Waste Generation and Exposures and its Effects on Cardiovascular Health Status of Kwali Township Residents in Abuja, Nigeria
Author(s): Daniel Dogo Zakka, Osagie Mike Odigie and Josiah Obaghwarhievwo Adjene
Over time, human activities have always generated wastes which pose deleterious effects on the physiologic and anatomical modalities
of vital organs / systems. In this study, the effect(s) of exposures to wastes was investigated on the cardiovascular health status of Kwali
township residents in Abuja, Nigeria. Three hundred and eighty (380) subjects, consisting of 200 residents who have been exposed (for 3
years or more) to waste disposals were selected (experimental group). Study also recruited a total of 180 non-resident / unexposed subjects
(control) from the study area. Following selection, participants were assessed for cardiovascular parameters [Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP),
Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) and Pulse Rate (PR)] based on different exposure durations [3-5, 6-7
and 8-10 years], after obtaining their medical history with a questionnaire. Following statistical analysis (using the student t-test), study
found a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in the SBP of exposed than non-exposed subjects; with DBP, MAP and PR increasing
insignificantly. Gender-based comparisons also returned a significant increase in males the females, with an apparent, significant increase in
cardiovascular variables for increased duration of exposures. Also, a significant, positive correlation was observed for SBD and DBP with
increased exposure duration, implicative that the longer the duration of exposures, the higher the SBP and DBP. Thus, prolonged exposure
of Kwali township residents to environmental waste increased most cardiovascular variables as compared to non-exposed individuals. More
corroborative studies on this are recommended.
Will be updated soon