SOCIAL STUDIES

CXC
SCHOOL BASED ASSIGNMENT

NAME OF CANDIDATE:

CANDIDATE REGISTRATION NO.:

NAME OF SCHOOL:

SCHOOL CODE:

SUBJECT:

COUNTRY:

TOPIC: AIR POLLUTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES

Acknowledgement…………………………………………… 1

Introduction…………………………………………………… 2

Statement of problem…………………………………………. 3

Reason for selecting the Area of Research……………………. 4

Method of Investigation……………………………………….. 5

Instrument used to collect data………………………………… 6-9

Procedures used to collect data……………………………….. 10

Presentation of data…………………………………………… 11-14

Analysis and Interpretation of data……………………………. 15

Findings………………………………………………………. 16

Recommendations……………………………………………. 17

Appendix……………………………………………………… 18-36

Bibliography…………………………………………………... 37
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to extend my appreciation to the individuals who helped me in the achievement of
this task. First I must thank god for spearing my life so that I was able to complete this task, my
Social Studies teacher, for giving me this project, my knowledge of this subject has been
significantly improved as a result of this investigation.

Last but not least my family for their supervision and ideas.

THANK YOU ALL

1.
INTRODUCTION
The Constabulary Compound is a minor community in Mackenzie, Linden and it is located in
region 10 Upper “Demerara- Berbice” Guyana and is approximately 90km, from the heart of the
city of Georgetown. This community consist of 55 approximately households.

MAP 1: Entire Linden, Guyana

The blue lines

show the location of
Constabulary
Compound.

The researcher has been residing in this community, Constabulary Compound for the past sixteen
(16) years. During this time, the researcher have notice a number of problem when it comes to
the air the residents and the researcher are breathing in the area. The main problem is that the
BOSAI MINERALS Group Inc. pollutes their pollutant into the atmosphere on a daily basis.
There is also no precise time the pollutant may be released by the company, so residents have to
repeatedly wiping and cleaning their house due to the dusts. Persons in the area also burn their
garbage which generate smoke and can cause serious respiratory problem to residents.

The researcher have also observed that persons in the Constabulary Compound was the use of
fuels which gives off harmful chemicals when they are burn, while doing this the residents
indirectly pollute the environment can also causes damage to themselves.

The researcher therefore decided to conduct a survey to investigate the BOSAI MINERALS
Group Inc. with regards to emission of harmful chemicals upon the Constabulary Compound.
 2.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
TOPIC: AIR POLLUTION

How the dust affects the residents of Constabulary Compound?

 3.

REASON FOR SELECTION THE AREA OF RESEARCH

The reason for selecting this topic is because it is the key problem in my community, thus it is an
important exploration to be carried out to investigate the causes, effects and possible solution to
this problem. The dust from the bauxite processing plant seems to be the fundamental problem in
Constabulary Compound. The crisis was created many years ago from the inception of the
bauxite processing plant. The researcher has been residing in this community since the day the
researcher was born. As a child growing up in this community, the researcher have notice a great
influx of dust on the interior and exterior of my house.
 4.

METHOD OF INVESTIGATION

To explore the problem, I have selected gather printed questionnaires, in order to assemble
information for the survey.

The questionnaire as an instrument for collecting information has a number of advantages:

 A questionnaire is easy to construct.

 A questionnaire is easy to distribute and inexpensive.
 Responses are easy to organize
 Giving questionnaires can help to retain confidential.
 5.

DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT

SURVEY ON HOW THE RESIDENTS OF CONSTABULARY COMPOUND IS AFFECTED
BY DUST

45 Constabulary Compound
Mackenzie
Linden
10th July 2018

Dear Residents,

This is a survey being carried out in Constabulary Compound, Mackenzie Linden to investigate
how you as a resident of the area are affected by dust. This information will help me to purse my
school based assignment for a Social Studies course.

You are advised to answer the following questions honestly ad truthfully. No one will ever know
who answer these questions, since you do not have to write your name anywhere in this
questionnaire. Also remember this is not test as there is no right or wrong answer. Most of the
questions can be answered by a tick

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN WHERE NECESSARY

Thanking you

Yours sincerely,

Juanita Duncan
 6.

Statement of problem: How the dust affects residents of constabulary compound?

QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Gender: Male Female

2. Age Range: 13-20 21-40 41-60

3. Number of persons living in the home

1 2 3 4 5 6+

4. Number of years you’re been residing in the area

1-5 6-10 11-20 21+

5. What is the cause of air pollution in your community?

Construction

Dust from bauxite processing plant

Burning Garbage

Smoking cigarettes

6. How seriously do you take the term “AIR POLLUTION”?

Very Seriously Not Seriously

7. Do you have difficulty in breathing?

Yes No

8. Which is an effect of air pollution in your community?

Cancer

Breathing problems

Birth defects and miscarriages

 Damage to properties
7.
9. To what extend the dust is affecting you?

Mostly affected Affected a little Not at all affected

10. How often do you clean your house?

2 to 3 times a week

Once a week

Everyday

Once a month

11. In which of the following ways you are affected?

Doing less outdoors activity

Asthma incidences

Irritation to eye/nose

Worrying about the living environment for children

12. Do you think the air pollution issue is serious that has to be address?
Yes No
13. Are you willing to make this problem smaller?

Yes No
 8.

14. Which recommendation you think the community can take to reduce air pollution

Stop smoking

Educate children about air pollution and spread awareness

Stop burning rubbish in the street

Encourage regular checkups at the hospital

Stop unwanted fire

15. Which way do you think the government can help in reduction in air pollutions

Implementing strict laws

Putting penalties for factories that cause pollution

Provide more buses to reduce car exhaust

Increase corporation taxes

 9.

PROCEDURES FOR DATA COLLECTION

The community of constabulary compound has approximately 55 households.
A total of 30 questionnaires were created and shared to the members of the community. I decided
to choose the households by the random selection. 30 slips were prepared and distributed among
30 households. These persons were given two days to complete the questionnaire were issued. A
total of 25 questionnaires were collected at the end of the four days period.
 10.

PRESENTATION OF DATA

A total of 30 questionnaires were distributed to the residents, out of which 25 were returned. Of
these residents, 48% were females and 52% males.

CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION

40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
CAUSES
n t ge es
tio pl
an ba ett
tr uc g ar ar
ns ss
in gG g cig
o n
C
oc
e
r ni in
pr Bu ok
Sm
ix te
u
ba
m
t fro
s
Du

Fig 1: Causes of air pollution

OPTIONS PERCENTAGES
Construction 16%
Dust from bauxite processing plant 40%
Burning Garbage 40%
Smoking Cigarettes 4%

11.
 EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION
40%
30%
20%
10%
0% EFFECTS
er s es es
anc blem r iag erti
C o ar op
g pr isc pr
in m o
th d et
ea an ag
Br tc s m
fe Da
de
rth
Bi

Fig 2: Effects of air pollution

OPTIONS PERCENTAGES
Cancer 20%
Breathing problems 28%
Births defects, miscarriages 12%
Damage to properties 40%

12.
 AFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION
40%
30%
20%
10%
AFFECTS
0%
ity es se re
n
ctiv enc /no ild
sa cid ey
e ch
or a in to ut
tdo m n bo
ou ts h atio nga
les
s A
Ir r it r yi
g or
in W
Do

Fig 3: Affects of air pollution

OPTIONS PERCENTAGES
Doing less outdoors activity 8%
Asthma incidences 32%
Irritation to eye/nose 40%
Worrying about children 20%

13.
 SOLUTIONS OF AIR POLLUTION
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
SOLUTIONS

Fig 4: Solution of air pollution

OPTIONS PERCENTAGES
Implementing strict laws 24%
Putting penalties for factories that cause air pollution 40%
Provide more buses to reduce car exhaust 20%
Increasing corporation taxes 16%

14.
ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA
In conducting this survey of the constabulary compound, out of 25 persons questioned, 48% (12
persons) were females and 52% (13 persons) were males. From information that was gathered
stated that 40% (10 persons) of the respondents take air pollution seriously and 60% (15 persons)
of the respondents do not take air pollution seriously.
Figure 1 shows some causes that contribute to air pollution in the community. Figure 1 indicates
that 16% of the residents of Constabulary Compound chose construction. It can also been shown
that 40% of the residents chose processing plant while 40% chose burning garbage and 4%
smoking cigarettes.
Figure 2 show the effects of air pollution that is most common in the community. It can be seen
that 20% of the residents chose cancer and 28% of the residents chose breathing problems. 12%
of the residents chose births defects, miscarriages and 20% chose damage to properties.
Figure 3 shows the affects of air pollution in the community. Figure 3 indicates 8% of residents
chose doing less outdoors activity while 32% chose asthma incidences. 40% of the residents’
irritation to eye/nose and 20% chose worrying about children.
Figure 4 shows the possible solution to air pollution in the community. Figure 4 indicates 24% of
residents chose implementing strict laws and 40% chose putting penalties for factories that cause
pollution. 20% of the residents chose providing buses to reduce car exhaust and 16% chose
increasing corporation taxes.

15.
STATEMENT OF FINDINGS
This survey has helped me to acquire a complication of information which regards to the air
pollution problem in the constabulary compound. These include:

 Most of the residents chose bauxite processing plant and burning garbage as causes that
contribute to air pollution in the community.
 Most of the residents chose breathing problems as effects of air pollution in the
community.
 Most of the residents chose irritation to eye/nose as affects of air pollution in the
community.

16.
RECOMMENDATION AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

The importance of persons having clean air to breathe is a major of our everyday life; it simply
means that fewer persons will develop respiratory illnesses and diseases, hence resulting in a
significant drop of persons having respiratory malfunction in the country at large.

Community members should start with themselves using, other alternatives than burning their
garbage when it comes to getting rid of wastes, help stop persons for smoking, etc. This will
influence others to join them in the future.

Air pollution is one of the most common forms of pollutions that can lead to persons having
breathing problems.

The researcher recommends strongly that the government:

 “Putting penalties for factories that cause air pollution”. The government can put
guidelines in place for companies emitting pollutant to follow. If they are in violation of
these guidelines, they will face penalties or consequences for committing that act. These
penalties could include monetary finds, temporary shutting down of processing plant.

 “Increasing corporation taxes”. The government can also implement new taxes measures
for companies emitting harmful substances near communities. These taxes will enable
residents within constabulary compound to access subsidized medical facilities to treat
any aliment that raise due to air pollution.

17.
APPENDIX

18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
BIBLIOGRAHPY
Author’s name Name of Book Name of Publisher Year
Ramasawak, R Modules of Social Caribbean 2003
Studies Educational
Publishers Ltd

37.