CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.00 Overview

2.01 Purpose of Review of Related Literature

2.02 Studies Conducted In India

2.02.1 Studies Related to Awareness of Environmental Pollution

2.02.2 Studies Related to Health Hazards

2.02.3 Studies Related to Mitigation Programmes

2.03 Studies Conducted Abroad

2.03.1 Studies Related to Awareness of Environmental Pollution

2.03.2 Studies Related to Health Hazards

2.03.3 Studies Related to Mitigation Programmes

2.04 Synthesis of Reviewed Studies

2.05 Uniqueness of the Present Study

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.00 OVERVIEW

This chapter attempts to survey and critically review studies related to the theme
of the investigator chosen for his study. It consists of five sections. The first section
explains the purpose of review of related literature. The second and third section are
about the Indian and foreign studies related to the investigators' theme respectively. The
fourth and fifth sections consist of synthesis of reviewed studies and deals with the
summation and inference of all findings and uniqueness of the present study respectively.

2.01 PURPOSE OF REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The Preliminary survey of previous studies, literature, discussions and experience

related to the problem under investigation may accomplish a number of purposes. The
search for related material is time consuming but a fruitfiil activity of any research
programme. Its specific purposes are:

i. It helps the researcher to find out what is already known, what others have to find
what methods of attack have been promising or disappointing and what problems
remain to be solved. It shows whether the evidence already available solves the
problem adequately without further investigation.
ii. It is the basis of most of the research projects in various sciences, and humanities.
It forms the foundation upon which all future work will be built.
iii. It enables him to know the means of getting to the frontiers in the field of his
research. Unless he has learnt what others have done, and what still remains to be
done, he caimot develop a research project that will contribute something to the
knowledge existing in his field.
iv. It furnishes him with indispensable suggestions about comparative data, good
procedure, likely methods and tried techniques.
V. Through it he will also know in detail about all related research projects in
progress but not yet completed or reported.

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 vi. The insight into the methods, measures etc, employed by others will lead to
significant improvement of his research design.
vii. It makes him alert about research possibilities that have been overlooked and
research approaches that have proved to be sterile.
viii. It provides ideas, theories, explanation, hypotheses and methods, valuable in
formulating and studying the problem.
ix. It helps in locating comparative data useful in the interpretation of results.
X. Above all, it contributes to the general scholarship of the investigator.

2.02 STUDIES CONDUCTED IN INDIA

2.02.1 Studies Related to Awareness of environmental pollution

Jyotsna Jalan and Somanathan (2010) conducted a study on "Awareness and the
Demand for Environmental Quality. The investigators used a household survey from
urban India to estimate the effects of schooling, exposure to mass media, and other
measures of awareness on home water purification. They find that these measures of
awareness have statistically significant effects on home purification and, therefore, on
willingness to pay. These effects are similar in magnitude to the wealth effects. Average
costs of different home purification methods are used to generate partial estimates of
willingness to pay for better drinking water quality.

Niphadkar et al., (2009) attempted a study on "Poor Awareness and Knowledge about
Indoor Air Pollution in the Urban Population of Mumbai, India". This study was carried
out to assess the level of awareness about indoor air pollution in urban Indian population
and to identify factors that influence this awareness. Responses to a questioimaire about
indoor air pollution awareness in the form of list of factors responsible for it were
collected from all subjects. The influence of age, gender, educational status and
socioeconomic status was also analyzed. There was no difference between males and
females regarding the knowledge of indoor air pollution. Highly educated subjects were
associated with more awareness compared to less educated subjects but the difference
was statistically not significant. Socioeconomic status had no influence. Age-wise

31
distribution showed that youngsters and adults had more knowledge compared to older
people but this difference was also not statistically significant. To our surprise, awareness
about pollution caused by gas (biomass stove) and kerosene stove was very poor, though
these are the two most important sources responsible for maximum damage to health.
Awareness and knowledge regarding indoor air pollution causing respiratory ailments is
still grossly inadequate in India. This study highlights the urgent need for strategies to
increase awareness about indoor air pollution hazards and possible preventive measures
among the general population of India in order to prevent chronic diseases.

Santosh Kumar et.al., (2008) conducted a study entitled "Water Pollution in the Ganges
River; Policies for Improvement of the Ganges". The present research critically examines
the physicochemical characteristics and level of dissolved heavy metals at three
ecologically distinct zones along the course of the river Babughat located in the eastern
part of the metropolitan mega city Calcutta, Diamond Harbor and Gangasagar positioned
at the mouth of the Ganges estuary. It was revealed that the socio-economic development
of Calcutta, the most potential economic zone in India situated on the east bank of Hugh
river, has had a significant impact on the water quality of this major river. The
deterioration of water quality is directly related to nonfunctioning and malfunctioning of
wastewater treatment plants and lack of environmental planning and coordination. To
restore the ecological stability and economic vitality of this river, the following measures
have been suggested: (i) strong vigilance programme is to be undertaken towards
installation and maintenance of the wastewater treatment plants to check the flow of
persistent contaminants in the river water and (ii) execution of legislation and mass
awareness programmes are to be enacted to restore the sound health of the river. The
investigators urge that environmental education should be used as an effective tool for
water resource management dealing with intricate and complex problems in the
interaction between nature, technology and human beings.

Naseema (2007) conducted a study on "Environmental Awareness of higher secondary

students in government and private schools". The normative survey method was used to
find out the environmental awareness among the higher secondary students. The findings

32
were: the higher secondary boys and girls, rural and urban area and government and
private students had significant difference in their environmental awareness.

Sharma and Sarraff (2007) conducted a study on "Environmental Awareness among

Students of Plus two Levels" with the objectives to compare environmental awareness
among the students of CBSE and Uttar Pradesh board. For collecting the data an
'Environmental Awareness Questionnaire' (EAQ) was constructed and administered on
students. The major findings were that in comparison to U.P. board students, CBSE
students were more aware of enviromnent. The study revealed that female students were
more aware about environment than male students.

Rout and Agarwal (2006) conducted a study on "Enviromnental Awareness and

Environmental Attitude of Students at High School Level" with the objectives (i) to
determine the difference between the students of high school level belonging to science
and non-science stream in terms of their environmental awareness and environmental
attitude. The major findings of the study were: (i) the female students of science stream
have more enviromnental awareness and enviroimiental attitude than that of male
students of science stream.(ii) the students belonging to urban background are
comparatively better in terms of their enviroimiental awareness and environmental
attitude as compared to the students belonging to the rural background. This difference is
due to the difference in the educational level of the parents of urban and rural students.

Abraham and Arjunan (2005) conducted a study on "Environmental Interest of

Secondary School Students in Relation to their Environmental Attitude". The main
objective is to study the enviroimiental interest of secondary students in relation to their
environmental attitude. The major findings of the study were: (i) The secondary students
did not have a high level of environmental interest, (ii)A differential effect of gender and
locale was observed in their environmental interest with the boys and urban subjects
having more interest in environments compared to their rural counterparts, (iii) A high
positive and significant correlation was found to exist between environmental interest and
environmental attitude in all the sample groups studied.

33
Sahaya Mary and Paul Raj (2005) conducted a study on "Environmental Awareness
among High School Students". The objectives of the study were: (i) To study the
environmental awareness among the high school students in Pondicherry region and to
study the relationship between the environmental awareness of the students in terms of
gender, locality of the school, medium of instruction, type of the family and size of the
family (iii) to study the differences in the environmental awareness of the students in
terms of caste, type of the school and religion. The major findings of the study were: the
environmental awareness among the high school students is high average. The medium of
instruction in the school and locality of the school influence the environmental awareness
among the students. The gender, type of the family and size of the family do not affect
the environmental awareness among the students. The different type of schools and
different type of religions do not affect the awareness among the students. The caste of
the students within the group affects the environmental awareness among the students.

Dhillon and Sandhu (2005) made a study on "Environmental Education Awareness

among Elementary School Teachers". The finding shows that >yignificant difference was
found in the environment education awareness between urban and rural school teachers.
The urban teachers had greater awareness than their coimterpart. No Significant
difference was observed in the environmental awareness between male and female.
Significant differences were found between teachers with respect to their subject
specialization. Science teachers had greater educational awareness than both social
science and language teachers. Social science teachers had greater awareness than
language teachers.

Lalchharliani (2005) made a study on "Environmental Pollution Awareness and Attitude

towards Environmental Education among College Students in Aizawl District". The
objectives of the study were: (i) to develop a test on enviroimiental pollution awareness
for assessing the level of environmental pollution awareness among college level students
(ii) to find out the level of environmental pollution awareness among college students
(iii) to find out the attitude of college students towards enviroimiental education; (iv) to
compare the environmental pollution awareness among college level students on the basis

34
of gender, course of study and type of colleges; (v) to find out the relation between
environmental pollution awareness and attitude towards environmental education among
college level students. The major findings of the study were: (i) the level of
environmental pollution awareness of male and female college students in Aizawl district
was good, (iv) The overall attitude of college students towards environmental education
was found to be satisfactory.(v) there exists a fairly high positive correlation between
environmental pollution awareness and attitude towards environmental education among
students.

Sengupta Madhumala (2005) did a study on "Environmental Awareness of the

Environmentally Active and Passive Students in Relation to Motivation and Academic
Performance". The objectives of the study were: (i) to identify environmentally active
and passive students and their possible differences in respect of different variables and to
predict environmental action; (ii) the research also seeks to find out any relation that may
exist between environmental awareness and academic achievement. The major findings
of the study were: (i) the research revealed that environmental awareness may not always
lead to environmental action, (ii) the science group students appear to be more active and
so are the suburban students, (iii) no difference was found in environmental awareness
and action due to gender and academic performances, (iv) most importantly, the
environmentally passive students differed in all levels of motivation.

Selvam, Boopalarayan and Raja (2003) conducted a study on "Environmental

Awareness among the Rural and Urban Trainees". The objective of the study was to
measure environmental awareness among the rural and urban teacher trainees. The main
finding of the study was the teacher trainees, who are from rural area had very high
awareness on environment.

Gnanadevan R (2002) made a study on "Environmental Awareness of Higher Secondary

Students". The major findings of the study were: The environmental awareness of higher
secondary students is high. The higher secondary boys and girls significantly differ in
their environmental awareness. The higher secondary students studying in government

35
and private schools significantly differ in their environmental awareness. The higher
secondary students residing at rural and urban area significantly differ in their
environmental awareness. The higher secondary students whose parents have school
education and those who have college education significantly differ in their
environmental awareness. The higher secondary students whose parents are employed
and those who are unemployed significantly differ in their environmental awareness. The
higher secondary students whose parents vary in their income significantly differ in their
environmental awareness.

Dhananjay Kumar (2000) conducted a study on "Role of Education and Cultural

Practices in Creating Environmental Awareness". The objectives of the study were: (i) To
assess the impact of education in creating environmental awareness among people; (ii) to
analyses the role of cultural practices for the conversation of environment; (iii) to find out
the environmental awareness among different categories of people; and (iv) to analyse the
role of education for awareness of the environmental hazards. The major findings of the
study were: (i) respondents with higher level of education in the formal system possessed
greater awareness towards the environment, (ii) in the opinion of the respondents, the use
of traditional objects like leaf plates and earthen utensils is greatly relevant to protect the
environment, (iii) both male and female respondents were found to be equally aware of
environmental issues, (iv) both rural and urban respondents showed non significant
difference in their concern for environment.

Kaur and Harjit Pal (1992) "A Study of Population Awareness in relation to Attitudes
towards Environmental Education and Population Education of Professional Teachers".
The major findings of the study were: In the case of both male and female no difference
existed in the population awareness of different categories of teachers. Sex difference
existed in the population awareness of different categories of teachers. The level of
population awareness was not related to the attitude towards environment education.

Kidwai and Zeenat (1991) conducted a study on "Development of an Environmental-

Oriented Curriculum in Geography at Secondary Stage". The objectives were to evolve

36
an integrated environmental education, and bring about an overall awareness among the
younger generation about environmental education. To develop an understanding of the
interactions and interdependence of the physical, biological, social, economic and
cultural aspects of the environment. To develop individuals and conmiunity skills for
identifying and solving the environmental problems.

Praharaj B (1991) conducted a research on "Environmental Knowledge, Environmental

Attitude and Perception regarding Environmental Education among Pre-service and In-
service Secondary School Teachers". The major findings of the study were: The level of
environmental knowledge was found low among pre-service teachers, although
conceptual knowledge was moderate. Among the in-service teachers, environmental
knowledge was moderate and factual knowledge about the environmental was low. Both
the groups differed significantly in their level of environmental education although the in-
service group had a higher level of attitude than that of the pre-service group. There was
moderate correlation between environmental knowledge and environmental attitude.

Rane A.J (1989) carried out a study on "Evaluation of the Environmental Studies
Approach of Parisar Asha in Municipal Greater Bombay". The study emphasizes the
organizational structure of Parisar Asha and the mechanism for the implementation of the
EVS approach in BMC schools. To know the perceptions of the officials of the education
department of BMC, of the EVS approach to primary education and the experiences and
opinions of standard I and standard II teachers regarding the implementation of the EVS
approach in BMC schools. The findings are Parisar Asha has gained momentiun within a
short period by way of organizing various programmes for implementing the EVS
approach to learning in a large number of schools of varied kinds. There is a need to have
departmental heads for the three units of training. The training personnel in charge of
training programmes for teaching in the BMC schools were aware of their role and
functions. The major difficulty experienced by trainers was that the teacher's irregular
attendance in the training sessions. The teachers of standard I played a satisfactory role in
implementing the EVS approach. The teachers of standard II had a favourable opinion

37
about the EVS approach and they made efforts to use this new approach in their
classrooms along with the traditional method of teaching.

Rajput, J.S (1988) conducted a research on "Study for Identification of Teaching Skills
and Trainings Strategies for Implementing the Environmental Approach at Primary
Level". In this experimental study the control group and the experimental group were
compared on their environmental awareness. The mean scores of environmental
awareness for the experimental and the control groups at pre-test and post-test level
indicated that out of 14 comparison groups in seven schools, nine groups had no
significant difference, and the remaining five groups had a significant difference as a
result of the treatment. The results of comparison between the groups and within the
groups indicated that out of 14 groups, five groups had no significant difference in both
cases. The significant difference obtained in some groups did not follow any uniform
pattern.

2.02.2 Studies Related to Health Hazards

Shahla Yasmin (2010) made a study on "Occupational Health Hazards in Women Beedi
Rollers in Bihar, India". The study found that more than 70% of the beedi rollers suffered
fi-om eye, gastrointestinal and nervous problems while more than 50% of the respondents
suffered from respiratory problems, mostly throat burning and cough. More than 75% of
the respondents faced osteological problems. Total RBC, WBC and platelet counts of the
beedi rollers were significantly lower in comparison to the control subjects. Differential
leucoc5^e count showed significantly risen lymphocytes and eosinophils and lowered
neutrophils and monocytes in the beedi rollers as compared to the control group.
Haemoglobin levels were lower among beedi rollers compared to the control group.
SGPT (ALT) enzyme concentration, a parameter of liver dysfunction was significantly
higher in the beedi rollers as compared to the control group. Thus, the study concluded
that beedi rolling may cause significant health hazards.

Poole, N and F. Marshall (2008) conducted a study on "Food Hazards and Consumer
Awareness: Air Pollution Effects in India". This research presents new knowledge on the

38
impacts of UPU environmental pollution and on food safety attributes of the vegetable
marketing systems in India. It reports results of market studies in Delhi and Varanasi, and
of a study of consumer perceptions and awareness of food safety hazards. The
investigators suggested that the potential for market-mediated quality assurance methods
and the need for targeting the urban poor in creating public awareness of hazard levels
and mitigating procedures.

2.02.3 Studies Related to Mitigation Programmes

Sohail Ahmad and Mack Joong Choi (2010) made a study on "Urban India and
Climate Change: Mitigation Strategies towards Inclusive Growth". Climate change has
been emerged as a major challenge for the sustainable human settlement. Findings reveal
yet the climate change is not taken seriously by policy makers, hence blue print for
mitigation haven't placed and they suggest that systematic mitigation measures for
sustainable development which will lead to inclusive growth too. The need for
collaborative plaiming among various stakeholders is emphasized.

Raju (2007) made a study on "Environmental Ethics of Higher Secondary Students". The
objectives of the study were: (i) the environmental ethics of the entire higher secondary
school students; (ii) whether there is any significant difference in the environmental
ethics of male and female higher secondary student's (iii) whether there is any significant
difference in the environmental ethics among the student's studying in government, aided
and matriculation schools and (iv) whether there is any significant difference in the
environmental ethics of rural and urban higher secondary student's. The major findings
of the study were: (i) environmental ethics of the higher secondary students of Cuddalore
educational district is high, (ii) girls students have more environmental ethics than the
boy's (iii) the communities of students do not have any influence on their environmental
ethics, (iv) the types of schools where they happened to study do not have any influence
on their environmental ethics, (iv) rural higher secondary students have more
environmental ethics than the urban higher secondary students.

39
Kumar and Patil (2007) conducted a study on "Influence of Environmental Education
on Environment Attitude of the Post-graduate Students". The objective of the study is to
explore the impact of environmental education course on the post-graduate students'
attitude towards enviroimiental pollution students. Findings of the study were students
with enviroimiental education background had better environmental attitude and found
that there was no significant difference between male and female students in their attitude
towards environmental pollution and related issues.

Gihar (2006) conducted a study on "Environmental Responsibility among Students".

The major findings of the study were: (i) There is no significant difference between the
different groups of the students formed on the basis of their sex (boys and girls) in respect
of their level of responsibility towards environment, (ii) There is no significant difference
between the different groups of the students formed on the basis of their locality (rural
and urban) in respect of their level of responsibility towards environment, (iii) There is
no significant difference between the different groups of the students formed on the basis
of subject stream (science/arts/commerce students) in respect of their level of
responsibility towards environment.

An investigative study was done by Natarajan and Natesan (2004) on the "Effect of
Competency Based Teaching of Environmental Science through Video on Student's
Attainment at Primary Level" Different Programmes for experimental and control group
were prepared and a pretest for each unit was administered to both the groups before
instruction. The control group was taught using the traditional method and the
experimental group was taught through the video cassette method. A post test for each
chapter was administered to each group. Findings are the post-test performance of the
experimental group was significantly better than its pre test performance in the unit tests
as well as in the criterion test. The performance of the experimental group was
significantly better than the performance of the control group in both the unit tests and
the criterion test. The gap closures of the experimental group the greater than those of the
control group indicating the superiority of teaching environmental science concepts
through video cassettes.

40
Raja Kumari (2000) conducted a study on "Environmental Concern and Sustainable
Development: The Role of NGOs". The major findings of the study were: (i) it was found
that the students exposed to the environmental education scored high, (ii) NGO had
shown its ability to impart environmental consciousness and develop skills of
participation in solving environmental problems among the younger generation, (iii) It
was found that higher standard of education and the awareness level were significantly
related to each other as students of class IX found to be predominant in the higher
awareness group and students of class VIII were equally distributed in high and low
awareness categories, (iv) It was observed that gender had no significant impact on
environmental awareness categories, (v) Gender had no significant impact on
environmental awareness level of students, (vi) Parents education and their occupation
status also had no influence on the awareness level of students, (vii) It was also found
that not only the environmental attitudes of the students exposed to CBO high, but they
also gained competence with their micro-level environmental problems, (viii) Level of
education also influenced environmental perception and practice.

Tushaar Shah (2009) made a study on "Climate change and groundwater: India's
opportunities for mitigation and adaptation". Climate change will act as a force
multiplier; it will enhance groundwater's criticality for drought-proofing agriculture and
simultaneously multiply the threat to the resource. Groundwater pumping with electricity
and diesel also accounts for an estimated 16-25 million mt of carbon emissions, 4-6% of
India's total. From a climate change point of view, India's groundwater hotspots are
westem and peninsular India. These are critical for climate change mitigation as well as
adaptation. To achieve both, India needs to make a transition from surface storage to
'managed aquifer storage' as the center pin of its water strategy with proactive demand-
and supply-side management components.

Aromar Revi (2008) investigated on "Climate change risk: an adaptation and mitigation
agenda for Indian cities". The investigator considers the needed adaptation and mitigation
agenda for cities in India where the urban population is likely to grow by around 500
million over the next 50 years. It considers the likely changes that climate change will
bring in temperature, precipitation extreme rainfall, drought, river and inland flooding,

41
storms; sea-level rise and environmental health risks, and those within urban populations
are at risk the most. It notes the importance for urban areas of an effective rural
adaptation agenda - especially in maintaining the productivity and functioning of rural
systems. It highlights the importance of todays infrastructure investments, taking into
account climate changes, given the long lifespan of most infrastructures, and the
importance of urban management engaging with changing risk profiles. One important
part of this is the need to connect official adaptation initiatives to the much-improved
natural hazard risk assessment, management and mitigation capacity that responded to
major disasters.

Debyani Ghosh (2002) conducted a study on "Renewable Energy Technologies for

Indian Power Sector: Mitigation Potential and Operational Sfrategies". The fixture
economic development trajectory for India is likely to result in rapid and accelerated
growth in energy demand, with attendant shortages and problems. In this context, it is
imperative to develop and promote alternative energy sources that can lead to
sustainability of the energy -environment system. There are opportunities for renewable
energy technologies under the new climate change regime as they meet the two basic
conditions to be eligible for these mechanisms: they contribute to global sustainability
through GHG mitigation; and, they conform to national priorities by leading to the
development of local capacities and infrastructure. This increases the importance of
electricity generation from renewables.

Venkata Ramana P., Chandra Shekhar Sinha, P.R. Shukla (2001) made a study on
"Renewable energy technologies and climate change policies in India". Fossil fiiel use is
the largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the primary cause of global
climate change. India, with a large endowment of coal, has an energy system that is
highly carbon intensive. Besides, large quantities of fraditional biomass resources
consumed for the energy needs of the vast rural population are exerting pressures on
forests and village woodlots. Recent developments in global climate change negotiations,
which culminated in the Kyoto Protocol, are likely to remove some of the vital barriers to
RETs, which allow fossil fuels to externalize the environmental costs. India has had a

42
significant renewable energy programme for nearly two decades, and is the only country
to have a fiill-fledged national ministry to deal with renewables.

2.03 STUDIES CONDUCTED ABROAD

2.03.1 Studies Related to Awareness of Environmental Pollution

Anf H.Ziadat (2010) carried out a study on "Major factors contributing to environmental
awareness among people in a third world country/Jordan". The objective of this research
was to evaluate the major factors contributing to environmental awareness among people
in a third world country such as Jordan. The major findings of the study were: The
environmental awareness of females in this study as quantified by an overall index
exceeded that of males in each of the individual cities and villages surveyed and therefore
throughout the region. For the entire study, the overall index was 65.3-62.8, respectively.
The statistical results of the survey revealed that the city of Aqaba in the southern region
of Jordan had greater environmental awareness than the other cities surveyed.
Environmental awareness among university students increased linearly as they proceeded
from the first year to the fifth year. The education level of the survey respondents played
a significant role in the degree of environmental awareness in all cities and villages
surveyed. Environmental awareness was also affected by the difference in age range, with
the older groups having more consistent responses and higher overall index of
environmental awareness.

Babanyara, Usman and Saleh (2010) made a study on "an overview of urban poverty
and environmental problems in Nigeria". This study discusses the linkages between
population growth and environmental problems in Nigeria. Issues related to urban
poverty, urbanization, deforestation, desertification, water pollution, solid waste
management, flooding, erosion, sanitation and health were also highlighted. Non-
statistical and statistical methods were applied in analyzing poverty and environmental
problems in Nigeria. The study also analyzes weaknesses affecting environmental
management, such as inconsistencies of government policies, neglect of indigenous
knowledge, inappropriate technology, inadequate fiinding, and inadequate awareness.

43
Flamin and Bradley John (2006) conducted a study on "Environmental Knowledge,
Environmental Attitudes, and Vehicle Ownership and Use". The major findings of the
study were: (i) respondents with pro-environmental attitudes know more about the
environmental impacts of vehicle ownership and use; (ii) the households of
knowledgeable respondents own more fuel efficient vehicles and use less fiiel; (iii) the
households of pro-envirormiental respondents own fewer and more fuel efficient vehicles,
drive them less, and consume less fuel; (iv) vehicle ownership and use inversely affect
enviroimiental attitudes, but to a lesser extent than attitudes affect vehicle ownership and
use and (v) many respondents perceive constraints to making their vehicle ownership and
use reflect their knowledge and attitudes. The study suggest that public education and
social marketing campaigns focusing on the majority of Americans with pro-
environmental attitudes, combined with policies to reduce barriers to less resource-
intensive vehicle ownership and use, could encourage greater demand for more fuel
efficient vehicles and lower levels of vehicle ownership and miles driven. They also
highlight the research importance of effective survey design, appropriate measurement of
latent variables, and the inclusion of knowledge and attitudinal variable in some travel
and enviroimiental behavior studies.

Ali and Yahya Ahamed (2003) made a study on "Local and global enviroimiental issues
and attitudes". The results show that the relationship between the NEP scale and socio-
demographic variables was in agreement with the literature on environmental concern.
Most of the variables show significant relationship with the NEP (sex, education, income
and political affiliation). With regard to place attachment, the results show that socio-
demographic variables and the three elements of attachment are predictors of general
environmental attitudes. Sex, age, occupation, education and political affiliation show
significant relationship with attachment to the area. The results show that political
participation, willingness to protect the environment, recycling and plasticity, and socio-
demographic variables are predictors of attachment to the area. In regard to the second
objective the results show a significant effect of graphical languages on respondent's
answers.

44
Cheak and Marie Jaegle (2000) conducted a study on "The development and field
testing of an instrument designed to measure critical thinking in environmental
education". The purpose of this study was to develop and field test an instrument
designed to measure student's critical thinking, as they engage in literacy tasks in the
specific domain of environmental education. Current educational reform initiatives call
for national and state standards that incorporate critical thinking skills into the broader
curriculum. The critical thinking test in environmental education (CTTEE) was field
tested on a sample of students from the eighth-grade, eleventh-grade and the college
level. Intact classes were comprised of students engaged in particular inquiry-based
model of instruction in the domain of environmental education. Subjects were ranked by
their respective teachers to a status of master, non-master or neither based on the
teacher's perception of an individual student's level of sophistication of critical thinking
ability.

Howard and Gregory John (1998) made a differential study on the "Social Career of
Environmentalism: Earth Day, Environmental Problems and Images of proper behavior
in the Information Age". This study has unpacked the problem of the environment £is
defined in arenas of public discourse in the United States. This study concludes that
definitions of the environmental problem articulated by major owners tend to prescribe:
(i) complacency in the face of technological expertise; (ii) centralized forms of social
order and (iii) efficient consumption practices. This package of prescriptions risks a
population of what Anthony Burgess (1962) has called "clockwork oranges."
Recognizing the existential tension at the center of the environmental problem, alternate
models of proper human behavior for the information age are suggested.

A study conducted by Shouchao (1997) attempted a study on "Household Responses to

the Environmental Problem". This study examines household responses to the
Environmental Problem. Three major interconnected dimensions of responsibilities were
identified; information, attitude, behavior. Index scores were developed for each of these,
as well as for an overall Environmental Orientation Index (EOI). The study provides
empirical evidence of time-space compression in post-industrial era. Consciousness of

45
the coincidence of human and environmental viability is emerging in the adoption of a
Human Envirormient Sustainability Paradigm (HESP). Concern for and willingness to
change and protect the earth is widespread in society.

2.03.2 Studies Related to Health Hazards

Olufunke A. Fayehun (2010) investigated on "Household Environmental Health

Hjizards and Child Survival in Sub-Saharan Africa". Most deaths of children under age
five in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries have been linked to the
household environment. This study, therefore, hypothesized that variations in household
environments among sub-Saharan countries could affect children's survival chances. The
study found that high-mortality countries are at a relative disadvantage on basic
household environmental variables. There are significant relationships between the
household environment and child survival. Some of the differences in childhood
morbidity and mortality between low and high under-five mortality countries can be
explained by levels of household environmental health hazards and by maternal socio-
economic status.

Onyemaechi C. Nweke (2009) Modem Environmental Health Hazards: A Public Health

Issue of Increasing Significance in Africa. Traditional hazards such as poor sanitation
currently account for most of Africa's environmental related disease burden. However,
with rapid development and absence of appropriate safeguards for environment and
health, modem environmental health hazards (MEHHs) may emerge as critical
contributors to the continent's disease burden. Uimiitigated MEHH releases and human
exposure have implications for Africa's disease burden. For Afiicans encumbered by
conditions such as malnutrition that impair resilience to toxicologic challenges, the
burden may be higher. A shift in public health policy toward accommodating the
emerging diversity in Afiica's environmental health issues is necessary to successfiilly
alleviate the burden of avoidable ill health and premature death for all its communities
now and in the fiiture.

Mansell Prothero (2009) conducted a study on "Forced Movements of Population and

Health Hazards in Tropical Africa". This research shows the significant interactions

46
between disease and population mobility demonstrated in tropical Africa in recent
decades. Problems arising are greater than in the past. During the last two decades forced
movements have become important. These are associated with refugees, coerced
resettlement and victims of environmental catastrophe. The health hazards associated
with them are reviewed from medical and social science literature for North East Africa
(refiigees and resettlement) and for West Africa (pastoralists affected by drought).

Karin Ljung and Philip Weinstein (2009) conducted a study on "Acid Sulphate Soils
and Human Health - A Millennium Ecosystem Assessment". As a result, their negative
impacts on ecosystems can have serious implications to those least equipped for coping
with the low crop yields and reduced water quality that can result from acid sulphate soil
disturbance. These include the service they provide as sources of food and water, through
the control of pollution and disease, as well as for the cultural services ecosystems. While
the problems related to agriculture, aquaculture and the environment have been the focus
of many acid sulfate soil management efforts; the connection to human health has largely
been ignored. It is recognized that significant implications on food security and
livelihood can result on community cohesiveness and the spread of vector-borne disease.
However, the connection between the outcome and acid sulphate soils is often not
obvious and it is therefore argued that the impact of such soils on human well-being
needs to be recognized in order to raise awareness among the public and decision makers,
in turn to facilitate proper management and avoid potential human ill-health.

Franziska Matthies and Bettina Menne (2009) investigated on "Prevention and

Management of Health Hazards related to Heat Waves". The objective of the study is to
improve public health responses to weather extremes and, in particular, to heat waves.
The study reveals that the adverse health effects of heat waves are largely preventable.
Prevention requires a range of actions at different levels: from health system,
preparedness coordinated with meteorological early warning systems to timely public and
medical advice and improvements to housing and urban planning. These actions can be
integrated in a defined heat-health action plan.

47
Tord Kjellstrom et.al., (2008) made a study on "Urban Environmental Health Hazards
and Health Equity". The main objectives of the study are to explain the links between
social and environmental determinants of health in urban settings. The urban environment
involves health hazards with an inequitable distribution of exposures and vulnerabilities,
but it also involves opportunities for implementing interventions for health equity.
Interventions at higher policy levels that will create more sustainable and equitable living
conditions and environments include improved city planning and policies that take health
aspects into account in every sector. Health equity also implies policies and actions that
improve the global living environment, for instance, limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
In a global equity perspective, improving the living environment and health of the poor in
developing country cities requires actions to be taken in the most affluent urban areas of
the world. This includes making financial and technical resources available from high-
income countries to be applied in low-income countries for urgent interventions for
health equity.

Frederic Vandermoere (2008) conducted a study on "Hazard Perception, Risk

Perception, and the need for decontamination by Residents Exposed to Soil Pollution:
The role of Sustainability and the limits of Expert Knowledge". This case study examines
the hazard and risk perception and the need for decontamination according to people
exposed to soil pollution. The results show that hazard perception is best predicted by
objective knowledge, subjective knowledge, estimated knowledge of experts, and the
assessed risks. However, experts" risk assessments induce an increase in hazard
perception only when residents know the urgency of decontamination. Risk perception is
best predicted by trust in the risk management. Additionally, need for decontamination
relates to hazard perception, risk perception, estimated knowledge of experts, and
thoughts about sustainability. In contrast to the knowledge deficit model, objective and
subjective knowledge did not significantly relate to risk perception and need for
decontamination. The results suggest that residents can make a distinction between
hazards in terms of the seriousness of contamination on the one hand, and human health
risks on the other hand. Moreover, next to the importance of social determinants of
environmental risk perception, this study shows that the output of experts" risk

48
assessments or the objective risks can create a hazard awareness rather than an alarming
risk consciousness.

Virginia Fuentes et ah, (2008) attempted a study on "Environmental factors affecting

Children's respiratory Health in the first years of life: A Review of the Scientific
Literature". The main objective of the research is to quantitatively summarize the original
articles on the relationship between environmental hazards and respiratory health in
young children. The factor most widely studied was air pollution, with outdoor air
pollution being studied more (just over 50% of articles) than indoor air pollution (40%).
Asthma was the most often studied condition (75% of articles). In a third of the cases, the
information was obtained from hospital or health center records, and in 20% from
questionnaires. The main diagnostic criterion was clinical infection of the inferior
respiratory tracts predominated in children less than 3 years of age. An awareness of the
role played by pollution and environmental hazards is fimdamental in the management
and prevention of respiratory problems in childhood.

Cho and Young-Tae (2002) conducted a study on "The Impact of Individual and
Contextual-Level Characteristics on the Health of Metropolitan Seoul Adult Residents".
The study investigates the impact of ecological characteristics, such as area-level
socioeconomic status, public/private organizational aspects, and environmental hazards,
on the health of adult individuals in this area responding to the fact that there have been
few attempts to examine the health of Koreans focusing on social risk factors, this
project also takes into account individual-level demographic and socioeconomic
characteristics with respect to their effects in shaping unequal distribution of health and
illness in metropolitan Seoul. These studies were that public health policy should be
prepared in the direction that attracts individuals of low socioeconomic status to pay
particular attention to prevention of diseases.

Kelley and Judith Kirwan (1999) conducted a study on "Physician Knowledge,

Attitudes and Practice regarding Environmental Health Hazards". The objectives of this
study are, (i) to examine physicians, self assessed knowledge, interests, and experience in
identifying and attempting to ameliorate community environmental health hazards; (ii)to

49
characterize the roles of physicians and community members in discovery and reaction to
environmental health hazards; (iii) to identify problems in patient provider interaction
where enviroiunental health issues are concerned. The major findings of the study were:
most primary (or) social responses to patients' complaints of environmental illnesses, the
majority of physicians find it difficult to both direct envirormientally-induced diseases
and to link these diseases to specific environmental causes; most physicians feel that
multiple social-structural forces impede their identification and amelioration of
enviroimiental causes of disease; lay residents of containing communities expect that
their primary care physicians will recognize and treat their environmentally induced
diseases; lay residents of contaminated communities expect that primary care physicians
will actively investigate the potential sources of envirormiental continuation and will take
action to stop environmental continuation and physicians' perception that there is no
unified body of knowledge on enviroimiental illness increases uncertainty and ambiguity
in medical practice.

Martin and Stephen Nolan (1999) investigated on Environmental hazard perception.

The purpose of this research hypothesizes that reactions to hazards and proposed
responses to those hazards differ among individuals. Industrial hazards are affected more
by prior experience with adverse impacts from industrial hazards than reactions to natural
hazards are affected by prior experience with adverse impacts from natural hazards, and
that people are far more concerned about risks from industrial hazards than from natural
hazards. Contrary to expectations, this study found that reactions to hazards were not
significantly influenced by the presence of children in one's household. This study
indicates that individuals' reactions to hazards are based on multiple factors, including
the reactions of other people. Media reports and indecisiveness or debate among hazard
management persoimel affect public reaction. This study has established that effective
management and understanding of enviroimiental hazards and public response to those
hazards is complicated and entails consideration of social economic and technical factors.

Ibendahl and Gregory A (1998) made a study on Effects of Environmental Hazards and
Asymmetric Information on Agricultural Mortgages. Agricultural lenders face many

50
issues while dealing with environmental problems that can occur on loan collateral. The
expected cost of the environmental hazard, the liability issues under the superfimd law,
the timing of when the hazard occurs, and asymmetric information about borrower
environmental hazard risk all contribute to the difficulty in loan contract design. This
study investigates the losses in efficiency when less than perfect information exists about
both the environmental hazard size and borrower riskiness. Contrasts are designed that
allow either lenders or borrowers maximize their welfare. The efficiency results indicate
that for environmental hazards that have the same expected cost per period, episodic
hazard are more problematic. These episodic hazards may require a larger contract
charge, produce higher default rates, and are more inefficient. This research examines the
environmental hazard problem in a pure qualitative manner. Future quantitative work
remains.

Koehler Jones and Victoria (1996) investigated on "Use of Temporal Constructs as a

Model for Understanding Perceptions of Environmental Hazard". The study develops a
fi-amework for understanding how perceptions of natural hazards are associated with
ideas about the passage of time and images of the future. It is also argued that images of
the environmental future are relatively stable but may change temporarily in response to
immediate threat. In an effort to lay the foundation for empirical study of these
relationships, elements of fiiture orientation are separately analyzed including the
anticipation of change when moving from the present into the fiature. Ideas about the
nature of change are thought to be especially relevant to the study of the perception of
future disaster. Problems in assessing personal perspectives of the environmental future
are discussed and suggestions are made for the development of a quantitative instrument.

Newton and John (1995) examined "Adaptation to environmental hazards in the

northern regions of Canada". The research findings confirm the crucial value of local
environmental knowledge, identify the influence of changing social structures on
community vulnerability, and underline the jurisdictionally integrated character of coping
with flood hazards in the northern regions of Canada. Application of these findings to
other communities and environmental hazards has potential for mitigating adverse

51
impacts, illuminates the value of detailed enviromnental awareness and reinforces
practices which emphasize adaptation.

Kwasi Owusu and Rkku Kuitunen (2006) investigated on "Factors affecting the choice
of cooking fuel, cooking place and respiratory health in the Accra metropolitan area,
Ghana". Indoor air pollution resulting from the combustion of solid fuels has been
identified as a major health threat in the developing world. This study examines how the
choice of cooking fuel, place of cooking and behavioural risk factors affect respiratory
health infections in Accra, Ghana. Household socio-economic status and educational
attainment of respondents were found to have a significant impact on respiratory health
through their particular influence on the choice of cooking fuel. Households that use
wood and charcoal have a high incidence of respiratory health symptoms. The poor are
more affected by respiratory health problems due to their heavy dependence on solid
fiiels as compared with their wealthy counterparts. Households that cook in multiple
purpose rooms are more affected by respiratory health problems than those that cook
outdoors. There is a positive correlation between the presence of children in the kitchen
during cooking and the incidence of respiratory health symptoms among children.
Poverty and lack of education and awareness are the major factors affecting the choice of
cooking fiiel, place of cooking and respiratory health in Accra.

Ishaq Isola Omoleke (2004) conducted a study on "Management of Environmental

Pollution in Ibadan, an African city: the challenges of health hazard facing government
and the people". The findings of this study revealed that despite the efforts of previous
and present administrations, piles of decaying garbage which are substantially domestic
in nature dominate strategic locations in the city and the government propaganda has
little impact on the environmental pollution in the city and its suburbs thereby
constituting health hazards such as infections, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and cholera to
mention a few. It is therefore suggested that a more draconian law be enacted to deal
decisively with people who indiscriminately dump refuse in the streams and in illegal
refuse dumping locations. The public environmental awareness and campaigns at the
grassroots are needed to be intensified, most especially in the traditional core of the city.

52
Industrial pollution should also be checked through legal recourse. Any factory that fails
to comply with environmental law should be closed down summarily.

Ziad D. Al-Ghazawi (2004) carried out a study on "Ecosystem Approach to Human

Health in Two Villages of the North Jordan Valley: Scoping the Problems". The human
activities like agriculture, poor sanitation, and tourism produce health risks to the people
through the pollution and degradation of natural resources. Results of this study showed
that local communities are generally aware of the linkages between the health of the
ecosystem and human health and well-being. According to the results of the study, key
stressors to the environment (socioeconomic and institutional) include the use/abuse of
agrochemicals and household insecticides, spread of flies (associated to organic
agriculture), mismanagement of organic fertilizers, lack of sanitation services, unsanitary
household conditions, and a serious problem of stray dogs and rodents. Problems
associated with poverty and large family size was also commonly mentioned. Diarrhea,
respiratory diseases, and infectious and parasitic diseases were believed to be the most
common health problems in both villages. Local communities showed great interest and
concern for the various health problems to which they are confi-onted and expressed
eagerness to contribute to potential mitigation/intervention measures.

Shriver, Thomas E. Webb, Gary R. (2009) made a study on Rethinking the Scope of
Environmental Injustice: Perceptions of Health Hazards in a Rural Native American
Community. The Investigator used in-depth interviews, participant observation, and
document analysis to examine perceptions of envirormiental health and justice among
Native Americans in a rural Oklahoama community. The investigators examine how
Native American respondents interpret the environmental pollution as a threat not only to
their health and well-being but also to their sense of community. The investigators
address the perceived pattern of institutional denial and highlight the obstacles facing an
impoverished Native American community attempting to validate their environmental
health claims.

53
Borrows, Peter (2008) conducted a study on Health and Safety in Practical Science in
Schools: A UK Perspective, Using Model Risk Assessments. The investigator suggests
that the teaching students how to handle safely fragile or hot objects under the relatively
organised conditions of a science lesson may teach them something of value about risk
management for life outside the laboratory and v^^hen they have left school. Certainly,
science teachers need good training in health and safety before they start teaching and on-
going professional development once in post. Only rarely is there hands-on training in
health and safety matters for science teachers. They therefore need guidance which they
can rely upon and access easily.

Dancho, Kelly A (2008) Teaching Preschool Children to Avoid Poison Hazards. The
investigator evaluated the effectiveness of group safety training and in-situ feedback and
response interruption to teach preschool children to avoid consuming potentially
hazardous substances. Three children ingested ambiguous substances during a baited
baseline assessment condition and continued to ingest these substances following group
safety training. In situ feedback and response interruption resulted in a decrease in
opening ambiguous containers; this decreeise was maintained when ambiguous novel
containers were presented and when assessments occurred in a novel setting and with a
novel experimenter.

Boese, Stephen (2005) made a study on "New York State School Facilities and Student
health, Achievement, and Attendance: A Data Analysis Report". This report looks at
information compiled from all public schools in two New York counties, and from a
select group of schools from around the state that have reported enviromnental health and
safety problems. The findings show that, despite the lack of an up-to-date system for
collecting .data on environmental hazards in schools, it is still possible to correlate
existing information with state fiinding to repair hazards and to show that unhealthy
schools rob students of valuable classroom learning time.

Salinas, Maria A (2005) conducted a study on "Integrating a chemical management plan

into a district or school emergency management plan will help avoid disruptions in the

54
school environment due to spills or other emergency incidents and safeguard the health
and safety of staff, students and the community. Conducting training on the plan will
increase staff, student and community awareness about the correct management of
chemicals used in schools as part of the curriculum or maintenance.

Shriver, Thomas (2005) made a study on Contested Environmental Hazards and

Community Conflict over Relocation. The majority of the literature on contaminated
communities indicates that environmental hazards lead to conflict and dissension. Despite
two decades of remediation efforts, the community remains polluted with lead and other
heavy metals. Based on in-depth interviews with community residents, observation, and
document analysis, we find that the community has splintered into two competing groups
over the environmental controversy. One faction of the community supports a federally
sponsored relocation campaign, while the other has organized to oppose relocation. The
results of the study indicate that the contentious split is centered on the ambiguity of
harm associated with the contamination, conflicting economic concerns, and variations in
community attachment.

Rainey, Shirley A (2005) investigated on Investigating Environmental Concerns and

Health Issues in Clarksville, Tennessee. A growing body of research shows race and class
as significant predictors to exposure to environmental hazards and associated health
problems. Presented are perceptions of environmental problems and associated health
risks of residents who live in a highly polluted community. These perceptions are based
on the results of a survey of Black and White residents of the Red River community in
Clarksville, Tennessee. Results show that Blacks are more concerned about
environmental problems in their neighborhood, the overall quality of the local
environment, and the seriousness of these problems than Whites. Blacks also perceive
that they suffer more adverse health effects from exposure to contaminants than their
. White counterparts.

Parker,Edith A.(2004) conducted a study on "Application of Health Promotion Theories

and Models for Environmental health". This research examines how health promotion

55
theories and models can be applied in designing interventions to reduce exposure to
environmental health hazards. Using the Community Action against Asthma (CAAA)
project as an example, this article describes the application of these theories and models
to an intervention aimed at reducing environmental triggers for childhood asthma.
Drawing on the multiple theories and models described, a composite ecological stress
process model is presented, and its implications for environmental health promotion
discussed.

Shaji C,& H. Nimi (2009) made a study on "Water Quality Assessment of Open Wells
in and around Chavara Industrial Area, Quilon, Kerala". Heavy metal analysis revealed
that the third and fourth wells are free from heavy metal pollution. Coliform test showed
bacterial contamination in all the wells. The values of BOD and phosphate exceeded the
maximum permissible limits and the dissolved oxygen was much lower than the desirable
limit in all the well waters. Hence all the four well waters are found unsuitable for
domestic purposes as it is confirmed by water quality index. The use of waters of open
wells in and around the industrial area may cause health hazards to nearby inhabitants.

Eckardt (1976) made a study on "Occupational and environmental health hazards in the
plastics industry". These hazards are due to the monomers used to make the various
plastics, to unreacted monomer contained within the finished products, and to the fillers,
stabilizers, pigments, inhibitors, and initiators used in fabricating the finished products.
They run the gamut from angiosarcomas of the liver due to vinyl chloride, to dermatitis
and asthma-like reactions due to the initiators used with epoxy resins.

2.03.3 Studies Related to Mitigation Programmes

Sidika Tekeli-Yesil (2010) made a study on " Factors affecting peoples' mitigation
activities and preparedness for an earthquake in Istanbul, a qualitative study". There was
a difference in the groups related to awareness, risk perception, and action between high
and low risk zones, however the difference between socio-economical levels within and
between the districts was more prominent. In the groups people from Beykoz usually

56
have lower risk perception compared with people from Bakirkoy. Usually people
perceive Beykoz as a safe place, such as in one of the groups with moderate socio-
economical level.

Robert Bos, et.al., (2009) made a study on "Assessing and Mitigating Waste water
related Health Risks in Low-Income Countries". A major change in the most recent
WHO Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and grey water in agriculture
and aquaculture (WHO, 2006) agriculture is the focus on a holistic approach to achieving
health-based targets, instead of prescribing irrigation water-quality threshold levels that
are often unattainable. The health-based targets should not be read as absolute values but
as goals to be attained in the short, medium or long term depending on the country's
technical capacity and institutional or economic conditions. Local standards and actual
implementation should progressively develop as the country moves up the sanitation
ladder. While health-risk assessments are recommended to identify entry points for risk
reduction and health-based targets, the Guidelines also offer shortcuts in situations where
research capacities and data are constrained.

Qu Hongjuan and Luan Shengji (2007) carried out a study on "A Comparison Study of
Urban and Rural Residents' Indoor Environmental Consciousness during Decoration in
Northern China". The awareness of the impact of indoor pollution has been assessed by a
comparison between urban and rural residents regarding aspects like attitude, knowledge,
and abatement behavior of indoor enviroimiental pollution due to indoor decoration. The
consumers of decoration materials in Beijing city and Qing County are investigated by
questionnaires handed out at random and special interviews in some typical cases. Based
on the analysis, the main health risks during indoor decoration have been explored, some
factors influencing rural people's awareness of indoor pollution are discussed, and some
policy suggestions are brought forward.

Clark and Bette Callaway (2001) made a study on "Policies and procedures used by
principals in rural Southern Georgia in the provision of least restrictive environment for
studies with disabilities". The intent of this study was to determine what policies and

57
processes were used by principals in rural South Georgia. This study indicated that
central to the policies use the provision of LRE were a close look at the student and
determine of what was best for the student. The procedures reportedly us principals in
the provision of LRE included input from those involved the student; consideration for
needed services, support, and supplies a review of the present level of performance, the
assessments, and related information. The majority of the special education director half
of the principals reported no written policies and procedures related the provision of LRE
to be available.

Emdad Haque & Ian Burton (2005) made a study on "Adaptation Options Strategies
for Hazards and Vulnerability Mitigation: An International Perspective". Research
findings of the work of this volume reaffirm that human dimensions, specifically our
awareness and decision-making behavior, are powerful explanatory factors of increasing
disaster losses. Disaster mitigation through addressing human, social, and physical
vulnerability is one of the best means for contributing to 'climate change adaptation
plans', and sustainable development goals. An interactive, participatory process,
involving local communities, produces best expected outcomes concerning mitigation,
preparedness, and recovery. An emerging consensus is that there is a need to move
towards the 'mission' of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction which aims at
building disaster resilient communities by promoting increased awareness of the
importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development,
with the goal of reducing human, social, economic and environmental losses due to
natural hazards and related technological and environmental disasters. Sharing of best
practices and lessons globally is certain to produce more efficiency and understanding in
policy and decision making.

58
2.04 SYNTHESIS OF REVIEWED STUDIES

The investigator reviewed 70 studies of which 30 were Indian studies and 40 were
foreign studies. These studies were related to the awareness of environmental pollution,
health hazards and mitigation progranmies in the environmental concern. The
investigator reviewed 26 studies on environmental pollution, 29 studies on health hazards
and 15 studies on mitigation programmes on both Indian and abroad studies. Many of the
studies adopted self-made questionnaires for collection of data. The researchers from
India and abroad, had mostly taken school or college students as sample for their studies
and their studies are related to the attitude towards enviroimiental pollution.

The study of Sohail Ahmad and Mack Joong Choi (2010), Niphadkar et al.,
(2008), Santosh Kumar et al., (2007), Babanyara, Usman and Saleh (2010), Shaji; H.
Nimi (2009) revealed the impacts of environmental pollution on the earth as well as on
living beings. Praharaj, B (^1991): Dhillon and Sandhu (2005) urge that the
environmental education subject should be used as an effective tool for environmental
management dealing with complex problems in the interaction between nature,
technology and human beings and it is a way of creating knowledge, understanding,
values, attitudes, skills, abilities and awareness towards the environment and its
protection. The studies of Lalchharliani (2005): Abraham and Aijunan (2005) stated that
awareness of enviroimiental pollution was positively correlated towards the health
hazards and the environmental education. Ishaq Isola Omoleke (2004) suggested that the
public environmental awareness and campaigns at the grassroots are needed to be
intensified and the industrial pollution should also be checked through legal procedure.

So it is very important that we have to preserve and protect the mother earth from
various pollutions and to develop awareness from the younger generation to the
adulthood to preserve our earth for our happy and sustainable living. Hence in this study
the investigator wants to investigate the Awareness of Environmental Pollution, Health
Hazards and Mitigation Programmes among the Prospective Secondary Teachers.

59
2.05 UNIQUENESS OF THE PRESENT STUDY

1. There were studies on awareness of environmental pollution and health

hazards among the students. But in addition to this, awareness of mitigation
programme among the prospective secondary teachers is a new area of
investigation.

2. The review of studies revealed that no study has been done exclusively on
awareness of environmental pollution, health hazards and mitigation
programme among the prospective secondary teachers.

3. The study is unique in terms of the tools used to measure the variables
selected. The investigator constructed and validated the tools to measure the
awareness of enviroimiental pollution, health hazards and mitigation
programme among the prospective secondary teachers.

4. The study is unique in terms of the area, sample and variables selected for
investigation.

Hence, the investigator tries to investigate the "Awareness of environmental

pollution, health hazards and mitigation progranunes among the prospective secondary
teachers" would certainly be different from the studies conducted so far. This study is so
much relevant to the present day context and the findings of the present investigation
would be of great help to the local, state and central government, the teaching community
and those who are associated with environmental consciousness at the school and college
levels.

The following chapter elaborates the methodology of the study

60