The Health Risk of Improper Solid Waste Disposal in Nigeria Metropolis
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of waste management as a panacea to disease prevention and healthy environment in Bayelsa state. Specifically it seeks to:
- Examine the effectiveness of waste management in Bayelsa state.
- Examine how proper waste management can prevent disease and sustain healthy environment.
- To ascertain how effectively managed waste disposal in Bayelsa state
- To evaluate the consequences of improper waste management in Bayelsa state.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELAED LITERATURE
Introduction
In order to protect man’s environment and promote his health, waste disposal and management should be more aggressively addressed in our society. Waste is more easily recognized than defined. Something can become waste when it is no longer useful to the owner or it is used and fails to fulfill its purpose (Gaurlay, 2012). Solid waste according to Milter (2008) is any useless unwanted or discarded materials that are not liquid or gas. It is a great mixture of substances including fine dust, metal, glass, paper and cardboards, textiles, vegetable materials and plastic characterise solid waste (Simmens, 2001). Wastes as opined by Oluwade (2009) are refuse (empty containers, papers rubbish e.t.c) sewage (faeces, water urine) and industrial waste (chemical nuclear) that result from the manufacturing of certain substances, materials and equipment. The interaction organisms and their environment leads to the generation of waste. Waste is non-beneficial materials discarded; therefore all these have to be properly disposed. Refuse are waste materials that have been thrown away. The statutory definition of refuse is not based on the physical form of materials, that is, whether or not it is solid, as opposed to liquid or gas but on the fact that the material is a waste. The United State Environmental Protection Agency (2011) defines solid refuse as any garbage, refuse, sludge from a waste water treatment plant, water supply treatment plant or air deed material, including solid, liquid, semi-solid or contaminated gaseous material and agricultural operation and from community activities. Human has always produced waste that included not only the discarded bones of animals slaughtered for food. Refuse according to Clesceri (2008) can be divided into two main groups these are: that which is mainly dry and can be put directly in the dustbins and that which is liquid and may be drained away through pipes. The dry household refuse can be disposed using galvanized iron or plastic bins having a well – fitted lids and two handles for easy transportation. The bins are placed away from the kitchen or the back door. The only waste that should be put in this bin are dusts, waste papers, leaves, nylon or cellophane wrappers tins and bottles. The other type of wastes includes faeces, urine and water wastes from our kitchen and bathroom. United Nations Environmental Programme (2010), states that human beings are faced with the problem of the disposal of waste. In villages people have a lot of land at their disposal. Organic matters can be thrown away and they are allowed to decompose on these land. However, in cities and towns, people run the risk of being infected with diseases due to limited land to spare for refuse. The effects of indiscriminate waste disposal in man are numerous. The flora or fauna on the environment in form of health problems from convulsion, dermatitis, irritation of nose, throat, anemia, skin burns, chest pains, blood disorders, stomach aches, vomiting, diarrhea, lungs cancer to death. Other health effects includes flies which carry germs on their bodies and legs and also excrete them, mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, blocked drains in favourable location (Freeze and Cherry, 2006). Some residents burn their refuse, while others indiscriminately burry it. Indiscriminate disposal, burning and burying of refuse pose major environmental and health threats through soil and water which put the entire eco-system of an area in danger. The contamination of waste cause severe problems for human and animals alike. The major environmental effects include air pollution which includes odour, smoke, noise, dust and so on. The rapid growth of cities in the developing world in recent decades has resulted in increased consumption of resources to meet the growing demands of urban population and industry.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter deals with the method used in collecting data required in carrying out this research work it explains the procedures that were followed and the instrument used in collecting data.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment, the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as by products of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information from the study of the effect of refuse disposal on human health in Nigeria. A total of 200 staff of Bayelsa state waste management agency (BSWMA) was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the effect of refuse disposal on human health in Nigeria.
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges refuse disposal in Nigeria
Summary
In refuse disposal management there is no ‘away’. When ‘throwing away’ waste, system complexities and the integrated nature of materials and pollution are quickly apparent. For example, waste incineration is expensive and poses challenges of air pollution and ash disposal. Incineration requires waste placed outside for collection to be containerized to stay dry, and much of the waste stream is not combustible. Landfills require land availability, and siting is often opposed by potential neighboring residents. Solving one problem often introduces a new one, and if not well executed, the new problem is often of greater cost and complexity.
Conclusion
Waste management plays an integral role in human activity. The overall view of solid waste management is to collect, treat and dispose solid waste by urban dwellers in an environmentally and socially satisfactory manner. Until recently, Nigerians have not been particularly concerned about proper waste management, open dumping and open burning in unapproved locations has been the norms. The constraints to effective solid waste management are not limited to lack of policy or laws, but poor infrastructure, education, social awareness of problems and solutions, and lack of institution promoting sustainable environmental actions.
Recommendation
Haven successfully completed the study, the following recommendations were made: Strategic environmental planning of waste disposal and management practices in the study area. There is need to ensure strict adherence to guidance and cost analysis of solid waste options in the area. Community participation in collection, selection of sites and design of facilities is inherently essential for sustainability. There is need to strengthen the work force, by recruiting more personnel in the Waste Management Authority. Government should provide adequate funds for waste management personnel for the purchase of more evacuating vehicles and waste disposal containers. There is need for environmental and public health education on the danger of indiscriminate waste disposal in the study area.
Reference
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