An overview of hazardous waste management in Nigeria

Abstract

Hazardous wastes are substances that are no longer needed and have no current or perceived value at a given time or place. Many of the materials used or produced in chemical processes possess hazardous properties. The key hazardous wastes sources include industrial, medical, and household wastes, and occur in solid, liquid, or gaseous states. These are wastes that are classified and/or have intrinsic or inbuilt chemical and physical distinctiveness of toxicity, ignitability, corrosivity, and reactivity. Managing hazardous wastes is of immense significance to human, economic, social and environmental health conditions. Hazardous wastes management practice in Nigeria is not in consonance with the best global practices. Many hazardous wastes are dumped indiscriminately, which constitutes hazard to the environment and posed public health concerns. This study analysed the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of hazardous wastes management in Nigeria. There are various environmental regulations on hazardous wastes in the country, but implementation remains a challenge, as such there is need for more proactive measures to be taken towards sustainable solutions to the problems.

Levels of Clara cell secretory protein and surfactant protein A in municipal solid waste management workers in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

“…However, waste management practice in the country is not in consonance with the global best practices. Nigeria is like a discarding ground for hazardous wastes and poor-quality goods or products, which form a major environmental and public health challenge (Yusuf, 2009; Zangina and Ali, 2021). Environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes in Nigeria is faced with multiple challenges some of which include inadequate information and statistics on the quantity and sources of hazardous waste generated in the country (Ubachukwu et al, 2014), lack of public awareness on the nature of hazardous waste and the danger posed to public health and the environment (Uwagbale, 2016), lack of political will by the government to put in place and enforce adequate legislations to deal explicitly with the matter of hazardous waste management, and inadequate training and capacity building on the current trends in the area of hazardous waste management (Ngwuluka et al, 2011; Zangina and Ali, 2021).…”

“…Nigeria is like a discarding ground for hazardous wastes and poor-quality goods or products, which form a major environmental and public health challenge (Yusuf, 2009; Zangina and Ali, 2021). Environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes in Nigeria is faced with multiple challenges some of which include inadequate information and statistics on the quantity and sources of hazardous waste generated in the country (Ubachukwu et al, 2014), lack of public awareness on the nature of hazardous waste and the danger posed to public health and the environment (Uwagbale, 2016), lack of political will by the government to put in place and enforce adequate legislations to deal explicitly with the matter of hazardous waste management, and inadequate training and capacity building on the current trends in the area of hazardous waste management (Ngwuluka et al, 2011; Zangina and Ali, 2021). We recognize that hazard information regarding the working environment is important and that is the reason we believe that it is imperative that the wastes are characterized in our future studies to identify specific toxic agents as well as the chemical and toxicological profile of such compounds and determine their etiological role in the reported morbidities.…”

Ionizing Radiations and Cancers

“…They occur when radiation exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhoea, burns, skin lesions, sores and skin cancer (Zamanian and Hardiman 2005 Soil exposed to radiation can be severely damaged by alteration of its physical and chemical properties thereby destroying its nutrients and ability to support plants (Zangina and Ali, 2021). Soil poisoned with toxins causes crops to absorb radiation, rendering them unsafe for consumption.…”

Identification of Hazardous Waste Risk Level in Central Java Province, Indonesia

“…Most hazardous waste produced in Central Java is toxic waste, followed by flammable, corrosive, reactive, and infectious waste. In Nigeria, toxic waste is also the most produced hazardous waste, generated from carbon dioxide gas flaring, electronic waste, household waste, and oil spillage [19]. The government of Central Java needs to be prepared for potential industrial disasters derived from hazardous waste.…”