Environmental Agencies and The Readiness to Combat Environmental Hazards Through Health Campaigns: A Focus On Plastic Pollution

Abstract

This study investigated environmental agencies and the readiness to combat environmental hazards through health campaigns; with focus on plastic pollution. The study came against the backdrop of increase in the indiscriminate disposal of plastic by users; hence, how the concerned agencies have been able to combat the health and environmental hazards that come with it became a necessary study. The study was designed as survey and was situated within the context of Knowledge Attitude and Practices model and the Agenda Setting Theory. The population of the study was Anambra residents; while a sample size of 400 was used. From the quantitative data gathered and analyzed, it was found that , Anambra residents know so much about the problems of plastic pollution; Anambra residents are not aware of effort by the concerned agencies in fighting plastic pollution; it was thus recommended that there was the need to incorporate environmental pollution, especially, plastic pollution  education into the school system, starting from the primary to tertiary level; in this way, Nigerians would become exposed to the issues of the hazards of plastic pollution from their early years. This could bring about a positive attitude in regard to mitigation pf plastic pollution. The study further recommended that the government should make laws towards regulating indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste.

Key words: Plastic pollution, environmental pollution, plastic waste, environmental agencies

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/9-12-21

Publication date:June 30^th 2019