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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 12th Annual Conference © 2011 IAABD<br />

Figure 1: Map <strong>of</strong> Lagos Lagoon.<br />

Impacts <strong>of</strong> land-based pollution on Coastal Waters<br />

The consequences <strong>of</strong> this unhealthy situation expose <strong>the</strong> environment to serious water pollution and <strong>the</strong><br />

resultant health hazards that may lead to serious epidemic not only <strong>in</strong> Lagos but also <strong>in</strong> neighbour<strong>in</strong>g<br />

coastal areas. The septic tank /soakaways and pit latr<strong>in</strong>e systems also have negative impacts on<br />

groundwater to gradual and steadily <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g pollution from septage <strong>in</strong>discrim<strong>in</strong>ately discharged <strong>in</strong>to<br />

<strong>the</strong> Lagos lagoon system, s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> water table <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> State is very high, because majorities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> land are<br />

reclaimed land.<br />

Human excreta conta<strong>in</strong> a lot <strong>of</strong> organisms, which are major vectors <strong>of</strong> water-related diseases. These<br />

organisms <strong>in</strong>clude viruses, which can cause poliomyelitis, viral men<strong>in</strong>gitis, hepatitis, fevers, diarrhoea:<br />

Bacteria, which can lead to cholera, typhoid / paratyphoid, and diarrhoea: Protozoa, which cause<br />

dysentery, colonic ulcers and diarrhoea: Helm<strong>in</strong>ths, which result to gu<strong>in</strong>ea worm, round worm, live flukes<br />

and schistosomaiasis.<br />

Likewise, <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustrial wastewater is full <strong>of</strong> heavy metals, which results <strong>in</strong>to chemical pollution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

water bodies. Such heavy metals are mercury, arsenic, copper, cyanide, iron, lead, cadmium, chromium,<br />

nickel, phenols etc which cause chronic diseases such as cancer <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>habitants <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> State and<br />

neighbour<strong>in</strong>g countries us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> same coastal waters, because pollution has no boundary.<br />

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