GEL 2.3 Common Hazards in Urban Neighbourhoods

What are common hazards in urban neighbourhoods?

What are fire hazards that occur in urban neighbourhoods?

Caused by:

• unattended cooking

• faulty electrical appliances and wiring

∴ igniting nearby flammable materials → fire

Ex. (1) In 2021, there were 358 cases of fire due to unattended cooking in SG

(2) There has been an increase in fire cases involving PMDs (personal mobility devices)

What are the impacts of fire hazards?

1) Health Impacts:

• Burn Injuries → inability to evacuate in time → possible disabilities or deaths

• Smoke Inhalation → breathing difficulties + suffocation → possibly fatal

• Irritants from fire → acid gases → damaging a person’s respiratory system

• High levels of CO₂ and CO released during a fire → CO poisoning → weakness and confusion → potential loss of consciousness and death → hindering people’s ability to escape a fire

2) Property Damage:

• Destruction of properties; goods, furniture, and important documents → economic losses

• Further costs are incurred → more money is required to repair and rebuild the properties

What are air pollution hazards that occur in urban neighbourhoods?

Caused by:

• Burning Vegetation

  • CO₂ + other pollutants released into the atmosphere → air pollution

• Industrial and Motor Emissions

  • increase in car ownership and usage → vehicles produce more exhaust emissions like CO + other pollutants → increase in air pollution

What are the impacts of air pollution hazards?

1) Health Impacts

• respiratory infections

• heart diseases

• lung cancer

• Production of pollutants (a) PM 2.5 and (b) NO₂ in an urban neighbourhood {congested areas} → poor health

  • PM2.5 can enter the bloodstream → lodging deep in human lungs → lung function declination

  • Exposure to high levels of NO₂ → higher risk of asthma in children

What are the traffic hazards that occur in an urban neighbourhood?

Caused by:

• Speeding

• Red-light Running

• Drink-driving

∴ done by irresponsible motorists who put road users and themselves at risk

What are the impacts of traffic hazards?

1) Health Impact:

• should there be a traffic accident → people suffer from serious injuries → potential disabilities or deaths