PERCEIVED EFFECTS OF SOLID WASTE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RISK AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN AKURE METROPOLITAN

ABSTRACT This study explores the perceived environmental and health impacts of improper solid waste management in Akure Metropolitan, Nigeria. Multistage sampling was adopted to select five major areas of Akure: Shasha, Araromi Stadium, Igbatoro, Isinkan, and Arakale/Oja-Oba and a total of 100 respondents were purposively selected in the study area. The data was collected using a well structure questionnaire and was analysed using descriptive statistics, Likert Scale, Analysis of variance, Correlation and Logistic regression model. The findings reveal that the majority of respondents are educated, middle-income individuals with moderate household sizes, yet still face infrastructural barriers such as poor road access that hinder effective waste collection. Although awareness of the health risks such as respiratory illnesses, skin infections, and household-related ailments is relatively high, participation in sustainable waste practices remains limited. Air quality assessment in selected areas identified dangerous levels of pollutants including formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM1.0), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) many of which are linked to open waste burning and contribute to poor public health. Regression analyses demonstrated that factors such as age, education, income, marital status, and environmental awareness significantly increased risk perception and protective behavior, while gender (male), occupation, and direct pollutant exposure correlated with lower levels of perceived risk. The study concludes that sustainable and well-enforced solid waste management strategies are urgently needed in Akure. Recommendations include improved public education, stricter regulations against open burning, better waste infrastructure, and promotion of recycling technologies. These efforts should particularly target demographic groups with low risk perception to reduce the environmental and health burden of improper solid waste disposal.