Socio-Economic Analysis of the Impact of Diseases Caused by The Open Dumping of Solid Waste

Abstract

This study presents socio-economic analysis of impact of open dumping of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) at the outskirts of Lahore city with special reference to the diseases caused by MSW. It mainly focuses on evaluating the economic burden emerging from the diseases caused by the open dumping of MSW within 2- 3 km of the dumpsite applying the statistical method of determination of Cost of Illness (COI). In order to ensure the health impacts emanating from the dumpsite, a comparison between the impacts on population of study area was made with that on the population of control area that was 10 km away from the dumpsite. Before the choice of study and control area, it was ensured that two areas had similar geographical and socio-economic conditions. A statistically calculated sample size of 200 respondents was selected from each area, which was assumed to be the true representative of the total population. Questionnaires were designed, pre-tested and circulated among the respondents. The data was collected, computed and statistically analyzed using SPSS software by applying descriptive statistics, t-test and Chi-square test. The results showed that both regular (skin diseases, eye irritation, respiratory diseases, fever) and serious diseases (typhoid, malaria, dengue fever) are prevalent in study as well as control area but the population in study area being closer to the dumpsite is more vulnerable to the diseases especially the serious diseases. The results also indicated a significant link between diseases, workdays/ school days lost and distance. The COI came out to be Rs 3182.6 per person/year and Rs 7597.35 per family/ year. The socio-economic impact was same as the cost of illness i.e. Rs 3182.6 per person/ year. Thus, the study strongly recommends adopting sustainable solid waste management/ disposal techniques such as sanitary land filling, techno-economic incineration for energy recovery and transformation of MSW into compost by its anaerobic fermentation with extraction of other economic benefits.