Spousal Perception of Environmental Pollution in Different Types of Settlements

Predmet rada čini analiza percepcije ekoloških problema u trima različitim sredinama: selima, malim i srednjim gradovima, te velikim gradovima. Zagađenost okoliša općenito - smećem, otpadnim vodama, smogom, industrijskim emisijama polutanata, bukom i onečišćenje vode procijenilo je 813 braćnih parova, žena i muževa odvojeno. Utvrđen je visok stupanj povezanosti procjena muževa i žena, Φ = 0,60 (p < 0,01). Žitelji naselja različite veličine razlikuju se u opažanju određenih vrsta zagađenja. Najviše muževa u velikim gradovima zamjećuje zagađenja smogom i bukom. U manjim i srednjim gradovima najviše ih zapaža industrijska zagađenja jer ih je tu lakše zamijetiti nego u velikim gradovima, a u selima najviše muževa, zbog nepostojanja vodovodne mreže, primjećuje zagađenje vode. Najviše žena u velikim gradovima opaža problem zbrinjavanja smeća, jer one održavaju obiteljski prostor, te zagađenje smogom i bukom, jednako kao muževi. U manjim gradovima i žene i muževi ističu industrijsko zagađenje, a u selima problem otpadnih voda zbog nepostojanja kanalizacije. Problem zagađenosti općenito primjećuju u selu 37,0% muževa i 35,2% žena, u manjim gradovima 36,6% muževa i 38,3% žena, te 52% muževa i 55,1% žena u velikim gradovima. To znači da je osviještenost stanovništva o zagađenosti okoliša djelomična. Zato ga treba upozoriti i dodatno informirati, a potom obrazovati sve članove obitelji, osobito djecu da prepoznaju oblike zagađenja, način njihova suzbijanja i uklanjanja na osobnoj, obiteljskoj i općoj razini, radi promjene ponašanja i uspostavljanja zdravoga, ekološki osviještena obiteljskog stila života, kako je zahtijevala već H. S. Richards.The authors analysed and assessed perception of ecological problems in three different areas: villages, small and medium towns and big cities. The research included 813 married couples who were interviewed separately, husbands and wives, to give their opinions on the environmental pollution in general and particularly waste pollution, water waste, smog, industrial pollution, noise, and water pollution. High level of correlation between husbands\u27 and wives\u27 assessments was found - Φ = 0,60 (p < 0,01). Same differences in perception of certain sorts of pollution were found among inhabitants from settlements of different size. The largest number of husbands in big cities perceive smog and noise most, in small and medium towns - industrial pollution as it is easier to observe than in large cities, while in villages they perceive water pollution due to the lack of appropriate water supply system. Wives in big cities more often perceive the problem of waste disposal due to their usual care about family space, and smog and noise, just like their husbands do. In small towns they, same as their husbands, emphasize industrial pollution, and a problem with water waste in villages, due to the lack of the sewage system. 37,0 % husbands and 35,2% wives in villages, 36,6% husbands and 38,3% wives in small towns, and 52% husbands and 55,1% wives in large cities perceive the pollution problem. This indicates that the inhabitants are only partly aware of the problem of environmental pollution. Some actions should be undertaken to make them more aware of the problem and additionally informed about the problem, and then educate all the family members, especially children, to recognize and prevent all sorts of pollution at personal, family and general level, with the goal of behavioural changes and establishing healthy, ecologically conscious life style, in the line of H. S. Richards recommendation