International Journal of Healthcare Sciences ISSN 2348-5728 (Online) Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp: (96-102), Month: April 2021 - September 2021, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
A STUDY ON ENVIRONMENTAL AIR POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECT ON HUMAN HEALTH IN MADURAI CITY G.K.RUBINI Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of Economics, Sri Meenakshi Govt. Arts College for Women, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract: Air pollution is a wide-reaching problem and it is likely to influence the health of human populations is great. Human health is largely affected by the environmental. Death and human diseases are largely linked to air pollution patterns. This study was conducted with an objective to analyse the sources and effects of air that creates air pollution and to discuss the relationship between the air pollution and its effect on human health in Madurai city. The main sources of air pollution are industries, automobiles, coal combustion and electrical power plant. Major effects of air pollution include eye irritation, nose irritation, running nose, sore throat, coughing and wheezing. The empirical study is based on the sample survey of the city of Madurai. A total of 150 respondents were interviewed personally. The sample respondents a cross-section of different age groups, sex, educational levels, income levels of respondents and therefore it could be treated as a representative sample for such an exploratory study in Madurai city. The analysis has been carried out with the help of percentage method and Garrett’s ranking method. Generally, the suitable action will be taken to control air pollution. Public education appears to be the best method as suggested by the respondents. However, government and NGOs can play a significant role in this process. Keywords: Air pollution, Pollutant, Human health, Effects.
1. INTRODUCTION Air pollution is a widespread problem in Madurai city. Clean air is considered to be a basic requirement for human health and other living beings (Tasica et al., 2008). Human health is largely affected by the environmental (Khademi et al., 2010). The mechanization of human life has never been without complications. Amongst these consequences air pollution is an increasing concern. The rising levels of air pollution in large cities seriously threaten the health of their residents (Masgedi et al., 2001). Death and human diseases are largely linked to air pollution patterns (Mohamadi 2006). This issues is receiving much attention, due to the fact that both in developed and developing countries there has been increase in urbanization due to higher activities in transportation and industrialization (Abiye et al., 2013). According to Mishra (2003) rapid growth in urban population, increasing industrialization and rising demands for energy and motor vehicles are the worsening air pollution levels. He added that air pollution is caused of ill health and death by natural and manmade sources, major man-made sources of ambient air pollution include tobacco smoke, combustion of solid fuels for cooking, heating, home cleaning agents, insecticides industries, automobiles, power generation, poor environmental regulation, less efficient technology of production congested road, and age and poor maintenance of vehicles. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated the urban air pollution as a critical public health problem, and more than 2 million premature deaths each year can be attributed to the effects of urban outdoor and indoor air pollution (WHO, 2006). The adverse health effects, such as respiratory morbidity, cardiovascular diseases and mortality, have created a public awareness to the urban air pollution (Colls and Micallef, 1997). The epidemiology and laboratory studies also demonstrated that ambient air pollutants (for example, PM, O 3, SO2 and NO2) contributed to various respiratory problems including bronchitis, emphysema and asthma (Ling et al., 2012). Enger and Smith (2000) also stated that people produce
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