Hazards Associated with Plastic Wastes in the Communities of Niger Delta, Nigeria (Published)
The goal of this study was to investigate into the negative impacts that the presence of plastic waste in the communities located in the Niger Delta may have on the environment and human health. The following physico-chemical properties of the water, fish, sediment, and human blood samples were measured and analyzed: pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and phosphate. Furthermore, an assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was included of the inquiry. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to measure the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, Version 25.0. Standard deviation, mean, and percentage were among the descriptive statistical metrics used. Furthermore, inferential statistical techniques like Turkey’s Test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to determine the presence of this correlation within a 0.05 confidence interval. The study’s findings showed that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) congeners came in 10, 9, and 11 distinct varieties in fish, water, and human blood, respectively. Therefore, it is essential to conduct routine monitoring to assess the effects that waste plastic is having on the aquatic resources and the local people in the Niger Delta. This will help evaluate how these environmental risks are now manifesting and how they affect public health.
Keywords: Communities, Environment, Hazard, Waste., plastic
The Impact of Flooding On the Livelihood of People Living In the Luhonono Area in the Zambezi Region, Namibia (Published)
This study examined the impact of floods on the livelihoods of the community of the Luhonono area (formally called Schuckmansburg) in the Kabbe constituency in the Zambezi Region of Namibia. The problem identified is the persistent flooding in the Luhonono area, giving rise to the need to look at the impact of floods on the livelihoods of the local community. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches, utilising both descriptive and exploratory designs. The target population for the study was all the heads of households, community leaders and a political councillor of government in Luhonono area. The study applied both purposive sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Structured questionnaires and an interview guide were used as research instruments to collect data from the sample. The data was used to measure the impact of floods on the livelihood of the people in the flood-prone area. The data collected were computed using the Excel computer program version 16.0 and the data were analysed by both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Chi Square tests were carried out to determine the association of villages and the severity of the flooding to the respondents. Hypotheses to test this association were examined using the Chi Square method. It was established that there is no association between the villages and the overall severity of the floods in the Luhonono area. This implies that all the villages were equally affected by the flood. There is a need for further studies to develop baseline data on the impact of flood that will help the Government of the Republic of Namibia in establishing strategies that will help the communities in flood prone areas to develop resilience against the impact of floods.
Keywords: Disaster, Flood, Hazard, Preparedness, Resilience, Vulnerability