Environmental Hazards and Occupational Health Risk Exposure among Urban Market Traders Operating around Waste Disposal Sites in Aba, Nigeria
Main Article Content
Abstract
Traders operating in locational markets in Aba, Nigeria, are continuously exposed to multiple occupational, environmental, and public health hazards due to inadequate waste management and unsafe working conditions. This study examined the impact of waste dump sites on the health of market traders in Aba Metropolis, focusing on occupational injuries, food safety practices, environmental hygiene, and access to health and regulatory support. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining structured questionnaires administered to 400 traders, field observations, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize patterns of exposure, risk, and health outcomes. Findings revealed high levels of occupational risk, with 73% of traders experiencing injuries such as burns, cuts, and musculoskeletal strain. Environmental exposure risks, including proximity to open drains, improper waste disposal, and dust from nearby dump sites, affected 67% of respondents, while 78% reported poor health surveillance and 76% experienced regulatory neglect. Food safety practices were inconsistent, with less than half of traders regularly washing hands or covering food from contaminants. Health symptoms commonly reported included respiratory irritation (45.5%), eye discomfort (51%), and minor burns and wounds (59.5%). The study highlights a clear link between poor waste management practices and adverse health outcomes among market traders, reinforcing the need for targeted interventions. The research concludes that improved waste management, occupational safety measures, and regulatory oversight are critical to protecting traders’ health and enhancing the sustainability of locational markets. These findings suggested that policymakers and urban planners should develop integrated strategies that combine environmental sanitation, occupational safety, and public health initiatives in Nigerian urban markets.
Downloads
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in the Journal of Occupational Health, Risk Management and Safety (JOHRMS) are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
This means:
- Authors retain full copyright ownership.
- Anyone may share, adapt, and use the published material for any lawful purpose, including commercial use, provided that proper credit is given to the authors and the journal.
- Changes must be indicated, and links to the license must be included.
License link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
By submitting a manuscript to JOHRMS, authors agree to this licensing policy.
How to Cite
References
Abubakar, I., Dalglish, S. L., Angell, B., Sanuade, O., Abimbola, S., Adamu, A. L., ... & Zanna, F. H. (2022). The Lancet Nigeria Commission: investing in health and the future of the nation. The Lancet, 399(10330), 1155-1200.
Adede, M. E., Barde, A. J., Eniola, B. M., Hassan, M. T., & Aanuoluwapo, O. A. (2024). Public health challenges and solutions in urban areas of Nigeria. Int J Health Pharm Res, 9, 39-52.
Adeyemi, T., Oseni, A. I., & Abudu, F. (2023). Pattern and Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Association with Quality of Sleep Among Food Vendors in Ogbomosho, Nigeria. Journal of Biomedical Investigation (JBI), 11(3).
Ahworegba, A. H., Garri, M., & Estay, C. (2022). Subsidiaries’ behavioural responses to volatile local contexts in emerging African markets: evidence from Nigeria. Multinational Business Review, 30(3), 364-387.
Akpoghelie, P. O., Edo, G. I., Gaaz, T. S., Akpoghelie, E. O., Iwanegbe, I., Owheruo, J. O., ... & Umar, H. (2026). Mycotoxins in food and agriculture: from occurrence to economic consequences. Archives of Microbiology, 208(1), 1-24.
Aliyu, U., Mustapha, A., & Garun Danga, N. R. (2024). Health Promotion Strategies for Sustainable Improvement of Public Health Outcomes in Nigeria. UMYU Journal of Microbiology Research (UJMR), 9(2), 187-193.
Aniedo, C., Egbuna, O. K., & Alom, A. C. (2025). Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Street Trading in Awka. Fudma Journal of Sciences, 9(9), 34-40.
Anifowose, T. E., Oke, T. I., Oyedele, O. I., Fadeyi, A. A., Alagbe, T. O., & Adebayo, O. A. (2025). Markets in Africa. The Example of Sapon Traditional Market: An Evolution of Cultural Values in the Spatial Planning of Oke-Ona, Abeokuta. Social Evolution & History, 24(1), 95-112.
Chinweze, U. C., Onyejegbu, D. C., Ogbuke, M. U., John, D. J., Antai, G. O., & Agboti, C. I. (2024). The legal framework for occupational health and safety in the manufacturing sector: Assessing compliance and enforcement mechanisms in Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Criminology 16 (4), 1437-1450.
Emakpor, O. A., Adeyemi-Suenu, A., & Emakpor, R. O. (2024). Environmental Health Issues and Challenges in Lagos State, Nigeria. NIU Journal of Social Sciences, 10(3), 237-245.
Ezeaka, N. B., & Bartholomew, C. E. (2025). Navigating Environmental Sanitation and Health Communication in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(1), 3381-3389.
Ghali-Mohammed, I., Isola, T. O., Adeyemo, I. A., Kadir, R. A., Ambali, H. M., Alhaji, N. B., & Odetokun, I. A. (2024). Food safety knowledge and attitudes among fish vendors in informal markets in Ilorin, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. Discover Food, 4(1), 161.
Ibifunmilola, S. E. (2024). Health and safety impact assessments among e-waste scavengers in Nigeria (Doctoral dissertation, Manchester Metropolitan University).
Izuchukwu Precious, O., Zino Izu, O., Theresa Ojevwe, A., & Frank Chudi, A. (2025). Smart Cities and Circular Economy Advancing Waste Management Through Urban Innovation in Nigeria. Journal of Economy, Tourism and Service, 4(2), 85-115.
John-Nsa, C., Onyebueke, V., & Enemuo, E. (2023). Street Trading and Urban Distortion: Rethinking Impacts and Management Approaches from Urban Planners’ Perspective in Enugu City, Nigeria: Viewing Street Vending Activities from the Lens of Orderliness and Economic Gain. Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, 7(2), 205-218.
Leahy, E., Mutua, F., Grace, D., Lambertini, E., & Thomas, L. F. (2022). Foodborne zoonoses control in low-and middle-income countries: Identifying aspects of interventions relevant to traditional markets which act as hurdles when mitigating disease transmission. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6, 913560.
Morakinyo, O. E., Abdulquadri, K., Ajibade, A. A., Taiwo, R. O., Oyeniyi, S. A., & Oyeniran, D. O. (2025). Interconnections of vulnerability, everyday hazards, and sustainable urban development: A case study of Ilorin, Nigeria,”. J. Urban Dev. Manag, 4(1), 47-57.
Nour-Eldien Mohammed, M., Sadek Abd El-Hameed, H., & Mohamed Sobhy Elsayed, D. (2022). Safety measure and first aid program among workers in delta fertilizer and chemical company regarding occupational health hazards. Journal of Nursing Science Benha University, 3(1), 610-624.
Odok, A. O., Etta, J. N., & Imanyi, V. U. (2023). Domestic And Commercial Solid Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability In Calabar Municipality Of Cross River State. Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Research and Development Perspectives (MJRDP), 12(1), 52.
Oduori, D. O., Kwoba, E., Thomas, L., Grace, D., & Mutua, F. (2022). Assessment of foodborne disease hazards in beverages consumed in Nigeria: a systematic literature review. Foodborne pathogens and disease, 19(1), 1-18.
Ogunro, T. (2024). Environmental Justice and health in Nigeria. Current Environmental health reports, 11(2), 158-167.
Olajide, O., and T. Lawanson. 2022. Urban Paradox and the Rise of the Neoliberal City: Case Study of Lagos, Nigeria. Urban Studies 59 (9): 1763–1781.
Olufemi, O. (2023). Hazardous Spatiality, Health Exposure, and Everyday Urbanism of the Precariously Housed in Nigeria. African Journal of Humanities and Contemporary Education Research, 11(1), 66-82.
Omidiran, A. T., Ajetunmobi, O. A., Akinyemi, T., Udoro, E. I., Owusu-Darko, P., Martins, I. E., & Obadina, A. O. (2024). Consumer Perceptions of Food Safety in Africa: A Multinational Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices. In Consumer Perceptions and Food (pp. 365-383). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
Onwuanyi, N., Chima, P. E., & Oyetunji, A. K. (2022). Relationships and potentials of proximate property markets: the case of Aba and Port Harcourt in Nigeria. Int. J. Soc. Sci. Manag. Res, 8, 38-57.
Onyenechere, E. C., Asikogu, L. O., Chikwendu, L., Emetumah, F. C., Onyegiri, I., Ukanwa, O. E., ... & Onyeneke, C. C. (2022). Occupational Health and Safety Conditions of Informal Sector Workers in Three Nigerian Cities. Afrika Focus, 35(2), 318-342.
Ozobu, C. O., Adikwu, F. E., Odujobi, O., Onyekwe, F. O., & Nwulu, E. O. (2025). A review of health risk assessment and exposure control models for hazardous waste management operations in Africa. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Studies, 5(2), 570-582.
Pincay-Pilay, D. A., & Carrasco, E. F. (2025). Environmental Impact of Lead-Acid Batteries: A Review of Sustainable Alternatives for Production and Recycling Based on Life Cycle Analysis. Sustainability, 17(23), 10815.
Sepadi, M. M., & Hutton, T. (2025). Health and safety practices as drivers of business performance in informal street food economies: An integrative review of global and South African evidence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(8), 1239.
Taiwo, A. O., & Fajoye, O. S. (2022). Traders' perceptions of environmental quality as tools in improving public space: a study of markets in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 33(2), 435-450.
Usman, A. (2024). Influence of Agricultural Practices on Food Safety in Nigeria. Int. J. Food Sci, 7, 43-54.