HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY

SBA

THE EFFECT OF BURNING GARBAGE IN

BARBADIAN NEIGHBOURHOODS

Candidate Name: Mike Oxley

Candidate No: 11111111
Date of Submission: 30 March 2024
HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY WORKSHOP SBAS TO MARK 1

Table of Contents

Introduction
Background/Overview of Issue ………………………………… 2
Problem Statement ………………………………… 2 Research
Objective ………………………………… 2
Methodology …………………………………. 2 Presentation of Data
………………………………… 3 Analysis and Interpretation of Data
………………………………… 4 Conclusion
………………………………… 4 Recommendations
………………………………...... 4 Reflection
………………………………….. 4 Bibliography
…………………………………… 5 Appendices
…………………………………… 5
HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY WORKSHOP SBAS TO MARK 2

BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW OF ISSUE

All around Barbados, people burn garbage and dead cuttings from their
gardens, sometimes they even burn dead animals. This is very bad for people with
asthma.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
Burning garbage in a neighbourhood causes negative effects on health.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
To determine if burning affects the health of people.

METHODOLOGY
My group decided to use a questionnaire because it is easy to use. We decided to
survey the students in two fifth forms at our school. A total of 50 students. It took
us a week to collect all of the questionnaires we gave out.

The questionnaire asked students 2 questions.

1. How often did people burn garbage in their neighbourhood? 2.
What effect does burning have on those persons who are affected?

PRESENTATION OF DATA

Table showing the frequency of garbage burning in Barbados

Number of times garbage is burnt Frequency Percentage/%
Every day 5 10
Once a week 25 50
Once a month 16 32
Never 4 8
 TOTAL 50 100

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Table showing effects of smoke on students

Effect Frequency
Burning Eyes 10
Coughing 30
Headache 15
Asthma Attack 5
None 2

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ANALSYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

In 50 % of the neighbourhoods, garbage is burned once a week. In 32 % of the
neighbourhoods, garbage is burned once a month. The main effect of burning
 garbage was coughing with 48.4 %, followed by headaches (24.2 %) and burning
eyes (16.1 %). The burning of garbage also caused asthma attacks in 8.1 % of the
students questioned only 3.2 % of the students were not affected by the smoke.
The burning of garbage produces smoke which can get into the eyes and
lungs of persons. Our results show that too much burning takes place in
neighbourhoods and the effects on health are clear. Smoke in particular can affect
the lungs. In an article, it was said that the burning of residential garbage produced
many pollutants, which affected health.
● Smoke which gets deep into the lungs and can trigger asthma attacks,
wheezing and chest pain
● Dioxin which is carcinogenic
● Hexachlorobenzene which can damage the liver and kidneys
● Formaldehyde which can affect breathing
● Hydrogen chloride which can affect the lungs
● Carbon monoxide

CONCLUSION
Burning garbage affects the health of most students in their neighbourhoods,
mainly causing coughing.

RECOMMENDATIONS
More public service announcements should be made to inform people on the new
laws regarding burning in Barbados. Students can encourage people in their
neighbourhoods to recycle garbage and make compost heaps.

REFLECTION
I never knew that so many harmful chemicals were produced from burning
household garbage. I showed my report to my father and he has stopped burning
garbage at home. We built a composter and will start using it to make compost
from the kitchen scraps, cut grass and other garden trimmings.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
NHDES Fact Sheet: Burning of Residential Trash
https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/ard/
documents/a rd-33.pdf
APPENDIX

HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY

QUESTIONNAIRE
THE EFFECT OF BURNING GARBAGE IN BARBADOS

Please complete the questionnaire by ticking the box which refers to you.

1. How often do people burn garbage in your neighbourhood?

Every day __
Once a week __
Once a month __
Never __

2. How are you affected by garbage burning? Tick the ones that apply.
Burning eyes __
Coughing __
Headache __
Asthma attack __
None __
Any other effect?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Thank-you for completing the questionnaire.