Title: The effects of burning garbage in
California, Couva. Student’s name: Priya
Persaud
Candidate number: 1605732009
Center number: 160573
Subject: Human & Social Biology
Proficience: General
Teacher’s name: Ms.Shinica Samuel
Year:2022
Table Of Content
Introduction
Background
Statement of problem
Research objectives
Methodology
Presentation of data
Data
Conclusion
Reflection
Bibliography
Appendices
Background: All around Trinidad, people burn garbage and dead cutting from their gardens,
sometimes they can burn dead animals. This is very bad for people with asthma.
Problem statement: Can burning garbage cause negative effects on health?
Research objectives: To determine if burning affects the health of people.
Methodology: I decided to use a questionnaire because it is easy to use. I decided to survey the
students in two fifth forms at my school. A total of 10 students. It took me a week to collect all of
the questionnaires I gave out.
Presentation of data
Table showing the frequency of garbage burning in Trinidad.
Number of times Frequency Percentage
garbage is burnt
Everyday 5 10%
Once a week 25 50%
Once a month 16 32%
Never 4 8%
Total 50 100%
Table showing effects of smoke on students.
Effect Frequency
None 3
Burning eyes 16
Asthma Attack 8
Headache 24
Coughing 48
Analysis and interpretation of data: In 50% of the neighborhoods, garbage is burned once a week. In
32% of the neighborhoods, garbage is burned once a month. The main effect of burning garbage was
coughing with 48.4%, followed by headaches 24.2% and burning eyes 16.1%. The burning of garbage
also cause asthma attacks in 8.1% of the students questioned only 3.2% of the students were not
affected by the smoke.
-Smoke which gets deep into the lungs and can trigger asthma attacks, wheezing and chest pain.
Conclusion: Burning garbage affects the health of most residents in their neighborhood,
mainly causing coughing.
Recommendations: More public service announcements should be made to inform people on
the new laws regarding burning in Trinidad. Students can encourage people in their
neighborhoods to recycle garbage and make compost heaps.
Reflection: I never knew that so many harmful chemicals were produced from burning household
garbage. I showed my report to my father and he has stopped burning garbage at home. We built a
composter and will start using it to make compost from the kitchen scraps, cut grass and other
garden trimmings.
Bibliography
NHDES Fact Sheet: Open Burning of Residential Trash.
https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/Marine-pollution/Garbage-pollution#:~:text=Garbage%20includes
%20all%20kinds%20of,normal%20operation%20of%20the%20ship.
Appendix
Please contact me via email:persaudpriya@outlook.com or telephone number: (868) 3249063 for
further information. You can also contact my teacher, Ms. Shinica via email:
ms.samuel024@gmail.com.
HSB SBS- QUESTIONNAIRE
Name Mr/Ms :_____________ Age:___________
Mobile Number:_____________
1) How often did people burn garbage in their neighborhood?
2)What effect does burning have on those persons who are affected?
3)How does the burning of garbage affect the environment?
___________________________________________________________________________
4) Why should we care about garbage?
________________________________________________________________________________
