta in Nigeria have reported disproportionately high rates of anemia among residents, particularly among children and pregnant women, further highlighting the intersection between environmental degradation and public health inequities.
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