Experts Link Rising Incidence Of Parkinson’s , Heart Diseases, Others  To Pollution, Toxic Work Place Environment 

Adebayo Obajemu 

It's no longer news that Nigeria has a high rate of pollution and toxic work environment. This  has been   of concerns to stakeholders.

It's  disturbing  that a lot of work place environments, particularly in manufacturing and urban centres  like Lagos,  Kano, Port Harcourt among others have seen  a rise in emission of pollution. This unhealthy trend is driven,  sustained and  characterized by high levels of toxic air (14.1 times WHO limits), facilitated by hazardous industrial emissions, and reliance on generators which pollute the atmosphere causing a variety of life-threatening diseases.

According to experts, these emissions often result in   severe respiratory diseases, cancer, and heart issues  prevalent among Nigerian workers. This,  in turn , has had negative impact on productivity and increasing absenteeism. 

Dr. Ambimbola Ajayi, a consultant cardiologist told Business Hallmark  that " Poorly ventilated indoor spaces and heavy reliance on low-pour fuel oil (LPFO) generators by many  industries contribute to hazardous air, with manufacturing sectors, especially in Lagos, facing high pollutant concentrations.

He noted that in  areas like Apapa Port, diesel truck emissions (33%), marine vessel emissions (21%), and outdated machinery (17%) severely affect air quality.

Exposure to these hazards, he said, "gives rise to high rate of 'presenteeism' , which in layman's term, is working while ill, and loss of skilled personnel due to pollution-related illnesses like cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

He further stated that inadequate waste disposal at work sites contributes to environmental contamination.

He noted  that the  high level of air pollution hinders economic potential and negatively impacts employee quality of life. 

According to him,  this situation has subsisted because "Efforts to improve these conditions have been poor and often lagging as a result of  poor regulation enforcement, infrastructural deficits, and lack of adequate monitoring of indoor air quality. 

Indoor pollution.

Not long ago, medical experts  raised fresh alarm over the rising cases of Parkinson’s disease in the country , linking it to increasing environmental pollution, industrial emissions, and unsafe work environments.

The  fresh warning came at the end of a two-day workshop held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, with the theme “Environmental Factors, Exposure and Lifestyle Modification in the Pathogenesis and Progression of Parkinson’s Disease: The Impact of Pollution and Occupational Hazards.”

The event  was convened by Dr. Patrick Oluwole Abolarin, a lecturer at Babcock University and the Director of the Ilorin 2025 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder -Developing World Education Program.

Dr. Abolarin explained that the rise in industrial activities and unregulated use of harmful chemicals, especially pesticides and heavy metals, are silently contributing to neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease across the country.

“We are indiscriminately exposed to chemicals such as pesticides, vanadium, and other heavy metals through pollution and unsafe work practices. These exposures have been linked to the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease,” he said.

He stated the need for government regulation of harmful substances, public enlightenment, and improved workplace safety.

Also speaking, a brain scientist from the University of Ibadan, Professor James Olopade, presented a paper titled “Vanadium, an Environmental Toxicant and Parkinson’s Disease.”

He revealed that long-term exposure to vanadium a metal commonly found in crude oil and industrial emissions  has been proven to cause symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.

“Our studies show that animals from oil-producing regions like the Niger Delta have higher brain damage due to metal accumulation. The risk is equally high for welders, factory workers, and people living near industrial zones,” he noted.

Professor Olopade called for the establishment of a national Parkinson’s surveillance system to track cases and improve data on neurological health in Nigeria.

In the same vein, a Professor of Anatomy at the University of Lagos, Ademola Oremosu, warned that the use of toxic pesticides in agriculture is becoming a major public health concern.

“Farmers use chemicals to boost yield, but many of these substances harm the brain over time. We need stronger regulations to protect farmers and consumers,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government, the National Orientation Agency, and the media to lead awareness campaigns on the dangers of exposure to harmful substances.

Another expert, Professor Bamidele Owoyele, who leads the Neuroscience and Inflammatory Lab at the University of Ilorin, lamented that pollution and poor environmental governance are fueling avoidable health crises in the country.

“Pollution affects the soil, air, and water. Over time, these toxins accumulate in the body and destroy brain cells. This is why we’re seeing more cases of Parkinson’s even among younger adults,” he said.

According to the World Health Organization, global Parkinson’s cases have doubled in the past 25 years, with developing countries like Nigeria facing a surge due to worsening pollution and weak regulation.

There's a need  for stronger collaboration between the Ministries of Environment, Health, Agriculture, and Labour to ensure proper monitoring of toxic exposure in workplaces and communities.