Epidemiological risk perceptions of people living close to open dumps in Nampula, Mozambique: a case study control

Tocoloa, Alexandre; Martinho, Ana Paula; Fernandes, Ana Paula

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/14570

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Authors

Tocoloa, Alexandre

Martinho, Ana Paula

Fernandes, Ana Paula

Abstract(s)

While the municipal solid waste management systems (MSW) dominated by the informal sector makes positive contributions to the environment, they are also characterised by inadequate service delivery, low waste recovery, operational inefficiencies and inadequate waste disposal. The presence, of municipal solid waste poses a threat to public health and the environment if not managed properly. Tocoloa, Martinho and Vaz-Fernandes focus on the detrimental impact of the MSW in Nampula city, in Mozambique, where populations live near open dumps with open burning. There chapter aims to analyze the perceptions about the effects on health and on the environment of these populations that live close to MSW dumps in the city of Nampula. Employing an epidemiological questionnaire to individuals residing in four different geographical areas, they find that the exposed populations may suffer some illnesses and injuries from living closer to the MSW but showed lack of awareness about it. The fact that waste collection is undifferentiated and the different types of MSW are all placed in these locations, it is expected that in addition to contamination by different vectors (mosquitoes, rats and domestic animals) that can cause different tropical diseases in these populations, other contaminants such as heavy metals and persistent organic compounds cannot be excluded. As uncontrolled waste burning is reported, these populations may also be exposed to dioxins and furans. These results point to the issues related to environmental justice and unequal exposure to the environmentally detrimental impact of a MSW dominated by the informal sector.

Keywords

Populations Dump and open burning Municipal waste Health and environment risks

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/14570

Citation

Tocoloa, A., Vaz-Fernandes, P:, Martinho, A. P. (2022). Epidemiological risk perceptions of people living close to open dumps in Nampula, Mozambique. A case study control. In: Bali Swain, R. B & Kambhampati, U, Routledge (Eds.). The Informal Sector and the Environment (1st ed.). Routledge. ISBN 978-1-003-22385-6. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003223856