Impact of Open Air Market on Environmental Problems
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
- Identify the types and composition of waste generated in the open markets.
- Examine the air pollution practices adopted by industries in study area.
- Examine the health effects of air pollution on communities in the study area
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Pollution as an Environmental Problem
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat, or light. Pollutants, the elements of pollution, can be foreign substances or energies, or naturally occurring; when naturally occurring, they are considered contaminants when they exceed natural levels. Pollution is common around the world and even in places like India (Gautam eta al, 2009) and has attracted increasing concern especially because of its influence in public health (Kiman, 2007). According to Schaefer and Lamn (1995) the environment serves three basic functions for man. Firstly, the environment provides the resources essential for life. These include: water, air, and the raw materials used to build houses and create shelter, transportation, food and other essentials needed for living. If man exhausts these resources, the consequences can be very devastating. Secondly, the environment serves as a waste repository. Man, more than any other living things produce a large quantity and variety of waste products. These include body wastes, garbage, and sewage. The environment is becoming polluted more and more because man is generating more waste than the environment can hardly absorb; and lastly, the environment “house’’ man and all other living species. The environment is what constitutes our home, our living space, the place where we reside, play and work. Man has no other place to go or reside other than the environment. Man cannot and does not live or reside in a vacuum.
A pollutant is a waste material that contaminates air, water or soil. Three factors determine the severity of a pollutant: its chemical nature, the concentration and the persistence. Pollution can also be the consequence of a natural disaster. For example, hurricanes often involve water contamination from sewage, and petrochemical spills from ruptured boats or automobiles. Larger scale and environmental damage is not uncommon when coastal oil rigs or refineries are involved. Some sources of pollution, such as nuclear plants or oil tankers can produce widespread and potentially hazardous releases when accidents occur. In the case of noise pollution the dominant source class is the motor vehicle, producing about ninety percent of all unwanted noise worldwide.
Environmental pollution through waste has been a major problem in our country and the world at large. Improper waste management/disposal results in the obstruction of drainages leading to the flooding and transmission of air-borne infections and soil-borne organisms that causes diseases. Improper waste disposal can cause pollution of water bodies leading to loss of aquatic life; which also pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health e.g of household hazardous (dangerous) waste include paint, used old batteries, pesticides, cleaners, e.t.c. Municipal solid waste which is more commonly known as thrash or garbage consists of everyday items such as product packaging, grass drippings’, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps and newspapers, appliances, paints and batteries.
According to Keese (1979), environmental problems are often thought to be characteristics of highly developed and industrialized countries; however, developing countries suffer environmental problems due to population growth, unprecedented urbanization and lack of environmental belongingness. Benjamin (1972) stated that one of the most basic needs for environmental sanitation is to interpose barriers in some channels of infectious diseases. Environmental sanitation is easily one of the most important aspects of disease prevention, and it is most significant since no specialized skill is needed for its implementation.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH SAMPLE
The study area was Bodija market in Ibadan, Oyo State, and a cosmopolitan city whose population continues to increase daily. The market is situated along secretariat – U.I road, within the territory of Ibadan North Local Government, which is the most populated of the 11 local governments. The market is bordered in the North by Agbowo and Orogun, in the south by Bodija estate, while in the West and East are Sango and Bashorun/ Ashi respectively. The location of the market has a lot of advantages. From the viewpoint of proximity, the market is easily accessible to agricultural producers who come from Saki, Oyo, Ogbomoso and the Northern parts of Nigeria. The location is also suitable for easy distribution in and out of the city as it is served by varying network of roads. There are public/commercial buses and taxis to virtually anywhere in the city from Bodija market. Also important is its proximity to the University of Ibadan, serving the food needs of its population of over 20,000 students and staff. The study area is not too distant from the Polytechnic of Ibadan whose population also depends on the market foodstuffs and other products.
The study population included sellers in Bodija market, men and women, and people who sell frequently in the market. For the obvious constraints of time and resources, it is impossible to cover all elements in the study population. Thus a accidental and purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of 200 sellers of all major food stuffs in the market, rice beans, tomatoes, meat, fish, oil, cray-fish, yam etc. Questionnaire was distributed to sampled respondents for the quantitative data. While the qualitative data involved ten in-depth interviews with older market sellers and six Key informant interviews with prominent opinion leaders in the market to complement the quantitative data. The Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was utilized in analyzing quantitative data descriptive statistical tools such as frequencies and percentages were used alongside with pictorial presentations. The qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION
Even though, illegal dumping of refuse was found to be a major factor causing pollution in the market environment, population pressure was also seen as part of the despoiling factor in Bodija market. It should be noted that poverty, poor education, and inadequate provision of waste preventing materials on the part of government, all make urban market environment to be polluted and unhealthy
The fact that the government and the public had not taken drastic measures towards preventing pollution is a serious issue. That is why social researchers need to involve the government and members of the public to understand the essence of their studies. As such, this research problem was what the people perceive as problem. Therefore, policy implementation that follows such community-inspired and community-oriented research thus becomes a lot more necessary.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings of this study, it becomes necessary to make the following recommendations, which hopefully, will be useful for policy makers in environmental and health issues or those concerned with the prevention of pollution in urban market environment.
Firstly, the poor performance of markets under local government council such as Bodija market based on the failure of local government council to provide basic infrastructure and keep the market environment healthy, indicates that this third-tier government does not have the capability to oversee large urban markets. As such, it is suggested that the Oyo state governments with greater financial, human and technological resources should create fund and maintain key markets, especially those in the urban areas.
Secondly, government should intensify efforts at giving every Nigerian quality education, at least up to secondary school level. This will empower all who want to learn a vocation or trade, to understand the health implications of a polluted environment. It is because illiteracy and ignorance resulting from lack or low educational status had a major role to play in aggravating the environmental pollution in Bodija market.
Thirdly, a balanced development of both rural and urban areas will likely reduce the overpopulation in most urban markets. Many migrants from rural areas have been seen to steadily populate urban markets. Deliberate policies must be made and implemented to make cities less attractive.
In addition to this, government should ensure that bodies charged with the responsibility of controlling environmental pollution are effective. The government should also intensify their efforts at preventing environmental pollution in the markets. Such include the provision of adequate containers, waste bins and the regular coming of trucks for carrying wastes into the market.
Finally, projects aimed at improving the environment and lives of market men and women should be funded and implemented by government and non-governmental organizations. The people should be made to see public properties as belonging to them and not to the government. As such, protect it from deterioration. This can be achieved by sensitizing the people on best strategies to prevent pollution through seminars and symposia.
The incorporation of all these measures including adequate education, campaign and sensitization of the general public including sellers and buyers on their role in combating environmental pollution to prevent health hazards is high necessary. Thus a holistic approach is required to curb environmental pollution not only in the study area, but also in Ibadan as a whole.
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