Effects of the Environmental Pollutants on the Socio-economic Wellbeing of Households of Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Environment is an essential part in human health which affects the quality of life. Health problems manifested from environmental pollution and mismanagement have changed it from a source of life to a cause of disease and death. In the developing world, population growth with urban crowding, the introduction of many environmental pollutants and toxic exposures, and the lack of clear policies to control pollution have accentuated the negative impact that these environmental factors can have as causative factors of disease in humans. The study sought to evaluate the effects of the water and air environmental pollutants on the socio-economic wellbeing of households in Mukuru informal settlements in Nairobi County. The study was underpinned by Ecological Theory of Change and Development. This study was carried out in the geographical area described as Mukuru Settlement of Nairobi City County. Mukuru informal settlement is situated on the southeast part of Nairobi County, along the Ngong River, exactly between the industrial area and the affluent residential of South B. The target population of this study comprised households' heads, public health officers, and community leaders as key informants. The study found that main effects of water and air pollutants in the area were the constant disease outbreaks such as cholera which was occasioned by water pollution.