CAUSES, EFFECTS, AND COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG IN LAGOS METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Air pollutants are released from various sources into the atmosphere. These pollutants cause degradation of crops, forest, aquatic life, structural materials and human health. Air is one of the most basic natural factors of human life, but polluting agents in the air have involved in unique reactions that generates into photochemical smog and appears as an enemy of nature and humans. This ground level pollution causes respiratory problems to children, adults and the elderly. The weather in Nigeria is suitable to form a sustainable photochemical smog, and this has become ‘big problem’ in Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria and is threatening living conditions. Although industrialization and urbanization are markers of productivity, they are also potential causes of increased pollution in Lagos state. The aim of this study is to review the causes, effects and community responses to photochemical smog in Lagos, Nigeria. This paper relied on social environmental theory to find out the recent causes and effects of photochemical smog among rural urban dwellers in Nigeria. Data were collected from published materials over the last three decades to this recent time were utilized for this study. The study revealed that living in smog has become ‘‘normal’’ to most people living in rural-urban areas in Nigeria. The effect of these has caused long term damages to public health in Nigeria. The study recommends relevant lifesaving information to the reach of the public, especially the less privileged and the less informed. Also, there is the need for regular advocacy for clean industrial smoke, and sympathetic policy responses as common measures identified to manage air pollutions in Lagos, Nigeria.