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Metrology, the science of measurement
very essential in planning
A GNA Feature by Linda Asante Agyei
Accra, June 6, Ghanadot/GNA – There is the need for immediate action
to rectify the negative impact of the lifestyles of people
on the environment.
The current human activities negatively affect the water;
air; noise, soil, climate and radiation.
Water is so vital and essential that without it mankind
would not survive, but it is polluted with all sorts of
debris at the household level and chemicals at both
agricultural and industrial levels.
The air is always polluted with emission from vehicles and
industrial machines leading to the contraction of diseases
like cancer and other airborne diseases. The reduction in
the ozone cover has made it possible for harmful solar
radiation to cause various skin diseases.
The soil, which is the fundamental means of food production
and serves as part of life on earth, is also not spared.
Instead of it improving the quality and quantity of food and
assuring human kind of diverse flora and fauna, negative
human activities have contaminated the soil with all kinds
of chemicals, be it fertilizer; pesticides and industrial
waste, thus losing its nutritional levels for optimal crop
growth.
The noise levels in some parts of the country are unbearable
thus impacting negatively the health of the people.
To be able to control the hazardous effects of some of these
negative human activities on the environment, measurements
of certain parameters in the environment should be done to
facilitate the monitoring of environmental changes and to
determine their future effects on living organisms, hence
the use of metrology, which is the science of measurement.
Metrology and measurements are essential to all aspects of
human endeavour as they are used in activities ranging from
production control; the measurement of environmental
quality; assessment of health and safety; testing of quality
of materials food and other products to ensure consumer
protection.
This aspect of measurement is very crucial in international
trade to provide the necessary technical means to ensure
correct measurement through the implementation of a
harmonized system of measurement.
For this reason, the General Conference on Weights and
Measures, which was held in France in 1875 took a decision
that May 20 of every year be marked as World Metrology Day
to create and deepen the consciousness of metrology
world-wide.
This year's World Metrology Day was under the theme
"Metrology and Environment" In Ghana, the day was celebrated
by Ghana Standard Board (GSB) in collaboration with
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
These two organizations have teamed up to sensitize the
public through radio and television programmes on the need
to measure the environment to enhance accuracy of long-term
measurement by their traceability to internationally
recognized measurement standards.
Mr Adu Darkwa, Executive Director of GSB, said this would
allow people to trust in data provided by measurements and
to have confidence in decisions taken on its basis.
This would also help to ensure that health and safety
organizations, commercial enterprises and governments had
the data needed to help to safeguard the health of the
people as well as the planet.
Interestingly, the price of traded goods is derived from the
quantity involved and is usually determined by measurements.
Correct prices therefore depend on correct measurements. It
is necessary then to verify measuring instruments but in
both cases, the performance of a measuring instrument is
compared with that of a measuring instrument of higher
accuracy known as a Measurement Standard.
In addition to quantity, the quality of goods and their
conformity to standards are essential concepts in
international trade. As certificates of conformity are used
to document conformity and such certificates are gaining in
importance, the same way checking quality and conformity
requires measurements in almost all cases.
As Ghana joins the rest of the world to mark World Metrology
Day, there is the need to ensure measurements of water to
monitor its temperature, levels of nitrates and phosphates
in agricultural and industrial effluents. The soil should
also be measured to monitor its texture, moisture,
nutritional levels for optimal crop growth, as well as
monitor the pollutants from pesticides and industrial waste.
Climate change should be measured to track long-term changes
in weather, ocean temperatures and provide accurate data
which governments can use to set and monitor the short-term
and long-term effects of environmental policies.
Sound and radiation should also be monitored to prevent the
noise pollution level that might damage one's hearing,
record sound waves for possible earthquakes and tsunami
activities, monitor radioactivity levels to survey man-made
contamination and ensure the safety and effectiveness of
medical devices.
GNA
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