RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOUSEHOLD CHORES POLLUTANTS, ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND LEVEL OF POLLUTION

(A CASE STUDY OF NORTH-WEST GEO-POLITICAL ZONE, NIGERIA)

By

Author

Presented To

Department of Education

ABSTRACT
This study examined the relationship between household chore pollutants and environmental pollution in the North West Zone of Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was used to carry out the research from a population of one million one hundred and two thousand, five hundred and fifty nine (1,102,559). A sample of two thousand six hundred and eighty six (2,686) was drawn using multistage sampling techniques, the respondents were made up of literate and non-literate households living in compound houses. A self designed questionnaire was employed to obtain data for the study. The study had six (6) objectives, research questions and null research hypotheses. The data was analyzed by using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient (PPMC) statistical technique. All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Some of the hypothesis were that: there was no significant relationship between meal preparation and environment pollution, there was no significant relationship washing/cleaning activities and environmental pollution in compound houses. The findings indicated among others that, meal preparation activities were related to environmental pollution with 3.2 which was greater than the decision rule of 3.0 in compound houses. Cleaning and washing is related to environmental pollution with 3.1 with decision rule of 3.0 in compound houses of north-west zone Nigeria. Based on the study, the researcher concluded among others that: meal preparation activities had relationship with environmental pollution, cleaning and washing activities in compound houses constitute health hazards affecting the society. One other findings among others was that handling of waste from the activities of the household in the study area was generated by water which was thrown in open drainages, gutters and fields posing hazards to the environment with 3.06 which was greater than the decision rule of 3.0. Furthermore, the study revealed that significant relationship of 0.759 existed between levels of pollution and environmental pollution in north-west geopolitical, zone, Nigeria. In view of these, it was recommended among others that households and builders should construct houses with standard drainage systems to channel all dirty water from meal preparation activities in the house. Scraps of food remnants should be discarded into refuse dumps designated for it. The Ministry of Environment should legislate adequate punishment against illegitimate dumping of household wastes in Nigeria.