PRESED intensifies public education on air pollution

The Presbyterian Relief Services and Development (PRESED) has stepped up public education on air pollution, warning that the burning of mosquito repellants, particularly coils, poses significant health and environmental risks.

Dr. Lawrencia Osae-Nyarko, an expert who offers technical support for PRESED, explained that mosquito coils are composed of synthetic chemical compounds which, when combusted, release harmful emissions into the air. She noted that inhalation of these pollutants can have adverse effects on human health, with individuals responding differently based on their level of exposure and sensitivity.

“Since it is a chemical introduced into the air, it is a form of air pollution,” she stated.

Dr Lawrencia Osae-Nyarko, a Research Scientist at the Biomedical and Public Health Research Unit, CSIR-Water Research Institute, made the remarks during a stakeholder workshop held in Kumasi.

The engagement, organised by PRESED in collaboration with the Clean Air Fund, brought together stakeholders and community members to address key environmental challenges, including air pollution, waste mismanagement, and environmental injustices.

Participants were urged to abandon indiscriminate burning practices and adopt environmentally sustainable waste management approaches that safeguard air quality and public health.

Dr. Osae-Nyarko further called for an end to open waste burning and encouraged community members to report offenders.

While acknowledging that legal provisions exist to deter such practices, she pointed out that enforcement remains a major constraint.

She therefore emphasised the need for community-level accountability and behavioural change to complement regulatory efforts.

Project Coordinator for PRESED, Emmanuel Nyarko Ankamah, reiterated the importance of collective responsibility in addressing environmental degradation.

“All of us have a role to play. Open burning of waste must be a concern to all of us,” he said.

Beyond advocacy, PRESED, a non-profit organisation under the Presbyterian Church of Ghana continues to implement targeted interventions to combat air pollution and promote environmental sustainability.

In partnership with the Clean Air Fund, the organisation is currently undertaking a year-long study on the impact of e-waste as a significant source of air pollution.

It has also collaborated with Clean Air Ghana and other stakeholders to drive community engagement initiatives focused on pollution control and environmental justice.