Ecohealth Approach to Urban Waste Management: Exposure to Environmental Pollutants and Health Risks in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Poor waste management is a key driver of ill-health in urban settlements of developing countries. The current study aimed at assessing environmental and human health risks related to urban waste management in Yamoussoukro, the political capital of Côte d'Ivoire. We undertook trans-disciplinary research within an Ecohealth approach, comprised OPEN ACCESS Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 1110293 of a participatory workshop with stakeholders and mapping of exposure patterns. A total of 492 randomly selected households participated in a cross-sectional survey. Waste deposit sites were characterised and 108 wastewater samples were subjected to laboratory examinations. The physico-chemical parameters of the surface water (temperature, pH, conductivity, potential oxidise reduction, BOD5, COD, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, ammonia and total Kendal nitrogen) did not comply with World Health Organization standards of surface water quality. Questionnaire results showed that malaria was the most commonly reported disease. Diarrhoea and malaria were associated with poor sanitation. Households having dry latrines had a higher risk of diarrhoea (odds ratio (OR) = 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-2.7) compared to latrines with septic tanks and also a higher risk for malaria (OR = 1.9, 95% (CI) 1.1-3.3). Our research showed that combining health and environmental assessments enables a deeper understanding of environmental threats and disease burdens linked to poor waste management. Further study should investigate the sanitation strategy aspects that could reduce the environmental and health risks in the study area.

Is Agricultural Intensification a Growing Health Concern? Perceptions from Waste Management Stakeholders in Vietnam

“…Furthermore, communication between levels of government appeared to be inconsistent and the viewpoints of government representatives on waste management practices and recommendations for creating regulations differed greatly between government departments. This lack of coherence supports the need for a more integrated view of human and environmental health within the government [41,43]. Both farmers and policymakers also perceived that there was a lack of connection between human, animal, and environmental health, demonstrating that neither group viewed health in a holistic matter.…”

“…Future research could evaluate regulations to identify how they can be better integrated and implemented to improve both human and environmental health. Combining health and environmental risk assessments can enable a deeper understanding of environmental hazards and disease burdens linked to poor waste management [43].…”

Morbidité Des Enfants En Zones Urbaines Africaines. Le Cas De L’observatoire De Population De Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)

“…L'analyse spatiale apporte un nouvel éclairage sur l'exposition potentielle aux dangers environnementaux en milieu urbain. Vivre près d'une eau stagnante ou d'un tas d'ordures suppose a priori un risque de maladies plus élevé comme conséquence de l'exposition aux dangers environnementaux (Kouamé et al, 2014). Le fait d'avoir plus de mères éduquées, une proportion relativement faible d'enfants malnutris, l' accès à l'eau potable et à l'assainissement, ainsi que la nature du sol dans les quartiers lotis expliqueraient une occurrence faible des maladies en zones loties (El-Fadel et al, 2014).…”

In-depth analysis of nitrogen flow in urban system in Low Income Countries: The case of Yamoussoukro in Côte d’Ivoire

“…In Côte d'Ivoire the nutrient loading of nitrogen to aquifers from on-site sanitation systems is largely unknown (Nyenje et al, 2013). For instance, in the city of Yamoussoukro, it was recently reported that the level of nitrogen has increased in the lake waters due to anthropogenic activities (Kouamé et al, 2014). Generally, the solid waste sector is poorly managed and wastes are open dumped without any treatment or reuse options.…”

“…Generally, the solid waste sector is poorly managed and wastes are open dumped without any treatment or reuse options. Furthermore, untreated effluents from septic tanks are discharged to the environment including the lakes without any control (Kouamé et al, 2014). Lack of sanitation in Yamoussoukro has considerably affected the environment and human health (Arvidsson et al, 2013).…”