A Descriptive Study of Work Ability and Health Problems Among Brazilian Recyclable Waste Pickers

Abstract

To describe the work ability and health problems among Brazilian recyclable waste pickers. Sixty-one workers answered questionnaires related to the work ability (Work Ability Index-WAI), musculoskeletal problems (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire-NMQ), low back related disability (Roland Morris Questionnaire-RMQ), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-IPAQ), smoking (Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence-FTND), and alcohol use (The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test AUDIT). Brazilian recyclable waste pickers are mostly young (25-44 years old: 54%), women (88%) with low schooling (incomplete elementary school: 54%), high turnover at work (job seniority < 12 months: 70%), low rates of sick leave (20%) and accidents at work (13%). The workers reported good (44%) or optimal (43%) work ability. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the last 12 months was high (lower back: 49%, shoulders: 28%, neck: 23%, wrists and hands: 21%), as well as the prevalence of hypertension (28%). Most of the workers reported to be physically active or very active (57%), smoke (34%) and drink alcohol (44%). This study outlined the profile of recyclable waste pickers regarding work ability and health problems, which highlight the need for preventive measures focused on musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases among this population.

Prevalence of Respiratory Health Symptoms among Landfill Waste Recyclers in the City of Johannesburg, South Africa

“…Adverse health effects in waste recyclers have been studied in other developing countries [4,11], but there is limited research on this sector in South Africa. The health risks and injuries that are incurred by waste recyclers are a public health concern, which needs attention from all relevant stakeholders.…”

“…Previous studies have reported associations between working at landfill sites and increased health risks, such as musculoskeletal disorders of the lower back, shoulders and neck [4]; upper and lower respiratory symptoms, with a high prevalence of coughs [5]; and mental health disorders [6]. A review by Binion and Gutbertlet (2012) reported an increased incidence of respiratory diseases among waste recyclers exposed to dust, fumes from chemicals and inhalation of sulphurous gases generated by anaerobic microbial decomposition of organic waste [7].…”

“…The health of landfill workers is affected by socio-economic factors, such as education status, living close to landfill sites, informal housing and the use of solid biomass fuels for cooking, such as wood and coal, which have been shown to increase inhalable particulate materials, thus increasing the risk of chronic respiratory symptoms [4,9]. There are few studies investigating health outcomes associated with waste picking in the informal economy.…”

A Sight Over the Health of Waste Pickers: An Analytical Framework Proposition

“…The first of them corroborates the idea that the precarious working conditions waste pickers live in are characterized by high socio-environmental vulnerability (aLENCaR;CaRDoSo;aNTUNES, 2009;BaLLESTERoS;aRaNGo E URREGo, 2012;CoELHo et al, 2016b;CoELHo et al, 2016c;SoUSa, MENDES, 2006). Moreover, such environment favors the occurrence of labor accidents (CaVaLCaNTE;FRaNCo, 2007;CoELHo et al, 2016c;SHIBaTa et al, 2015) and of physical and mental diseases (aLENCaR;CaRDoSo;aNTUNES, 2009;CoELHo et al, 2016b;aLVaRaDo-ESQUIVEL et al, 2008;aLVaRaDo-ESQUIVEL, 2013;aRaÚJo;SaTo, 2017;GUTBERLET;Ba-EDER, 2008;RoZMaN et al, 2008;SHIBaTa et al, 2015;SINGH;CHoKHaNDRE, 2015) capable of impairing their quality of life and health promotion.…”

Context of work and elements of risk faced by waste pickers from the Cancharani sanitary landfill, Puno, Peru

“…The benefit and valorization of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is an option that allows reincorporation into the productive cycle already discarded materials, which helps the performance of resources, to understand the problem of waste pickers garbage dump in the city of Puno. The prevention of the disease transcends the biological plane and positions itself in a social space for the individual (Kruta de Araújo & de Oliveira Sato, 2018), in which the most significant are the results that can generate for themselves, their work group and their family (Porras Bulla & Climent Sanjuán, 2018). In this context, recycling is a source of income for thousands of families (Cavé, (2013) ;Chen, et al, 2018), unfortunately in most cases, an informal source (Conke, 2019).…”