Abstract:
This review paper compiles and discusses the occurrence of odour released from a water waste
treatment plant (WWTP) and its impact to those who reside relatively close to such sites .It
investigates the health impacts due to emissions released and also indicates the means people use
to mitigate odours. This paper used a mixed method approach based on informal interviews,
questionnaires and observations from the study area. Results reveal that there are a number of
health ailments (e.g. numbness of hands and feet, vision, olfactory and respiratory problems) that
people present due to their close proximity to the WWTP site. The WWTP works indicated that
they have tried to improve their systems however those interventions are likely not recognised by
the communities exposed. The municipality involved has in the past 9 years after occupancy
from the low cost housing planted what they estimate to be 1800 trees that were meant to
improve the air quality however died from negligence. Therefore the only remediation method
that people use to keep the odour at bay was closing the doors and windows. The methodologies
applied by the people exposed to musk the odour appear to be non-efficient; this indicates a clear
need to develop new effective and cost-efficient remediation approaches beneficial for human
health at an extent which is in the same order of magnitude of damage caused by air pollution. |
