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THE EFFECT OF LAND USE ACTIVITIES ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE ENVIRONMENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

There is a potential for land use activities to adversely affect the quality of the environment, the landscape, amenity values and the biodiversity of the various environments, all of which have a different ability to absorb the adverse effects of land use activities. Amenity values are those natural or physical qualities and characteristics of an area that contribute to people’s appreciation of the pleasantness, cultural and recreational attributes of that area.  Health is defined broadly, in line with the World Health Organization (WHO), as ‘not only the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being, without distinction of race, religion, political belief or economic or social condition’ (WHO, 1946). Health in this sense is linked to every aspect of life the social, the economic and the environmental and can be seen as consonant with the anthropogenic version of sustainable development evident in the UN Brundtland definition. Just as equity (intra-generational as well as inter-generational) is a key aspect of sustainable development, so concern for health inequalities is central to public health policy. Health and land use planning are historically linked. Modern planning originated in the nineteenth century expressly in order to combat unhealthy conditions the unsanitary, over-crowded and inhumane conditions of the burgeoning industrial cities. It was recognised then, and still is, that there is an umbilical link between environmental conditions and human health. This link has been articulated in the modern era as permeating the human condition. The environment is seen as one of the key determinants of health, alongside inherited characteristics, lifestyles, and social and economic variables (Lalonde, 1974; Whitehead and Dahlgren, 1991). It is not only a matter of the direct physical impacts on health for example of foul air or contaminated water but also of indirect social and behavioural effects, on the exercise we take, the people we meet, and the degree of inequality in access to housing, employment opportunities, health services and other facilities.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The environment is seen as one of the key determinants of health, alongside inherited characteristics, lifestyles, and social and economic variables (Lalonde, 1974). The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being, without distinction of race, religion, political belief or economic or social condition’ (WHO, 1946). When all these are not are not enjoyable it becomes a problem to environment. On this background the researcher wants to investigate the effect of land use activities on the health and safety of the environment.

1.3       OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1.   To ascertain the effect of land use activities on the health and safety of the environment

2.   To ascertain the activities on the land that are dangerous to health

3.   To ascertain the relationship between land use activities and safety of the environment.

1.4       RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following have been put forward for testing

H0: There is no effect of land use activities on the health and safety of the environment

H1: There is the effect of land use activities on the health and safety of the environment

H0: There are no the activities on the land that are dangerous to health

H1: There are the activities on the land that are dangerous to health

1.5       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will give a clear insight on the effect of land use activities on the health and safety of the environment. The study will be beneficial to students, ministry of environment and the general public. The study will also serve as a reference to others researcher

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers the effect of land use activities on the health and safety of the environment. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

 a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study   

b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.  

1.7   DEFINITION OF TERMS

LAND USE: Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as settlements and semi-natural habitats such as arable fields, pastures, and managed woods. 

HEALTH: Health, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

SAFETY: Safety is the state of being "safe" (from French sauf), the condition of being protected from harm or other non-desirable outcomes. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk.

ENVIRONMENT: Environment is everything that is around us. It can be living or non-living things. It includes physical, chemical and other natural forces. Living things live in their environment. They constantly interact with it and adapt themselves to conditions in their environment.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows:

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study