Published Article

                                                                                                                 ABSTRACT 

Beaches are important part of Nigerian life as they provide recreational opportunities, unique habitat for varieties of plants and animals as well protection to coastal residents from high winds and waves of powerful storms. It has high economic potentials which are however truncated by solid waste pollution. There is high concentration of economic activities in Idua-Assang beach such as off-loading of fish, crayfish, periwinkle, and other sea foods, trading on local wares and foreign ones from the Republic of Cameroon, and other neighboring countries. These activities generate huge solid wastes in the beach. This study investigated solid waste pollution status of Idua-Assang beach in Oron, Akwa Ibom with specific objectives of identifying the solid waste items in the beach, determining the sources of waste items, and discussing the health implications of the waste pollution in the beach. A total of 2922 pieces of assortment of solid waste with heterogeneity index (Hi) of 51 was recorded, 76.83% of the wastes are plastic. Higher quantity of wastes was observed in the wet season with the month of June recording the highest (14.30%), compare to the highest quantity of solid wastes that was also observed in the dry season in the month of February (12.28%). Apart from the human health implications of the beach solid wastes such as injuries by sharp objects and infection by pathogens associated with contaminated wastes, marine litters degrade the beauty (aesthetic values) of the communities and reduce their tourism potential. 

KEYWORDS: Beach, Pollution status, Human health and Environment.