Abstract:
Air pollution is one of the most serious of all environmental issues confronting mankind today. People's knowledge of air pollution's existence helps them to be more prepared, and their attitudes based on the decisions they make are crucial in reducing its threat to human health. This study sought to assess residents’ perception of Air pollution in the Accra Metropolis. Quantitative research methods in the form of structured questionnaires were distributed to 400 randomly selected households in the Accra Metropolis. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis of residents' demographic characteristics and their perceptions were conducted using Statistical Package and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 26. The study concluded that most of the respondents used for the study were aware of air pollution. However, awareness about many sources of air pollution was low in some groups like the less educated and elderly. The study also showed residents of the study were willing to improve their attitude by constantly using personal protective measures like masks and handkerchief since it has a role in protecting against air pollution hazards. A statistically significant positive relationship was observed between environmentally friendly practices and attitudes in the study area. It is therefore recommended that educational campaigns among residents should be intensified with the focus being on perceptional change helping them to become more knowledgeable about air pollution. Also, environmental authorities should dedicate resources to long-term monitoring and maintenance of monitoring stations located in residential areas and also have a way to track local air quality management.
