Snapshot with Frank Sainworla, Jr., fsainworla@yahoo.com
Liberia has become a country awash with reform measures, but it seems that the more the nation reform, the less it transforms.
Burning of never collected garbage is a scene almost everywhere–from the shoulder of the Japan Freeway to the rubbish-infested Red-Light market hub in the Paynesville suburb of the Liberian capital, Monrovia. And this spectacle is just all around. Air pollution here and there, as smoke oozing from the burning garbage is inhaled by thousands of passersby and marketers, with no sign of environmental and health safety inspectors.
These pictures were taken on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at the Red-Light.
Such issues are only put on the front-burning during big commemorations, yet institutions responsible to enforce the regulations and educate the public are indeed aware of what is happening, but they seem to turn their eyes the other way.
One colleague remarked after I showed him the photo from the Red-Light, “regulations here my brother just don’t work”.
Back in 2019 on World Environment Day, this is what the EPA published:
An air pollution survey conducted across Monrovia by the Environmental Research and Standard Lab at the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) has provided evidence of air pollution hotspots across the city.
The survey findings were released at the celebration of World Environment Day on 5 June 2019.
The air pollution monitoring survey unearthed that smoke from charcoal is exposing residents to dangerous level of air pollution which will affect their health.
“Slow traffic and trash heaps are sources of dangerous pollution in Monrovia, while generator rooms and the exhaust from generators cause dangerous levels of pollution,” the study identified. ” EPA Releases Air Pollution Monitoring Survey Report | Environment Protection Agency R.L
Health risk of inhaling smoke from burning garbage
Research studies done by scientists speak of grave health risk to people being expose to this kind of pollution.
“Open burning of garbage poses health risks to those exposed directly to the smoke. It especially affects people with sensitive respiratory systems, as well as children and the elderly,” Open burning of garbage: health and environmental risks – Canada.ca
Open burning of garbage poses health risks to those exposed directly to the smoke and experts say it especially affects people with sensitive respiratory systems, as well as children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a recent report that “the health effects of air pollution are serious – one third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease are due to air pollution.”