A Survey Of Health Effects Of Air Pollution On Peasant Farmers In Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the health effects due to air pollution on peasant farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. The study is based on the review of epidemiological data collected from clinics and hospitals in the State. The diseases found to be prevalent in the study area include allergic asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), chronic bronchitis and visual impairment. The ambient air quality in the state is far worse than national and international ambient air quality standards. This gives an indication of a strong correlation between the diseases and the air pollutants. The environmental impact matrices of the patients versus diseases indicate that pollution is already affecting the quality of life and productivity of the people. Since agriculture is the principal occupation of Nigerians, accounting for about 60% of employment, a case is made for an intensification of environmental education, especially among the rural farmers.

A survey on the effects of air pollution on diseases of the people of Rivers State, Nigeria

“…The health effects which are due to air pollution are called epidemiological diseases. These diseases are well-defined by Nwachukwu and Ugwuanyi (2010), and Ugwuanyi and Obi (2002). Epidemiological studies play an ever important role in environmental health risk assessment.…”

“…The human health effects due to air pollutants include carcinogenicity, pulmonary tuberculosis, cerebrospinal meningitis, pneumonia, whooping cough and measles (Nwachukwu and Ugwuanyi, 2010;Ugwuanyi and Obi, 2002); while the environmental effect is global warming (Bolion, 1991). The health effects which are due to air pollution are called epidemiological diseases.…”

“…Before the 1970s, when industrial activities and urbanization were at low levels in Nigeria, most part of the country could have passed any safety standards as regards air pollution and its effects on man (Osuji and Avwiri, 2005). The problem of air pollution became a pact to be reckoned with in the country following the environmental side-effects of the rapid industrialization that accompanied the 1973 to 1980 oil booms in Nigeria (Nwachukwu and Ugwuanyi, 2010;Ugwuanyi and Obi, 2002).…”

Mass Concentration and Size-distribution of Atmospheric Particulate Matter in Plateau State, Nigeria

“…The recent studies done on the effect of air pollution and diseases associated to ambient air pollution in some Nigerian cities also revealed that sickness such as tuberculosis, cerebrospinal meningitis, pneumonia, measles, chronic bronchitis, pertussis, pulmonary, complicated coughing, sneezing and acute respiratory infection, cardiovascular diseases etc. are commonly prevalent in those cities [16][17][18].…”

Comparative Assessment of Some Emitted Pollutants’ Concentrations from Selected Fossil Fuel-fired Generators

“…According to [25], exposure to high levels of H 2 S can cause muscle cramps, low blood pressure, slow respiration and loss of consciousness. Short-term exposure to moderate concentrations of hydrogen sulphide (between1 to 10 ppmv) will cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, nausea, dizziness, breathing problems, headaches, loss of appetite, and problems sleeping while an extended exposure will irritate breathing passages and may lead to pulmonary edema (fluid buildup in the lungs).…”