I live in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, of course, this is the center for everything air pollution in this country, Nigeria. When it comes to air pollution, I could argue that this state takes the crown.
Pollution of any kind is unhealthy for us, and each one should be treated as quickly as possible to manage and curb the risks that it poses to our environment and ultimately to us.
Image is mine
This state in which I reside suffers from every form of pollution in the book. The noise here is destabilizing. The waters have been contaminated due to dumping of waste from homes in gutters, which flow into them and also block drainage, causing insects to breed and pollute the environment, creating both noise and health hazards. And also, theres the dumping of waste from the many industries in the state into water bodies making the water unclean and sites for insect to breed, causing the water to smell, but ultimately killing aquatic life in them. Anywhere you look at it from, it's too bad.
There's the land pollution from dumping wastes on the road and the other dirty stuff that happens.
However, I'm more concerned about air pollution. I never used to realize that the air in this state was polluted until a certain year when I traveled outside the state and on my return, we had only gotten into the state, when I began to have a hard time breathing. I could never forget that incident. I was by the window side, and even when I struck my nose out, it was a struggle. It felt like I was in a smoked room. I was gasping for air with my mouth open. You'd think i was having an attack.I was so scared.
While I was in the back seat of the bus struggling to breathe, someone in front mentioned that the air was terrible. And everyone else on the bus agreed, dropping comments.
Besides the horrible air that we breathe in here, there's so much soot that affects rainwater and when we put out clothes to dry. All these are a result of the many industries and companies littered around the state that empty heavy gases into the atmosphere. What is most infuriating is that these industries/companies are sited in residential areas where a person can see all of the black soot leaving the exit pipes. I've always thought if it was right that they were sited close to homes and schools and too near to people's abodes.
In this state, I'm not sure of any laws that restrict these activities. I don't even see any being made anytime soon. No measures have been taken that I know of. And it pusses me off the more that the very basic means of air cleansing by afforestation isn't even in play. Trees are constantly fallen to erect buildings. How do we even get to recycle?
I can tell for free that high on the list for the major cause of illnesses in this state is not poor living conditions or unhealthy lifestyle or whatever else but air pollution. And frankly, I don't know how I cope with it. I don't do anything. It mean, it's air pollution, how can I escape it??
Thanks for gracing this post.
Greetings!