Abstract

This study aimed at describing “THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ON MEN AND WOMEN IN LIMBE” and in realizing this, three objectives were gotten to attain the results.

It was a cross-sectional study involving 50 people that is women and men aged 18-65 years. The techniques and instruments used for data collection were questionnaires and the methods used for data analysis were tables and charts.

The analysis was based on the various types of environmental pollution, the causes of environmental pollution, the effects of environmental pollution on men and women in Limbe and the possible solutions from the people, council and government to address the issue.

Findings from this study show that environmental pollution has adverse effects on both the humans and the other environmental living and non-living things.

It has affected men and women in Limbe in various ways which includes effects on men and women’s health through diseases like typhoid, malaria, body rashes, cholera, lung cancer. It also breaks up the environment and also the different ecosystems present in it.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Brief overview of Background and Setting

The threat to the human environment from the progressive deterioration of the biosphere has emerged as a central issue of this decade.

For many years as it seems, environmental pollution has been one of the major issues affecting the health of individuals both in urban and rural areas. Environmental pollution according to (Iyyanki, 2017) is the contamination of the physical and biological components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely affected.

Any use of natural resources at a rate higher than nature’s capacity to restore itself can result in pollution of air, water and land.

Accelerated industrialization, rapid urbanization, the pattern of increasing consumption of natural resources, the development of modern agricultural and transportation techniques, and rising standards of living have not only contributed to modify the ecological balance on which the quality of the environment depends, but present great threats to human survival.

The high rate of technological change has increased pollution above the self-cleansing capabilities of the environment.

Environment statistics describe that, the state of and trends in the environment, covers the media of the natural environment (air/climate, water, land/soil) and living organisms within those media and human settlements (United Nations Environment Programme 2012).

This is one of the statistical fields traditionally considered gender neutral and often developed without much consideration of all the aspects and implications relating to individuals.

Yet, men owing to existing gender environmental conditions have a different impact on the lives of women and inequality. In particular, lack of access to save water and energy, environmental degradation and natural disasters disproportionately affect women in terms of unremunerated work, health and mortality.

Across the regions and cultures of the world, women play critical roles in relation to their natural environment. Often deeply dependent on available natural resources for food, fuel and shelter, women can be particularly vulnerable to environmental changes or threats.

Men and women relate to the environment in different ways, and environmental changes have different impacts on their lives. Women are also more likely than men to live in poverty, and they are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and other environmental hazards, especially in developing countries.

More to that, man’s activities that involves secondary activities has been found and regarded as one of the main causes of environmental pollution in the surrounding area we live in. These activities involve use of machines by factories to processed products for consumption and exchange.

For example, the burning of fossil fuels which comes from Sulphur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuel like coal, petroleum and other factory combustibles (Halle, 2018).

Another example according to (Sayed, 2003), is the location of factory’s engine machines in the sea for cooling, but then in the process of cooling, the surrounding water is made warm unfit for fish survival.

Man’s activities of dumping, littering of waste constantly into the sea is another source of environmental pollution in that the water carries this waste material back into the surrounding area thereby making the whole area nasty and polluted.

Water resource is very important for human wellbeing and dignity all over the world. In fact, its uses are related to all aspects of human development including health, agriculture, education, economics, and even peace and stability (Pradeep, 2016).

Many African countries suffer from economic water scarcity, while physical water scarcity could be controlled through good water management practices (Pradeep, 2016, Defo et al., 2016).

Furthermore, women’s bodies respond differently unlike those of men to different pollutants. As such, they are affected more. Smith, (1996) mentioned carbon monoxide (CO) as a major component of biomass smoke of particular concern to women. Royakelishadi, (2012) said that environmental pollutants have various adverse health effects from early life especially in women.

Some of the most important harmful effects are perinatal disorders, infant mortality, respiratory disorders, allergy, malignancies, cardiovascular disorders, increase in stress oxidative, endothelial dysfunctions, mental disorders. Also, activities resulting to the pollution of the environment turns to create problems with breathing and also affecting women’s reproductive organs.

According to (Krupp, 2011), environmental pollution can affect the functioning of women’s reproductive organs and can impact the health of a fetus. This ranges from fertility to miscarriages to birth defects, which may be damaging to women’s reproductive system.

More than 80% of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO guideline limits, with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures, both indoors and outdoors.

The combined effects of ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution cause about seven million premature deaths every year, largely as a result of increase mortality from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year. According to (WHO, 2018) 90% people worldwide breathe air containing high levels of pollutants.

A typical case study is Water Problems for Kolkata Metropolitan Region by MST MUKHERJEE where through the project, pollution to the river and water quality has helped reduced. It was estimated that 1400 million liters sewage and 200 million liters of industrial effluents were discharged everyday into the river and this affected both men and women of the area.

Another example is The Environmental pollution of Kandy Lake: A case study from Sri Lanka where the water pollution levels of Kandy Lake in Sri Lanka were monitored to probe the impacts and influences of urban environment in a developing country.

Although Kandy Lake is a source of drinking water, the water is polluted and indicates adversities of human involvements with nature and provides a good case study for human influence on water pollution in developing country.

With all these activities (accelerated industrialization, rapid urbanization, the pattern of increasing consumption of natural resources, the development of modern agricultural and transportation techniques, and rising standards of living), carried out by man in the various communities in a town as Limbe, women are threatened in various ways which may not only affect their health but their development as well.

1.2. Statement of the problem

Many towns and cities today are faced with unnatural and negative changes in all dimensions like chemical, physical and biological characteristics of any component of the ecosystem, which is air, water or soil which can cause harmful effects on various forms of life and property. (Arpit, 2019).

The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of environmental pollution on men and women. Some causes of environmental pollution include; exhaust from factories and industries, burning of fossil fuel, dumping of solid waste and littering by humans, accelerated industrialization, among others.

However, it has various implications on men and women which include; perinatal disorders, infant mortality, respiratory disorders, allergy, malignancies, cardiovascular disorders, increase in stress oxidative, endothelial dysfunctions, mental disorders (Roya, 2012). Also, activities resulting to the pollution of the environment turns to create problems with breathing.

Proposed Possible solutions are; organizing clean up campaigns to reduce some of the dirt found around down beach Limbe, setting up of recycle industries that can immediately transform the waste carried by Hysacam. It is against this background that this study seeks to examine the effects of environmental pollution on men and women in Limbe.

1.3. Research Questions

1.3.1. Main Research Questions

What accounts for the effects of environmental pollution on Men and women in Limbe?

1.3.2.   Specific Research Questions

1. What are the causes of environmental pollution in Limbe?
2. What are the effects of environmental pollution on Men and women in Limbe?
3. What are the possible solutions that can reduce the effects of environmental pollution on Men and women in Limbe?

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