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Percevied Effects Of Polluted Surface Water On The Health Of The Residents
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Water is a
primary necessity of life, and in its absence man will survive for a
few hour or days. Water is probably the body’s most essential
requirement, we can survive without air for only few minutes and without
water perhaps few days. It contributes in a variety of ways to the
enjoyment, safety and progress of human existence. The body is composed
of about 60 percent water which is essential for digestive process,
blood circulation, and excretion. (Evans, 1999)
Godman (2000) opined
that, water is made up of two volume of hydrogen and one volume of
oxygen, the earth is a water planet and it’s the abundant of this unique
liquid that has made life possible on earth. Water has numerous
physical, chemical and biological uses, and it could be used most
efficiently when is in its purest form. Three quarter of the planet
earth is sea, but about one third of the populations have no access to
wholesome water.
Water pollution due to discharge of untreated
industrial effluents into water bodies is a major problem in the global
context. Mathuthu, Mwanga, and Simoro (2007). The problem of water
pollution is being experienced by both developing and developed
countries. Human activities give rise to water pollution by introducing
various categories of substances or waste into a water body. The more
common types of polluting substances include pathogenic organisms,
oxygen demanding organic substances, plant nutrients that stimulate all
the blooms, inorganic and organic toxic substances (Cornish &
Mensah, 2009).
Agriculture, cities, and industry in this country are
enormous consumers of water. For example producing a gallon of gasoline
requires five gallons of water, brewing a barrel of beer consumes a
thousand gallons, a ton of newspaper takes about 50,000 gallons, a ton
of steel requires 25,000 gallons, a family of four uses about 600
gallons of water daily. Edlin, Golany, and Brown( 2008)
Water is
continuously recycled in the environment by evaporation and rain.
However more and more water becomes polluted from pesticides, chemicals,
oil spills, and sewage therefore less and less water is suitable for
human consumption and agricultural use. Edlin, Golany, and Brown 2008.
The changes in the nutrient concentrations of water may lead to harmful
effects to humans and aquatic life. Most heavy metals in streams of
water are commonly associated with industrial discharges (Mdamo, 2001)
and almost heavy metals common in industrial effluents have cumulative
toxins to aquatic life. The physical-chemical parameters of an aquatic
body not only reflect the type and diversity of aquatic animals but also
the water quality and pollution (Birley & Lock, 1999).
The
effect of water on health and sickness in this decade has become more
emphasized because of the awareness of the role of water as a carrier of
organisms and non-living materials which may be harmful to man.
(Federal Environmental Protection Agency, 2002) The purity of water is
threatened by human activities, in order to avert this trend, it would
be better to embark on proper management of this vital resource through
the incorporation of environment concerns to minimize pollution, land
degradation and associated health hazards through water supply.
Water
quality monitoring involves the measurements and detection of
substances in the water to evaluate and ascertain the threat posed by
such substance to the health of the people in particular and the
environment in general. Every sphere of human life is affected by
environment pollution. The general quality of our surrounding is
influenced by environmental pollution and this, pose a risk to our
health and general well-being.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The study focused on the effect of polluted surface water on the health of the resident in Ado-Odo/Ota local government Area. Water quality is an essential ingredient of healthy and productive life, but due to rapid industrialization and population explosion, surface waters which have been pure in the year’s backs are no more pure. Improper waste management is seen as a clog to the wheel of progress in terms of water quality. This study was carried out to determine the effects of polluted ... Continue reading---
