Factors of Respiratory Symptoms Among Domestic Waste Collectors

Abstract

Objective Increasing amount of waste concurrently increases the risk of exposure to hazardous materials among waste collectors. Vigorous exertion in the field intensifies the abundance of contaminated inspirable droplets. If left undetected and untreated, it may provoke significant pernicious health effects and redundant burdens to employees and employers. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and their associated factors among domestic waste collectors. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah between January and April 2020. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire which encompasses details about sociodemographic, health status, environment, and employment characteristics. Results A total of 290 waste collectors with a mean age of 40 (±9) years old were participated in the study. Most of them were from Kadazan-Dusun-Murut ethnic origin with educational background till secondary school. The average monthly income of the workers was USD 298.45 (±171.9) per month, and they had been in service for 11 (±9.04) years. Respiratory symptoms were seen in 21% of the workers. The identified significant risk factors were determined as underlying chronic diseases (OR=2.34; 95% CI=1.054, 5.219) and contact with pets (OR=1.87; 95% CI=1.004, 3.288). Conclusion Respiratory symptoms are prevalent amidst domestic waste collectors and related to their health and field activities.

Prevalence of Respiratory Symptoms and Risk Factors Among Street Sweepers in Gondar City Northwest, Ethiopia, 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This finding is consistent with studies conducted in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, 24 Komblcha, 9 and Malaysia. 13 In this study, another important factor was washing PPE after use, and respiratory symptoms were higher among workers who did not wash their PPE after use when compared to workers who did wash their PPE after use. This finding is consistent with another finding in Dessie City, Ethiopia, which stated that acute respiratory infection was seen in workers who did not clean/wash their PPE after use, 14 and this could be due to exposure to dust that accumulated day after day in protective equipment and can increase the exposure status of workers.…”

“…There are a number of factors that affect respiratory symptoms and reported in different studies and such factors including socio-demographic characteristics like age, 11 BMI, sleeping hours, 12 educational level, housing condition factors like direct contact with pets, artificial or natural ventilation, 13 use of coal/wood for cooking, 14 behavioral related factors like smoking, 15 personal protective equipments (PPE) utilization, 14 work experience or duration of exposure, working hours per day, 11 and past respiratory illness. 13 …”

“…5 Respiratory symptom among street sweepers were reported in different regions of the world including Tanzania, 3 Iran, 6 India, 7 Nigeria, 47.3% of participants, 8 and in different parts of Ethiopia, such as Dessie and Kombolcha, 45.4%, with the prevalence of cough, 16.54%, phlegm, 15.4%, wheezing, 32.3%, breathlessness, 21.3%, and chest pain, 14.3%, 9 and Addis Ababa, in 2017, 68.9%, 10 and 2018, 70.3%. 11 There are a number of factors that affect respiratory symptoms and reported in different studies and such factors including socio-demographic characteristics like age, 11 BMI, sleeping hours, 12 educational level, housing condition factors like direct contact with pets, artificial or natural ventilation, 13 use of coal/ wood for cooking, 14 behavioral related factors like smoking, 15 personal protective equipments (PPE) utilization, 14 Environmental Health Insights experience or duration of exposure, working hours per day, 11 and past respiratory illness. 13 Industrialized countries' norms and regulations for municipal solid waste management have significantly reduced occupational health impacts.…”

“…11 There are a number of factors that affect respiratory symptoms and reported in different studies and such factors including socio-demographic characteristics like age, 11 BMI, sleeping hours, 12 educational level, housing condition factors like direct contact with pets, artificial or natural ventilation, 13 use of coal/ wood for cooking, 14 behavioral related factors like smoking, 15 personal protective equipments (PPE) utilization, 14 Environmental Health Insights experience or duration of exposure, working hours per day, 11 and past respiratory illness. 13 Industrialized countries' norms and regulations for municipal solid waste management have significantly reduced occupational health impacts. However, in underdeveloped countries, the health-related aspects of solid waste management remain to be addressed as workers manually collect wastes.…”

Coleta seletiva em tempos de pandemia: avaliação da presença de RNA de SARS-CoV-2 em uma associação de coletores de materiais recicláveis

“…Considerando a pandemia de COVID-19, os catadores de material reciclado constituem uma linha de frente invisível constituída por um grupo de trabalhadores em alto risco de infecção, em função da possibilidade de manuseio de uma elevada quantidade de material contaminado 8 .…”