Vehicular Emissions and Its Implications on the Health of Traders: A Case Study of Traders in La Nkwantanang Municipality in Ghana

Abstract

The study was based on the recognition that although the health conditions of the human population is vital to sustainable living and productivity, some studies have found that road traffic emissions continue to give rise to infectious and chronic diseases. As a result, the study aimed at assessing the implications of vehicle emissions on the health of traders in Madina in the La Nkwantanang Municipality of Ghana where road traffic is very congested and traders are directly exposed to vehicle emissions. To achieve this objective, 300 traders, made up of 150 traders within a distance of 50 meters and 150 traders within a distance beyond 50 meters of the main road were purposively selected to participate in the survey. Data obtained was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings show that although a significant proportion of the respondents had good knowledge about the health consequences of their exposure to emissions, they were reluctant to relocate due to their inability to afford a different location and scarcity of urban space. More importantly, frequent coughing, nausea, poor visibility and difficulty in breathing were among the major self-reported health outcomes. The study also found statistically significant difference in the distribution of self-reported health outcomes by distance of respondents from source of vehicle emission. Also, years spent in the occupation and average daily work hours per week were among factors that related significantly with reported cases of respiratory diseases by respondents.