The nature and impact of environmental pollution in Urban Industrial Areas.

Abstract

Environmental pollution continues to manifest itself in Kampala especially in industrialized areas and areas of high population, such as the Old Industrial Area. Air pollution that is emitted from the industries such as steel rolling industries, and the traffic congestion around this area leads to a lot of vehicular fumes emissions that are hazardous to human health. There are also foul smells from some industries that pollute the air inhaled by the residents of the area for example those living in Namuwongo slum. Land pollution, caused by the open dumping of certain industrial residues, and water pollution caused by the dumping of untreated industrial wastes are all hazardous to the environment. The sitting of some industries in the wet land is also a reason beyond doubt to identify the industrial area as an enemy to the natural environment, since there is a loss of biodiversity. The study aimed to analyze the nature and extent of environmental pollution in the old industrial area. It was specifically intended to investigate the nature of environmental pollution, the major causes of environmental pollution, and the extent of environmental pollution in the old industrial area and to suggest possible solutions to the causes and effects of environmental pollution in the study area. Both primary and secondary methods of data collection were used. Primary data was obtained by observation, interviews, and by use of questionnaires to obtain data from the field. Secondary data was obtained by reviewing the existing written literature about the same geographical area, or about a different area, but with a similar or related topic. The data was collected and analyzed in form of tables and graphs basing on the percentages of responses. The majority of the respondents (56.25) % identified Air pollution as the most prevalent form of pollution, 31.25% said water pollution was the greatest, 10% of the respondents identified soil/land pollutions the highest in the area while only 2.5 percent identified noise pollution as the greatest nature of environmental pollution in the Old Industrial Area. The study revealed that environmental pollution is on the rise as evidenced by the responses from the interviews. Overall, 41.25% indicated that the impact of pollution on their health and environment is very much. This is an indication that if no measures are taken, the communities around the industrial area are at risk of more complicated health hazards from pollution. In a move to overcome the causes and effects of environmental pollution in urban industrial areas, policy makers should make stricter laws that aim at overcoming pollution. Awareness creation and sensitization of the inhabitants of the area should be made, and these laws should be enforced. There should be government monitoring of industrial activities especially at night; shift of industries to other parts of Kampala and their decentralization to other parts of the country; and adoption of clean production technologies by industries.