People's awareness of the effects of dust on the ecological system in the limestone mine and limestone mill areas : a case study of Napralan sub-district, Chalermprakiat district, Saraburi province, Thailand
Abstract:
This study investigated levels of people’s awareness of the effects of
dust on the ecological system in the limestone mine and limestone mill areas.
It also investigated the economic, social and psychological factors influencing
people’s awareness of the effects of dust on the ecological system in the
limestone mine and limestone mill areas. Their behavior related to preventing dust
and their recommendations for solving this problem were also studied. The study
group comprised 350 people living at Napralan Sub-District Chalermprakiat
District, Saraburi Province. Questionnaires were used in data collection.
Percentage, mean, standard deviation and Multiple Regression Analysis were
conducted.
It was found that the majority of people had moderate awareness of
the effects of dust on the ecological system in the limestone mine and limestone
mill areas. Six factors had a positive influence on awareness of these effects. These
factors were perception of dust problems; knowledge of dust and its effects on the
ecological system; value attributed to the ecological system; duration of residence
in community; experience of diseases caused by dust and occupation. These
variables predicted the awareness of dust effects on the ecological system at a
confidence level of 37.20%. To prevent dust adversely affecting their health, most
people used cloth to cover their mouths and noses; closed doors and windows
and regularly cleaned their residences. They recommended that the government
department involved and the limestone entrepreneurs, should seriously and
persistently attempt to solve dust problems with participation from the public.
It was recommended that the government sectors should regularly
launch public relations programs; upgrade people’s knowledge about the effects
of dust on local natural resources, and human health, and adopt preventive
methods regarding the effects of dust .