NOISE POLLUTION AND COMMUNICATION INTERVENTION INITIATIVES- A STUDY OF ONITSHA AND OGBETE MAIN MARKETS TRADERS’ AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH RISKS AND ACTION
- Project Research
- 1-5 Chapters
- Abstract : Available
- Table of Content: Available
- Reference Style: APA
- Recommended for : Student Researchers
- NGN 3000
Background of the Study
Noise pollution is an environmental issue that is rapidly increasing in most parts of the world and it is capable of challenging environmental sustainability. Although noise is not new to the human environment, it is however becoming more problematic (Hogan, 2012). American Industrial Hygiene Association (2015) observed that humans are now surrounded by noise. This means that we practically live with noise. Mead (2007) noted that as people are surrounded by noise, with time they tend to get accustomed to it as normal part of life. As people get used to noise, it appears as if exposure to noise does not have negative effects on people. However, getting habituated to noise does not stop the adverse physiological damage and health impairments from occurring. The scholar observed that the implications of increasing noise pollution for future generations will be more challenging and also emphasised the need to check the situation now. Goines and Hagler (2007) remarked that noise pollution is a major public health issue as the people at risk and the causes of noise that people are exposed to keep increasing. The increase, they argued, is due to increase in population size, urbanization, and increase in the use of different gadgets that produce noise. The above authors also noted that environmental noise pollution jeopardises the health and well-being of people. Noise has the capacity to impair health, and reduce the quality of residential, social, working and learning environments. According to the scholars cited above, noise also disturbs sleep, concentration, communication and recreation. Similarly, the World Health Organization (2015) observed that noise is a major nuisance in the environment that is being underestimated. Most people do not understand that it is a threat that can cause many short-and-long-term health problems. The health impacts of environmental noise on human health identified by WHO include: cardiovascular diseases, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance, tinnitus and annoyance. Exposure to noise is linked with so many other health issues including increase in blood pressure, increase in blood viscosity as well as increase in levels of blood lipids. Noise pollution can also increase the development of mental disorders. Other health impacts of exposure to noise pollution include: anxiety, stress, nervousness, nausea, headaches, emotional instability, sexual impotence, mood changes, neurosis, hysteria and psychosis (Goines & Hagler, 2007). Noise pollution can also lead to stress-related illness, high blood pressure, speech interference, hearing loss, sleep disruption and loss of productivity. Lower resistance to disease and infection, circulatory problems, ulcers, asthma, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders are also among the many physiological and psychological problems linked to noise pollution. Noise-induced hearing loss is the most commonly known and discussed health challenge resulting from noise pollution. Goines, and Hagler (cited above) stated that exposure to occupational noise is one of the major causes of hearing loss. They noted that hearing is very important for human health and safety. This implies that hearing impairment is a major health challenge. World Health Organization Fact Sheet (2015) indicated that about fifteen per cent (15%) of adults in the world experience some degree of hearing loss while about five per cent (5%) of global population are suffering from disabling hearing loss. This means that about three hundred and sixty (360) million people in the world are suffering from disabling hearing loss. WHO added that one third of the people over sixty-five (65) years of age, suffer from disabling hearing loss. This implies that hearing loss is an issue that requires urgent attention. WHO Fact Sheet (cited above), observed that cases of hearing-loss are prevalent in South Asia, Asia Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa. It added that majority of people suffering from disabling hearing loss are residing in low-and-middle income countries. This implies that Nigeria needs to take the issue of noise-induced hearing loss very seriously. Hearing loss can affect only one of the ears; it can also affect both ears. American Academy of Otolaryngology (2014), reported that approximately 28 million Americans have lost some or all of their hearing. In 2017, it was reported that about 36 million adults and about 48 million people of all ages in America are experiencing hearing loss. Furthermore, twenty per cent (20 %) of people in their twenties experience hearing loss in America (EarQ, 2017). Hearing loss affects the ability to understand normal speech. In other words, hearing loss negatively impacts an individual‟s ability to communicate. It can lead to communication disorder as one who has difficulty understanding normal speech will find it difficult communicating effectively. When noise gets too loud, it begins to kill hair-cells in the inner ear which makes hearing possible. With prolonged exposure to loud noise, more hair cells are destroyed leading to decrease in hearing. American Industrial Hygiene Association (2015) warned that once the hair-cells are destroyed, the damage is permanent without any possibility of reversal. The only thing that could be done is to protect the hearing that remains by avoiding further exposure to noise. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2013) affirmed that noise-induced hearing loss cannot be medically or surgically corrected. March 3, is observed as World Hearing Day in most countries of the world annually. The day was set aside by the World Health Organization to draw attention to the economic impact of hearing loss. The theme of the 2017 World Hearing Day was „Action for Hearing Loss: make a sound investment‟. According to the WHO, hearing loss is costly to the global economy. It estimated that the global economy loses about seven hundred and fifty ($750) billion dollars annually to unaddressed hearing loss (WHO, 2017). The College of Health at the University of Utah (2015) emphasised that communication is an essential characteristic of humans and that communication is very essential for learning, working and interacting with others. Consequently, impairment in communication (communication disorder) can affect all aspects of an individual‟s life negatively. Hearing loss has been identified as the third most common physical condition reported in the United States (EarQ, 2017). It should therefore be given adequate attention. In most nations including Nigeria, noise pollution has not received as much attention as other types of environmental pollution like air pollution and water pollution. Noise in Nigerian cities is becoming very alarming. People now practically live with excess noise. Most people conduct their daily activities in noisy environment. The roads are very noisy, markets, schools, public motor parks and recreational facilities are all excessively noisy during the day. Religious worship places and activities are now characterized by very loud sounds, shouting, and drumming. Most of these noisy religious places and activities are situated within residential areas and are mostly conducted in the evenings / nights when residents are supposed to be resting. Loud speakers are usually mounted outside the religious places contributing to noise in the environment. In some cases, many of such religious worship places are engaged in noise producing activities at the same time in the same neighborhood. Noise is indeed part of us. It is becoming almost unavoidable in most cases. There are so many research evidences confirming that the level of noise in Nigerian cities is growing at an alarming and dangerous level. Studies and reports confirming that the level of noise in Nigerian cities is far higher than the levels suitable for human health and wellbeing include: Onwumere (2015); Environment Today (2015); Adejobi (2012); Anomahanran (2013); Olayinka (2013). Interestingly, The Union (2014) observed that Nigeria is probably the noise capital of the world. This remark is based on the report of the United Nations which indicated that Nigeria is not only the largest country in Africa, but also Africa‟s noisiest and loudest country. Several scholars who measured the level of noise in several cities in Nigeria also reported that in all cities studied, the level of noise in areas used for commercial activities are significantly higher than the level of noise recorded in other locations. In addition to the scholars cited above who measured the level of noise in some cities in Nigeria and who found that areas used for commercial activities record higher level of noise are these scholars: Alkasim and Abubakar-Sadiq (2010) as well as Aremu, Aremu, and Olukanni, (2015). Nwobi-Okoye et al. (2015), as well as Madu, Uyaelumuo and Orji (2018) measured the level of noise in the city of Onitsha. Both studies reported that the level of noise in the city is higher than the recommended safe level. The researcher could not find studies that measured the level of noise in the city of Enugu. However, based on the findings by the scholars identified above, the researcher believes that studies relating to the awareness and knowledge of health risks associated with exposure to noise pollution should focus more on people who spend many hours of their daily lives in very busy markets that experience the most concentration of commercial activities. The researcher decided to conduct a study in two major markets located in the South East of Nigeria. These markets are Onitsha Main Market located in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria and Ogbete Main Market located in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. These markets like most large markets in Nigeria are usually characterised by very high occupational noise. Most traders spend about eight to ten hours daily in such environment that is characterised by very high noise. Onitsha is a popular commercial city in Nigeria. It is home to the popular Onitsha Main Market which is one of the largest markets in West Africa. Some also say it is the largest market, not only in Africa but in the world (Adimike, 2011); Jannah (2014); Eze (2014). Traders visit the market from different countries of Africa and beyond to buy and / or sell different wares and services. A visit to the market confirms that the market is usually charged with commercial and other related activities producing noise at high levels. Sounds from different sizes of power generating sets, loudspeakers and megaphones announcing different things at the same time compound the noise generated by thousands of human voices talking at the top of their voice to call attention of potential customers or to clear the way for load carriers and barrow pushers. Various organized groups of beggars singing with different musical instruments contribute to increase noise pollution in the market. Many market evangelists can be heard preaching with public address systems at very high volumes all at the same time as people are conducting their business activities. The roads leading to the market experience heavy vehicular and human traffic with the attendant noise generated. This market, being the largest market in Nigeria, is therefore considered as the most relevant area to conduct studies relating to traders‟ awareness and knowledge of health risks associated with exposure to noise pollution. A similar situation as found in Onitsha Main Market is also experienced in Ogbete Main Market in Enugu. These two markets form the area for this study.
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