Understanding Pollution: A Growing Threat to Sierra Leone’s Environment

Pollution is one of the greatest threats facing the environment today, and its effects are becoming more visible in Sierra Leone. The National Geographic Environment defines pollution as the introduction of harmful materials known as pollutants into the environment. These pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash, or man-made, such as industrial waste, plastic debris, and harmful gases. Regardless of their origin, they degrade the quality of air, water, and land, putting human, animal, and plant life at risk.

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science expands this definition to include energy forms like heat or light, which are released in harmful quantities into the environment. But for most Sierra Leoneans, pollution is not an abstract scientific concept. It is part of everyday life, woven into the fabric of daily activities.

Take, for example, the unfortunate habit some citizens have adopted during the rainy season. Instead of properly disposing of household waste, some people dump their garbage into flowing drains, hoping the water will carry it away to the sea. What they don’t realize or choose to ignore is that this practice clogs waterways, causes flooding, spreads diseases, and ultimately pollutes our oceans. That is pollution!

A more institutional example is the central sewage system in downtown Freetown. Originally designed to transport human waste from key government buildings to the sea, this system becomes a source of unbearable stench and environmental contamination when it malfunctions. Again, this is pollution, an invisible enemy with visible consequences.

In Sierra Leone, four major types of pollution stand out for their significant daily impact: land pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and the increasingly urgent issue of plastic pollution.

Land Pollution: A Growing Urban Menace

An example of land pollution in Sierra Leone

Land Pollution: A Growing Urban Menace

According to the Texas Disposal System, land pollution is the deterioration of the earth’s surface through the accumulation of solid and liquid waste. In Sierra Leone, this is evident on nearly every street corner. From discarded sachets and plastic bottles to half-eaten food and takeout packs, the streets are littered with waste due to poor disposal habits.

Sadly, this culture of indiscriminate littering has become normalized. Many citizens think nothing of eating in public and tossing the packaging on the ground. But these actions have real consequences: contaminated drinking water, loss of fertile soil, and a surge in disease outbreaks like malaria and cholera.

Key Effects of Land Pollution:

• Contamination of underground and surface water

• Loss of arable land and reduced food supply

• Aggravation of climate change (e.g., flash floods, erratic rainfall)

• Destruction or displacement of wildlife habitats

• Increased air pollution from burning waste

• Serious health issues, including cancer and respiratory diseases

Air Pollution: Breathing in Toxic Air

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines air pollution as the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by harmful agents that alter the natural quality of the air. In Sierra Leone, this threat is ever-present, especially in urban centers like Freetown.

One major contributor is the large number of old, poorly maintained vehicles on the roads. These cars emit high levels of carbon monoxide and other toxic gases, yet they remain in use due to a lack of regulation and the unavailability of affordable alternatives.

According to WHO, Sierra Leone’s annual average concentration of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) exceeds the global safety threshold of 10 µg/m³. This is due to factors such as industrial emissions, unregulated mining, waste burning, and vehicle exhaust.

Health Risks of Air Pollution (WHO, 2019):

• 4.2 million premature deaths globally linked to outdoor air pollution

• 37% due to heart disease and stroke

• 23% due to acute respiratory infections

• 18% due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• 11% due to respiratory tract cancers

Water Pollution: A Danger Flowing Through Our Streams

The Natural Resources Defense Council defines water pollution as the contamination of any water body with harmful substances, usually chemicals or microorganisms. In Sierra Leone, the issue is rampant, especially in informal settlements and communities near rivers or streams.

Many households in water catchment areas bypass the proper construction of septic systems. Instead, they illegally connect waste pipes that discharge raw sewage directly into rivers and streams. The assumption is that the flowing water will carry the waste away. In reality, this pollutes water sources, harms aquatic life, and poses serious health risks to humans.

Consequences of Water Pollution:

• Unsafe drinking water

• Spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery

• Damage to aquatic ecosystems

• Reduced access to clean water for cooking and sanitation

Plastic Pollution: The Silent Invader

Piles of plastic bottles are already affecting this waterway

One of the most pervasive and visible forms of pollution affecting Sierra Leone is plastic pollution. This refers to the accumulation of plastic objects and particles such as bottles, bags, and microplastics in the environment.

Plastic pollution is particularly dangerous because plastics do not decompose easily. In Freetown and other urban areas, clogged drains, littered streets, and garbage-filled rivers are daily reminders of the crisis. The widespread use of single-use plastics like water sachets and takeaway containers has exacerbated the situation.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), more than 400 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, and less than 10% is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, water bodies, or is burned in open spaces, releasing harmful toxins into the air.

Impacts of Plastic Pollution:

• Flooding due to clogged drainage systems

• Death of marine and land animals from ingestion or entanglement

• Contamination of food and water through microplastics

• Air pollution from the burning of plastic waste

• Visual pollution in urban and natural spaces

What Must Be Done: Policy and Action

To address the pollution crisis, Sierra Leone must adopt a multi-sectoral approach:

1. Public Education and Behavioral Change: Citizens must be educated on how their everyday choices impact the environment. This includes proper waste disposal, reduction of single-use plastics, and support for community cleanups.

2. Stronger Regulations and Enforcement: Government authorities must enforce sanitation bylaws, ban non-recyclable plastics, regulate vehicle emissions, and fine illegal dumping. Municipal councils should also invest in modern waste collection and treatment infrastructure.

3. Support for Innovation and Alternatives: Encourage local entrepreneurs to develop eco-friendly alternatives to plastic packaging. Promote the use of biodegradable materials and support recycling businesses.

4. National Strategy and Partnerships: The government should launch a National Anti-Pollution Strategy, working with schools, NGOs, local councils, and development partners to scale environmental initiatives.

A Call to Action

Pollution is not someone else’s problem. It is our problem, and the time to act is now. Whether you’re a student, policymaker, parent, trader, or driver, you have a role to play in protecting our environment. Let us commit to simple changes: dispose of waste properly, stop burning trash, say no to plastic bags, and speak up against pollution in our communities.

A cleaner, safer Sierra Leone is possible. But it starts with you!