RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN AWKA SOUTH, ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between environmental pollution and respiratory diseases 
in Awka South Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State, Nigeria. Three research 
questions guided the study. The study employed correlational survey research design. The 
population consists of residents of Awka South LGA Anambra. Random sampling techniques 
was used to obtain 100 respondents from the population that formed the study. The instrument 
for data collection was 20 items questionnaire which was validated by three experts in the faculty 
of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Statistics mean was used to analyze the 
collected data. The findings of the study indicate that waste burning is a common practice that 
contribute significantly to pollution, noise pollution from vehicles is one of major issue in their 
community, improper waste disposal contributes to environmental pollution. The study further 
indicate that poor air quality contributed to the respiratory problems they had experienced, and 
also, that there is a strong correlation between waste burning and the occurrence of respiratory 
diseases.