Environmental and Health Impact of Quarrying among Residents of Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

The role of quarrying activities in the economics of the world cannot be underestimated and it has tremendously contributed to the present transformation and urbanization but not without repercussions. The objective of the study was to investigate the environmental and health risks associated with quarrying activities in the study areas with the view of recommending ways of reducing these effects to the barest minimum possible. A field study was conducted to investigate the effect of granite quarrying operations on residents around quarry sites in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Three quarry sites were selected for this study. A well-structured closed questionnaire was used to collect information about demographic, environmental and health implications, and status of residents around the quarry sites. Majority of the respondents interviewed experienced various health issues ranging from headache, catarrh, cough, ear ringing, eye ache, body ache and skin itch. Environmental effects such as water, soil, air and noise pollution were also reported by the residents. This study has demonstrated vividly that quarrying operations have significant effects on the environment and health of residents around quarry sites.