FRM/EDPD/654

C A R I B B E A N E X A M I N A T I O N S

SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE®

SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT

COVER SHEET FOR HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY

NAME OF CENTRE: ST. ROSE’S HIGH CENTRE CODE: 090046 YEAR OF EXAM: 2024
NAME OF CANDIDATE: BELLAMY, JAVED CANDIDATE’S REGISTRATION NUMBER: 0900460202

Teacher’s
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Mark
1 Background/Overview of Issue (2 marks) 2

2 Problem Statement (2 marks) 1

3 Research Objective (2 marks) 2

4 Methodology (8 marks) 8

5 Presentation of Data (5 marks) 5

6 Analysis and Interpretation of Data (5 marks) 5

7 Conclusion (2 marks) 2

8 Recommendations (4 marks) 4

9 Reflection (6 marks) 6

10 Overall Presentation (4 marks) 4

TOTAL (40 marks) 39

Teacher’s Signature*:______________ Date: 19-MAR-2024

NOTES:
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2. Please click the PRINT TO PDF button, located at the bottom of this form when you have finished filling in
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 CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE
SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT
HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY

Name of Candidate: Javed Bellamy

Candidate Number:

Name of School: St Roses High School

School number:090046

Subject: Human and Social Biology

Name of Teacher: Miss Rodhika Dhanraj

Territory: Guyana

Year of Examination: 2024

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Group members: Javed Bellamy

Maria Pertabsingh

ZeenaSwadick

NyahGravesande

Akilah Cambridge

Affiya Smart

Danu Mangal

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researchers are immensely thankful to God for providing me with strength and guidance
throughout their journey in completing this School Based Assessment. To their dedicated teacher,
for her knowledge and support have been invaluable. And to their loving parents, for their
unwavering encouragement has been my foundation. The researchers are truly blessed to have
their collective influence in their lives.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.................................................................................................................................3
TITLE............................................................................................................................................................5
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM...........................................................................................................................6
OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................................................................7
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................8
METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION..................................................................................................................9
PRESENTATION OF DATA...........................................................................................................................10
ANALYSIS OF DATA....................................................................................................................................15
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS.........................................................................................................................16
LIMITATIONS.............................................................................................................................................18
RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................21
APPENDIX..................................................................................................................................................23

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 TITLE

An investigation into the multifaceted environmental consequences of pollution on communities

in Guyana.

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 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Pollution levels have risen alarmingly as a result of the rapid industrialization, urbanization, and
modernization processes, endangering communities all over Guyana and the world. Although
pollution has been shown to have negative impacts on the environment, there is still a crucial
information gap regarding the complex and diverse ways that these effects have an impact on
communities. The researchers aim to find out the impacts of pollution on communities in Guyana
in this study.

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 OBJECTIVES

 To discuss sustainable practices that individuals can adopt for responsible waste disposal
and reducing environmental harm.

 To analyze and identify the primary factor contributing to pollution in the community,
providing insights into potential solutions or mitigation strategies.

 To determine the pollutants that are the primary cause of pollution in the community.

 To examine the community's awareness of proper waste disposal and propose strategies
to enhance education on responsible waste management practices.

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 INTRODUCTION

An estimated 9 million fatalities and significant economic losses were attributed to

pollution in 2015, making it a serious but often ignored danger to world health (Landrigan et al.,
2018). Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful
materials are called pollutants. Over the past 100 years, pollution has grown, particularly because
it is brought on by vehicular exhausts, industrial emissions, and harmful chemicals. The fastest-
growing low- and middle-income nations have seen the biggest increases in pollution (Lelieveld
et al., 2015).
There are four main types of pollution, namely: land pollution, air pollution, water
pollution, and noise pollution. Air pollution refers to the release of harmful contaminants into the
earth’s atmosphere. A multitude of factors contribute to air pollution such as chemicals, toxic
gases, and particulates, however, the main contributoris the burning of fossil fuels (Bernstein et
al., 2004).
Water pollution is said to occur when toxic pollutants and particulate matter are
introduced into water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and seas. Deaths and diseases are caused
worldwide due to water pollution and approximately 14000 people die every day due to water
pollution (Nazir, 2018).
Soil pollution, also called soil contamination, refers to the degradation of land due to the
presence of chemicals or other man-made substances in the soil. Inorganic pollutants are released
into the environment due to activities of mining, industry, transportation, and urban activities.
Compared to the salts of alkali metals, which depend on the element and its speciation, the
interactions between toxic heavy metals and metalloids and soil components are stronger (Saha
et al., 2017).
Noise pollution refers to the excessive amount of noise in the surroundings that disrupts
the natural balance. Usually, it is man-made, though certain natural calamities like volcanoes can
contribute to noise pollution. Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash. They can also be
created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Rapid urbanization and
lifestyle changes have made loud noises ubiquitous and accepted as a normal part of
existence(Gupta et al., 2018).Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land.

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 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION

In this School Based Assessment, primary and secondary data collection will be utilized.
Obtaining data directly from an initial source is known as primary data collection. This implies
that the researchers will be the ones collecting data themselves using a questionnaire that they
designed with questions relevant to their topic. A questionnaire is a research tool featuring a
series of questions used to collect useful information from respondents. These instruments
include either written or oral questions and comprise an interview-style format. Questionnaires
may be qualitative or quantitative and can be conducted online, by phone, on paper, or face-to-
face, and questions don’t necessarily have to be administered with a researcher present. This is
an appropriate way for gathering the data because it can swiftly and effectively gather
information from a substantial amount of people. The secondary data obtained will be in the
form of articles related to the topic. Secondary data is the data that has already been collected
through primary sources and made readily available for researchers to use for their research.
Since the results of this data gathering may be compared to and validated with those of primary
data collection, it is suitable.

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 PRESENTATION OF DATA

Table 1. Main Type of Pollutants Affecting Communities

TYPE OF POLLUTANT NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS
Paper 1
Cardboard 0
Metals 1
Cans 1
Plastics 20
Other 1
Table 1. Showing the main type of pollutants affecting communities

Chart Showing the Main Types of Pollutants Affecting Communi-

ties
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20
20
Number of Respondents

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10

1 1 1 1
0
0
Paper Cardboard Metals Cans Plastics Other

Type of Polluntant

Figure 1. Bar graph showing the main types of pollutants affecting communities

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Table 2. The Main Factors Contributing to Pollution in Communities
MAIN FACTORS PERCENTAGE OF AGREEMENT (%)
Dumping of garbage 45.8
Construction 4.2
Littering 50
Urbanization 0
Table 2. Showing the main factors contributing to pollution in communities

Chart Showing the Main Factors Contributing to Pollution in

Communities

Urbanization 0
Factor Contributing to Pollution

Littering 50

Construction 4.2

Dumping of garbage 45.8

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Percentage of Agreement (%)

Figure 2. Graph showing the main factors contributing to pollution in communities

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Table 3. The Frequency of Household Waste Disposal
FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE IN AGREEMENT (%)
Daily 54.2
Weekly 41.7
Monthly 4.2
Table 3. Showing the frequency of waste disposal in households

Chart Showing The Frequency of Household Waste Disposal

4.2

Daily Weekly

41.7 Monthly
54.2

Figure 3. Pie chart showing the frequency of waste disposal in households

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Table 4. Type of Disposal Used by Individuals
TYPE OF DISPOSAL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS
Recycling 5
Composting 2
Burning 9
Burying 1
Other 7
Table 4. Showing the types of waste disposal used by individuals

Chart Showing How Garbage is Disposed of by Individuals

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9
9

8
7
7
Number of Respondents

6
5
5

3
2
2
1
1

0
Recycling Composting Burning Burying Other

Type of Disposal

Figure 4. Bar graph showing the types of garbage disposal used by individuals.

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Table 5. Whether There is a Need for Increased Awareness and Education on Proper Waste
Disposal Methods
NEED FOR AWARENESS AND PERCENTAGE OF AGREEMENT (%)
EDUCATION
Yes 70.8
No 29.2
Table 5. Showing whether there is a need for increased awareness and education on proper
waste disposal methods

Chart Showing Whether There is a Need for Awareness and

Education on Proper Waste Disposal

29.2

Yes No

70.8

Figure 5. Pie chart showing whether there is a need for increased awareness and education on
proper waste disposal methods

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 ANALYSIS OF DATA

In figure 1, the main types of pollutants affecting communities are presented in the bar
graph. Twenty (20) of the total respondents selected plastics as the major pollutant. This pollutant
gained the majority with a total of 83.3% of the votes. Cardboard, however, did not garner any of
the votes. The remaining pollutants stated in the questionnaire i.e. paper, cans, and metals each
gained one (1) vote from the respondents. Additionally, one respondent would have selected
‘other.’
The main factors contributing to pollution in communities are presented in the horizontal
column graph in figure 4. 50% of the respondents selected littering as the main factor
contributing to pollution in the communities. Dumping of garbage garnered 45.8% of the votes
and came in a close second to littering with a minute difference of 4.2%. Furthermore,
construction accumulated a total of 4.2% of the votes. Finally, urbanization acquired 0% as it
was not selected by any of the respondents.
The frequency at which individuals dispose of their household waste is represented in
figure 3. The majority of respondents selected ‘daily’ which totaled up to 54.2% of the responses
collected via the questionnaire. Disposal of household waste weekly comes to a close second
gaining 41.7% of the total responses. Additionally, only 4.2% of the respondents would have
selected monthly as how often they dispose of their household waste.
Figure 4 depicts a horizontal column graph that displays different methods of waste
disposal used in the community. Nine (9) of the twenty-four (24) respondents stated their method
of disposal was ‘Burning of garbage.’This method procured the largest number of responses.
Five (5) of the respondents selected ‘Recycling’ as their main form of disposing of household
waste, while two (2) selected composting as their preferred method. Additionally, one (1)
respondent chose burying as their favored method. This method of household garbage disposal
garnered the least number of responses. Finally, seven (7) persons would have selected ‘Other’ as
their preferred method of household waste collection which included waste management
services.
In figure 5, which references whether there is a need for increased awareness and
education on proper waste disposal methods, it can be seen that the majority of respondents
agreed that yes, there is a need for an increase in awareness and education on the topic. The pie
chart shows that 70.8% of the respondents have agreed while 29.2% disagreed, meaning the
majority of respondents selected “Yes.”

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 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

In figure 1, the main types of pollutants affecting communities are presented with the majority of
the respondents selecting plastics. Given its pervasiveness in both terrestrial and marine
environments, plastic pollution is a global problem (Zhang et al., 2020). The environment
becomes contaminated when used or abandoned plastic garbage is improperly dumped. One
million plastic bottles are bought worldwide every minute, and up to five trillion plastic bags are
used annually. Approximately 50% of all plastic manufactured is meant to be used just once
before being discarded. Today, we produce about 400 million tonnes of plastic waste every year.
Of the seven billion tonnes of plastic waste generated globally so far, less than 10 percent has
been recycled. Therefore, plastic can be seen as the main pollutant affecting many communities
in Guyana and worldwide. Although they are not as common as plastics, other pollutants
including cardboard, metals, cans, paper, etc., also pose a threat to communities.
The main factors contributing to pollution in communities are presented in figure 2. Littering
would have gathered 50% of the total responses. Littering of our environment is the major culprit
in environmental pollution (S.B & A.A, 2020). Littering is the act of carelessly throwing away or
leaving waste objects in public areas. Chemicals and microparticles are produced as litter breaks
down. Since these substances aren't found in nature, they may result in a variety of issues.
Cigarette butts, for instance, may include formaldehyde and arsenic. These toxins have an
adverse effect on both people and animals when they find their way into the soil and freshwater
sources. In actuality, trash is to blame for 60% of water contamination. Dumping of garbage
would have garnered 45.8% of the total responses. In addition to harming our soil, illegal
dumping may also hurt wildlife, our state waterways (groundwater, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes,
etc.), and our air quality due to open burning operations. Construction only gained 4.2% of the
total votes. In common with other industrial sectors, the construction industry emits air
pollutants. Air pollution is acknowledged as a major global health and environmental issue as
well as a significant health risk factor. Particulate matter of different sizes, for example, can
cause premature death and a variety of health issues. In 2017, it was projected that air pollution
was the cause of mortality for 8.7% of the world's population, or around 4.9 million fatalities
worldwide(Wieser et al., 2021).
Figure 3 shows the frequency at which individuals dispose of their household waste. 54.2% of
the respondents selected ‘daily’, 41.7% selected ‘weekly’ and 4.2% chose ‘monthly.’Waste must
be appropriately collected, stored, and disposed of to protect the environment and public health
(Yoada et al., 2014).
The methods of disposal used by individuals to eliminate their household waste are presented in
figure 4. Nine (9) of the twenty-four (24) respondents selected burning as their preferred method.
Although burning of waste is the most favored method of waste disposal, the open burning of
household waste which includesfood, glass, textiles, metals, and plastics –frequently observed in

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developing countries– emits harmful pollutants, including fine particulate matter and black
carbon (BC), and deteriorates the air quality in urban areas (Krecl et al., 2021). Seven individuals
would have chosen ‘other’ in which 100% of them stated that their method of disposal was waste
management services. Many living in cities such as Georgetown, Guyana prefer using these
services as they are much more convenient than other methods. Additionally, five (5) persons
selected recycling as their main method of waste disposal. Recycling conserves energy and stops
the release of several greenhouse gasses and water contaminants. Recovered material reduces the
amount of solid trash produced. Recycling contributes to a decrease in the pollution that comes
from the mining and manufacturing of virgin resources. Composting was selected by two (2) of
the respondents. The regulated transformation of organic waste and degradable materials into
stable products with the help of microbes is known as composting. The process of composting
contributes to preventing the pollution of groundwater. Because composted materials provide
adequate nutrients and are home to organisms that promote plant development, applying
composting boosts soil organic matter content and agricultural output. To a large extent, this
contributes to ensuring food security. Compost can be used for bioremediation, plant disease
management, weed control, pollution prevention, erosion control, landscaping, and wetland
restoration in addition to being used as fertilizer. Additionally, composting lowers the
environmental concerns connected with synthetic fertilizers and improves soil biodiversity
(Ayilara et al., 2020). Finally, one (1) individual would have selected burying as their favored
method of household waste disposal. In addition to polluting the air and water, burying trash also
requires more expensive fossil fuels for transportation, which adds to the pollution and other
issues. The ordinary plastic garbage bag releases pollutants during its 1,000-year decomposition
process when buried in a landfill.
Whether the respondents agree or disagree that there is a need for increased awareness and
education on proper waste disposal methods is shown in figure 5. 70.8% of the respondents
agreed while 29.2% of the respondents disagreed. Educating the public about pollution builds the
skills and attitudes needed to question the way we think about this topic. The public's desire for
better pollution control is being expressed more frequently and with greater impact thanks to
public service organizations, all forms of mass media, and the actions and statements of public
officials at all levels of government. This reality necessitates an unprecedented increase in
control activities in addition to open, honest, and thorough communication between the people
and organizations in charge of pollution control and the general public, to whom this obligation
is owed.

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 LIMITATIONS

In this School Based Assessment, the researchers would have come across some limitations
which include:
 Resource limitations: Large amounts of capital, manpower, and equipment may be
needed in order to conduct in-depth studies and investigations. The breadth and depth of
the investigation may be impacted by scarce resources.

 Period constraints: Examining pollution's multidimensional environmental effects is a

difficult procedure that could take a long period. The amount of time that researchers
have to investigate different facets of the problem may be limited.

 Insufficient data may compromise the precision of the inquiry.



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 RECOMMENDATIONS

Reducing and preventing pollution requires a combination of individual, community, and

governmental efforts. Here are some recommendations to stop pollution:
1. Reduce, reuse, and recycle by minimizing waste by using reusable products, and recycle
materials such as paper, glass, plastics, and metals to reduce the need for new resources.
2. Conserve energy by using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs. Turn off lights,
electronics, and appliances when not in use and opt for renewable energy sources such as
solar or wind power.
3. Dispose of waste properly and avoid littering.

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 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the investigation into the environmental consequences of pollution in Guyana has
revealed significant impacts on both the environment and the communities. The pollution has led
to the degradation of natural resources, such as water bodies and forests, which are vital for the
livelihoods of the local population. Additionally, the pollution has had detrimental effects on the
health of the community members, leading to respiratory issues, skin diseases, and other health
complications.
Furthermore, community engagement and education programs can raise awareness about the
impacts of pollution and empower individuals to take proactive measures.

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 REFERENCES

Ayilara, M., Olanrewaju, O., Babalola, O., &Odeyemi, O. (2020). Waste Management through

Composting: Challenges and Potentials. Sustainability, 12(11), 4456. MDPI.

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114456

Bernstein, J. A., Alexis, N., Barnes, C., Bernstein, I. L., Nel, A., Peden, D., Diaz-Sanchez, D.,

Tarlo, S. M., Williams, P. B., & Bernstein, J. A. (2004). Health effects of air pollution.

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 114(5), 1116–1123.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2004.08.030

Gupta, A., Gupta, A., Jain, K., & Gupta, S. (2018). Noise Pollution and Impact on Children

Health. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 85(4), 300–306.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-017-2579-7

Krecl, P., de Lima, C. H., Dal Bosco, T. C., Targino, A. C., Hashimoto, E. M., &Oukawa, G. Y.

(2021). Open waste burning causes fast and sharp changes in particulate concentrations in

peripheral neighborhoods. Science of the Total Environment, 765, 142736.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142736

Landrigan, P. J., Fuller, R., Hu, H., Caravanos, J., Cropper, M. L., Hanrahan, D., Sandilya, K.,

Chiles, T. C., Kumar, P., & Suk, W. A. (2018). Pollution and Global Health – An Agenda

for Prevention. Environmental Health Perspectives, 126(8), 084501.

https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp3141

Lelieveld, J., Evans, J. S., Fnais, M., Giannadaki, D., &Pozzer, A. (2015). The contribution of

outdoor air pollution sources to premature mortality on a global scale. Nature, 525(7569),

367–371. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature15371

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Nazir, F. (2018, August). (PDF) Factors Effecting Water Pollution. ResearchGate.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326930223_Factors_Effecting_Water_Pollution

S.B, O., & A.A, A. (2020). PLASTIC POLLUTION: CAUSES, EFFECTS AND

PREVENTIONS. International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and

Technology, 04(12), 85–95. https://doi.org/10.33564/ijeast.2020.v04i12.011

Saha, J. K., Selladurai, R., Coumar, M. V., Dotaniya, M. L., Kundu, S., & Patra, A. K. (2017).

Major Inorganic Pollutants Affecting Soil and Crop Quality. Environmental Chemistry

for a Sustainable World, 75–104. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4274-4_4

Wieser, A. A., Scherz, M., Passer, A., &Kreiner, H. (2021). Challenges of a Healthy Built

Environment: Air Pollution in Construction Industry. Sustainability, 13(18), 10469.

https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810469

Yoada, R. M., Chirawurah, D., & Adongo, P. B. (2014). Domestic waste disposal practice and

perceptions of private sector waste management in urban Accra. BMC Public Health,

14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-697

Zhang, D., Ng, E. L., Hu, W., Wang, H., Galaviz, P., Yang, H., Sun, W., Li, C., Ma, X., Fu, B.,

Zhao, P., Zhang, F., Jin, S., Zhou, M., Du, L., Peng, C., Zhang, X., Xu, Z., Xi, B., & Liu,

X. (2020). Plastic pollution in croplands threatens long‐term food security. Global

Change Biology, 26(6), 3356–3367. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15043

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 APPENDIX
SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE

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ANSWERED QUESTIONNAIRE

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 FRM/EDPD/654
CARIBBEANEXAMINATIONSCOUNCIL

CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE®

SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT

COVER SHEET FOR HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY

NAME OF CENTRE: __________________________________ CENTRE CODE: _____________YEAR OF

EXAM: ________

NAME OF CANDIDATE: _______________________________

CANDIDATE’S REGISTRATION NUMBER: ______________

Teacher’s
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA Mark
1 Background/Overview of Issue (2 marks)

2 Problem Statement (2 marks)

3 Research Objective (2 marks)

4 Methodology (8 marks)

5 Presentation of Data (5 marks)

6 Analysis and Interpretation of Data (5 marks)

7 Conclusion (2 marks)

8 Recommendations (4 marks)

9 Reflection (6 marks)

10 Overall Presentation (4 marks)

TOTAL (40 marks)

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Teacher’s Signature*: ________________________________
_________________________

NOTES:
1. *Please note that creating a digital signature generates a signature file that can be stored on your PC and used
to sign other editable PDF forms.

2. Please click the PRINT TO PDF button, located at the bottom of this form when you have finished filling in all
relevant data. This will create a non-editable version of the form to be submitted electronically.

January 2022

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