ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND THE NEEDS FOR AWARENESS CREATION IN ONITSHA, ANAMBRA STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

The accumulation of waste can rightly be said to be a four-runner of present day environmental problems. The revolution was followed by the industrial revolution which was as a result of man’s quest to master his environment. The causes of this environmental problem have been identified as population growth and industrialization, overloading our environment with pollutants like noxious substances of our daily household, industrial and agricultural waste (Chukwuneke,2005) If refuse is not properly disposed, it could lead to an out- break of diseases which could be very hazardous to human health [Morten, 2007]. For instance, sewage being one of the major pollutants of the land and river could cause disease to man and also disturb aquatic ecosystem by killing the aquatic organisms such as fishes. Poor disposal of human excreta and urine creates an atmosphere for the development of pathogenic organisms that cause disease. Human excreta produces offensive smell and attracts flies which can easily transmit disease to people. Science Teachers Association of Nigeria [STAN, 2004] observed that when substances are introduced into air and water which makes them harmful to be used, they are said to be polluted, noting that such harmful substances are called pollutants. Pollution is an act or process which leads to the defilement or uncleanliness of the conditions under which are lives (Akpuaka, 2005). There are various types of pollution. Theseinclude, pollution of water, air, land, radioactive, vibration, noise and thermal pollution.

Education is being a veritable tool for social transformation and development. It is a dynamic instrument of change, which can be used to bring about redness, correct imbalance in development and make for the quick development of economic, political, sociological and human resources [FRN, 2004]. However, changes occur as a result of the cumulative effect of well-developed curriculum,

[Amokaye, 2012]. The illiterate Nigerians may not change unless they become informed through appropriate curriculum and educational communication of alternative modes of thinking and behaviors.

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