CORRELATION BETWEEN SAFETY AWARENESS AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH RISK FACTORS AMONG WASTE WORKERS IN SELECTED GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IN NIGER-DELTA

2026-10-12T10:56:50+00:00

This study investigated the correlation between safety awareness and occupational health risk among waste workers in selected government hospitals in Niger-Delta region. Safety awareness was operationalized using modified safety awareness scores while knowledge of occupational health risk exposure was captured using physical factors, biomechanical factors, biological Factors and psychosocial factors. Cross-sectional and inferential designs were adopted. The population comprised hospital waste workers in three selected government hospitals in Niger-Delta States namely Imo, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom State. Data collection was done using questionnaire designed based on a 5-point Likert. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation. The results of the descriptive statistics using weighted average (WA) revealed that knowledge of waste workers on occupational health risk factor is good (WA = 4.09 > 3.00) and the waste workers have substantial level of safety awareness (WA = 3.76>3.00) The Pearson correlation revealed that positive and significant relationship exists between safety awareness, physical factors and psychosocial factors. The results also showed that there is positive but insignificant relationship between safety awareness and biomechanical factor (BMF) however, safety awareness has negative and significant relationship with biological factors (BF). It was therefore concluded that safety awareness has a positive relationship with occupational health risk factors among waste workers in government-owned hospitals in the Niger-Delta.

AIR QUALITY AND MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION AROUND CEMENT DEPOTS IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA: AN INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT OF PARTICULATE, CHEMICAL, AND BIOAEROSOL POLLUTION

2026-10-12T11:08:06+00:00

Air pollution from cement operations is a growing health concern in rapidly industrialising cities. While particulate and gaseous pollutants are routinely assessed, microbial bioaerosols remain overlooked despite respiratory risks. This study integrated chemical, physical, and microbial parameters with Air Quality Index (AQI) evaluation around cement depots in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, NOₓ, SOₓ, and CO were measured at four cement depots (Lafarge Rukpokwu, Lafarge Iriebe, Dangote Eleme, Dangote Eliozu) and a control site using a Temtop M2000 detector. Microbes were sampled by passive sedimentation and identified morphologically and biochemically. AQI values were calculated using U.S. EPA breakpoints, with clustering and ranking analyses applied to compare sites. PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ exceeded WHO limits at all depots, peaking at Eleme (55.0 µg/m³; 112.0 µg/m³). NOₓ reached 102.1 µg/m³ at Eleme, while SOₓ peaked at 209.5 µg/m³ at Eliozu, over five times the guideline. CO exceeded limits only at Eleme (4.8 mg/m³). Microbial loads were highest at Rukpokwu (233 CFU/m³ bacteria; 35 CFU/m³ fungi). Isolates included Enterobacter, Serratia, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Aspergillus, and Fusarium, some of which may be opportunistic pathogens. AQI ranged from 101.4 (Iriebe) to 261.9 (Eliozu), while the control (33.3) remained “Good.” Clustering grouped Eleme and Eliozu by SOₓ-driven pollution, and Rukpokwu and Iriebe by particulates and NOₓ. Ranking confirmed Eliozu and Eleme as the most polluted sites. Cement depots in Port Harcourt degrade air quality, with PM, NOₓ, and SOₓ consistently exceeding WHO limits and AQI above 240 at Eleme and Eliozu (“Very Unhealthy”). Combined with high microbial contamination, these findings highlight the urgent need for stricter emission controls and integrated monitoring that includes bioaerosols to protect public health.

GPH-International Journal of Applied Science

CORRELATION BETWEEN SAFETY AWARENESS AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH RISK FACTORS AMONG WASTE WORKERS IN SELECTED GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IN NIGER-DELTA

AIR QUALITY AND MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION AROUND CEMENT DEPOTS IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA: AN INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT OF PARTICULATE, CHEMICAL, AND BIOAEROSOL POLLUTION