Health Assessment of Electronic Waste Workers in Chile: Participant Characterization
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Study Design and Sites
2.2. Participant Recruitment
2.3. Health Assessment
2.4. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Sociodemographic and Occupational Characteristics of the Population
3.2. Self-Reported Health
3.3. Self-Reported Personal and Occupational Stressors
3.4. Self-Reported Occupational Injuries
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Item | Components |
---|---|
Questionnaire |
|
Health assessment |
|
Biomonitoring |
|
Exposure assessment |
|
Other procedures |
|
All | Informal | Formal | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Characteristics/Groups | N = 93 | Santiago N = 53 | Temuco N = 25 | Recycling Company N = 15 | p-Value d |
Demographic | |||||
Sex (male), n (%) | 69 (74) | 38 (72) | 23 (92) | 8 (53) | 0.021 |
Age (years), mean ± SD | 47 ± 14 | 47 ± 15 | 52 ± 12 | 39 ± 13 | 0.018 |
Marital status, n (%) | |||||
- Married | 41 (44) | 18 (34) | 15 (60) | 8 (53) | 0.099 |
- Single | 37 (40) | 27 (51) | 5 (20) | 5 (33) | |
- Living with partner | 8 (8.6) | 4 (7.5) | 4 (16) | 0 (0) | |
- Separated | 4 (4.3) | 1 (1.9) | 1 (4) | 1 (13) | |
- Divorced | 2 (2.2) | 2 (3.8) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
- Widowed | 1 (1.1) | 1 (1.9) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
Family members a, mean ± SD | 3.8 ± 1.8 | 3.8 ± 1.8 | 3.8 ± 1.9 | 3.5 ± 1.8 | 0.774 |
Children <21 years old, n (%) | 45 (48) | 28 (53) | 11 (44) | 6 (40) | 0.596 |
Level of school, n (%) | |||||
- None | 7 (7.5) | 5 (9.4) | 2 (8) | 0 (0) | 0.336 |
- Basic school (8 years) | 30 (32) | 21 (40) | 6 (24) | 3 (20) | |
- Medium school (12 years) | 41 (44) | 18 (34) | 14 (56) | 9 (60) | |
- College or higher | 15 (16) | 9 (17) | 3 (12) | 3 (20) | |
Socioeconomic | |||||
Main sources of income b, n (%) | |||||
- Electric or electronic waste | 77 (83) | 45 (85) | 20 (80) | 12 (80) | 0.672 |
- Other types of waste | 34 (37) | 29 (55) | 5 (20) | 0 (0) | 0.000 |
- Other | 20 (22) | 12 (23) | 6 (24) | 2 (13) | 0.178 |
Monthly income c, n (%) | |||||
- Less than $165 | 4 (4.3) | 4 (7.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.527 |
- $167–495 | 28 (30) | 19 (36) | 6 (24) | 3 (20) | |
- $497–1156 | 35 (38) | 19 (36) | 9 (36) | 7 (47) | |
- $1156–1651 | 15 (16) | 4 (7.5) | 8 (32) | 3 (20) | |
- More than $1651 | 5 (5.4) | 2 (3.8) | 2 (8) | 1 (6.7) | |
- Prefer not to answer | 6 (6.5) | 5 (9.4) | 0 (0) | 1 (6.7) |
All | Informal | Formal | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N = 93 | Santiago N = 53 | Temuco N = 25 | Recycling Company N = 15 | p-Value b | |
Currently employed, n (%) | 90 (97) | 50 (94) | 25 (100) | 15 (100) | 0.310 |
Currently involved in e-waste activities, n (%) | 92 (99) | 52 (98) | 25 (100) | 15 (100) | 0.683 |
Years working with e-waste, mean ± SD | 12 ± 12 | 14 ± 12 | 16 ± 12 | 2.3 ± 3.2 | 0.001 |
Hours of work per day, n (%) | |||||
- Less than 5 hours | 4 (4.3) | 3 (5.8) | 1 (4.0) | 0 (0) | 0.053 |
- 5–8 hours | 56 (61) | 26 (50) | 16 (64) | 14 (93) | |
- More than 8 hours | 32 (34) | 23 (44) | 8 (32) | 1 (6.7) | |
Work days per week, mean ± SD | 5.8 ± 1.0 | 5.7 ± 1.3 | 5.9 ± 0.6 | 5.8 ± 0.3 | 0.763 |
Current job(s) a, n (%) | |||||
- Electric or electronic waste recycling | 58 (62) | 36 (68) | 8 (32) | 14 (93) | 0.000 |
- Electronics collection | 32 (34) | 26 (49) | 6 (24) | 0 (0) | 0.001 |
- Electronics repairer | 29 (31) | 14 (26) | 15 (60) | 0 (0) | 0.000 |
- Scrap dealer | 23 (25) | 21 (40) | 2 (8) | 0 (0) | 0.001 |
- Retired | 5 (5.4) | 4 (7.5) | 1 (4) | 0 (0) | 0.488 |
- Other | 28 (30) | 17 (32) | 8 (32) | 3 (20) | 0.648 |
Role in e-waste recycling, n (%) | |||||
- Recyclers | 43 (46) | 29 (55) | 3 (12) | 11 (73) | 0.000 |
- Collectors | 39 (42) | 35 (66) | 4 (16) | 0 (0) | 0.000 |
- Repair shop | 32 (34) | 14 (26) | 18 (72) | 0 (0) | 0.000 |
- Raw materials buyer | 9 (9.7) | 6 (11) | 0 (0) | 3 (20) | 0.097 |
All | Informal | Formal | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N = 93 | Santiago N = 53 | Temuco N = 25 | Recycling Company N = 15 | p-Value d | |
Overall health, n (%) | |||||
- Excellent | 3 (3.2) | 2 (3.8) | 1 (4) | 0 (0) | 0.701 |
- Very good | 10 (11) | 5 (9.4) | 3 (12) | 2 (13) | |
- Good | 45 (48) | 23 (43) | 13 (52) | 9 (60) | |
- Fair | 30 (32) | 18 (34) | 8 (32) | 4 (27) | |
- Poor | 5 (5.4) | 5 (9.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
Symptoms in last two weeks (occasionally, always or frequently a), n (%) | |||||
- Headache or dizziness | 44 (47) | 27 (51) | 12 (48) | 5 (33) | 0.674 |
- Heart beating abnormally | 28 (30) | 24 (45) | 3 (12) | 1 (6.7) | 0.008 |
- Breathing problems | 23 (25) | 17 (32) | 4 (16) | 2 (13) | 0.288 |
- Nausea or stomach ache | 22 (24) | 13 (25) | 6 (24) | 3 (20) | 0.962 |
- Skin rashes | 15 (16) | 8 (15) | 5 (20) | 2 (13) | 0.842 |
- Loose or watery stools | 14 (15) | 9 (17) | 3 (12) | 2 (13) | 0.408 |
- Fever | 9 (9.7) | 6 (11) | 3 (12) | 0 (0) | 0.625 |
- Shaking or tremors | 6 (6.5) | 4 (7.6) | 2 (8) | 0 (0) | 0.741 |
- Blood in urine | 3 (3.3) | 3 (5.7) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.674 |
- Blood in stool | 2 (2.2) | 1 (1.9) | 1 (4) | 0 (0) | 0.479 |
Sought medical care/treatment b, n (%) | 27 (29) | 18 (34) | 5 (20) | 4 (27) | 0.632 |
Type of medical care c, n (%) | |||||
- Clinic/hospital | 25 (93) | 18 (100) | 4 (80) | 3 (75) | 0.080 |
- Traditional medicine | 1 (3.5) | 0 (0) | 1 (20) | 0 (0) | |
- Other | 1 (3.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (25) | |
Current smoker, n (%) | 29 (31) | 20 (38) | 6 (24) | 3 (20) | 0.281 |
Chronic diseases, n (%) | |||||
- None | 47 (51) | 22 (42) | 14 (56) | 11 (73) | 0.076 |
- High blood pressure | 24 (26) | 14 (26) | 8 (32) | 2 (13) | 0.421 |
- Diabetes mellitus | 13 (14) | 8 (15) | 5 (20) | 0 (0) | 0.197 |
- Asthma | 5 (5.4) | 3 (5.7) | 1 (4) | 1 (6.7) | 0.927 |
- Heart disease | 5 (5.4) | 5 (9.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.136 |
- Stroke | 4 (4.3) | 2 (3.8) | 1 (4) | 1 (6.7) | 0.885 |
- Kidney disease | 3 (3.2) | 1 (1.9) | 1 (4) | 1 (6.7) | 0.631 |
- Liver disease | 1 (1.1) | 0 (0) | 1 (4) | 0 (0) | 0.253 |
- Other | 18 (19) | 16 (30) | 2 (8) | 0 (0) | 0.008 |
Taking medication for any of these conditions c, n (%) | 29 (63) | 20 (65) | 6 (55) | 3 (75) | 0.735 |
Health problems that limit work, n (%) | 15 (16) | 15 (28) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.001 |
Unintentional weight loss last year, n (%) | 21 (23) | 13 (25) | 2 (8) | 6 (40) | 0.056 |
All | Informal | Formal | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N = 93 | Santiago N = 53 | Temuco N = 25 | Recycling Company N = 15 | p-Value c | |
Stressors by Cohen’s perceived stress scale | |||||
In the last month, how often have you felt (sometimes, fairly often or very often a), n (%): | |||||
- Unable to control important things in life | 39 (42) | 25 (47) | 10 (40) | 4 (27) | 0.388 |
- Confident about personal ability to handle problems | 85 (92) | 47 (89) | 23 (92) | 15 (99) | 0.284 |
- Things were going your way | 85 (92) | 47 (90) | 24 (96) | 14 (93) | 0.301 |
- That you couldn’t overcome difficulties | 38 (41) | 25 (47) | 7 (28) | 6 (40) | 0.619 |
Other stressors (occasionally, always or frequently, a), n (%) | |||||
- Someone else deciding work methods/pace/order | 21 (23) | 9 (17) | 8 (32) | 4 (27) | 0.359 |
- Experiencing violence or harassment at work b | 15 (16) | 8 (15) | 7 (28) | 0 (0) | 0.066 |
- Work interfering with family responsibilities/leisure time | 35 (38) | 21 (40) | 10 (40) | 4 (27) | 0.880 |
- Income not sufficient to support family | 55 (59) | 37 (70) | 9 (36) | 9 (60) | 0.029 |
All | Informal | Formal | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Group | N = 93 | Santiago N = 53 | Temuco N = 25 | Recycling Company N = 15 | p-Value b |
Exposed to loud noise at work, n (%) | |||||
- Never | 21 (23) | 12 (23) | 7 (28) | 2 (13) | 0.088 |
- Almost never | 17 (18) | 10 (19) | 6 (24) | 1 (6.7) | |
- Sometimes | 26 (28) | 20 (38) | 3 (12) | 3 (20) | |
- Fairly often | 16 (17) | 5 (9.4) | 6 (24) | 5 (33) | |
- Very often | 13 (14) | 6 (11) | 3 (12) | 4 (27) | |
Years working in loud noise, mean ± SD | 8.8 ± 11 | 7.8 ± 9.7 | 16 ± 14 | 3.6 ± 6.7 | 0.004 |
Experienced difficulties hearing, n (%) | 26 (28) | 12 (23) | 9 (36) | 5 (33) | 0.414 |
Time with difficulties hearing a, n (%) | |||||
- Since childhood | 2 (7.7) | 1 (8.3) | 0 (0) | 1 (20) | 0.548 |
- Since adolescence | 1 (3.8) | 1 (8.3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
- Since adulthood | 23 (89) | 10 (83) | 9 (100) | 4 (80) | |
Diagnosed with hearing loss, n (%) | 8 (8.6) | 4 (7.5) | 2 (8) | 2 (13) | 0.774 |
Experienced tinnitus after spending time in loud noise, n (%) | |||||
- Never | 48 (52) | 27 (51) | 15 (60) | 6 (40) | 0.255 |
- Almost never | 14 (15) | 6 (11) | 4 (16) | 4 (27) | |
- Sometimes | 25 (27) | 17 (32) | 6 (24) | 2 (13) | |
- Fairly often | 4 (4.3) | 2 (3.8) | 0 (0) | 2 (13) | |
- Very often | 2 (2.2) | 1 (1.9) | 0 (0) | 1 (6.7) |
All | Informal | Formal | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Group | N = 93 | Santiago N = 53 | Temuco N = 25 | Recycling Company N = 15 | p-Value c |
Injuries in e-waste recycling work in past 6 months, mean ± SD | 3.0 ± 7.1 | 2.2 ± 3.4 | 5.4 ± 13 | 1.7 ± 2.0 | 0.131 |
For the worst injury during e-waste recycling work: | |||||
Type of injury a, n (%) | |||||
- Cuts/lacerations | 29 (31) | 20 (38) | 7 (28) | 2 (13) | 0.182 |
- Contusions/abrasions | 15 (16) | 7 (13) | 4 (16) | 4 (27) | 0.457 |
- Punctured wounds | 8 (8.6) | 8 (15) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.037 |
- Sprains/strains | 4 (4.3) | 1 (1.9) | 2 (8) | 1 (6.7) | 0.410 |
- Burns/scalds | 3 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 3 (12) | 0 (0) | 0.015 |
- Fractures | 1 (1.1) | 1 (1.9) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.683 |
- Other | 18 (19) | 7 (13) | 7 (28) | 4 (27) | 0.224 |
Body part(s) injured a, n (%) | |||||
- Hand | 35 (38) | 22 (42) | 12 (48) | 1 (6.7) | 0.022 |
- Foot/Lower leg | 15 (16) | 11 (21) | 2 (8) | 2 (13) | 0.564 |
- Hip | 4 (4.3) | 2 (3.8) | 1 (4) | 1 (6.7) | 0.885 |
- Other | 18 (19) | 6 (11) | 7 (28) | 5 (33) | 0.072 |
Medical care received a, n (%) | |||||
- Self-administered first aid | 28 (40) | 22 (60) | 5 (23) | 1 (9.1) | 0.007 |
- No medical care | 20 (29) | 7 (19) | 10 (46) | 3 (27) | |
- Treatment at hospital/clinic | 10 (14) | 4 (11) | 2 (9.1) | 4 (36) | |
- Other | 12 (17) | 4 (11) | 5 (23) | 3 (27) | |
Missed work due to injuries a, n (%) | |||||
- Did not miss any work and worked regular job | 53 (76) | 30 (81) | 17 (77) | 6 (55) | 0.070 |
- Did not miss any work and could not do regular job | 3 (4.3) | 3 (8.1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
- Missed work | 14 (20) | 4 (11) | 5 (23) | 5 (46) | |
Working days lost a, n (%) | |||||
- Less than 1 day | 1 (7.1) | 0 (0) | 1 (20) | 0 (0) | 0.100 |
- 1–5 days | 3 (21) | 0 (0) | 1 (20) | 2 (40) | |
- 5–7 days | 3 (21) | 2 (50) | 0 (0) | 1 (20) | |
- More than 7 days | 2 (14) | 2 (50) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
Activity at the time of injury a, n (%) | |||||
- Dismantling electronic equipment | 30 (32) | 17 (32) | 9 (36) | 4 (27) | 0.829 |
- Sorting electronic waste | 15 (16) | 7 (13) | 6 (24) | 2 (13) | 0.457 |
- Collecting electronic waste | 8 (8.6) | 6 (11) | 1 (4) | 1 (6.7) | 0.537 |
- Removing covering of wires | 2 (2.2) | 2 (3.8) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.462 |
- Burning activities | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | - |
- Ash/wire collection after burning | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | - |
- Other | 24 (26) | 12 (23) | 8 (32) | 4 (27) | 0.676 |
Tools/parts of work lead to more frequent injuries, n (%) | 55 (59) | 37 (70) | 14 (56) | 4 (27) | 0.031 |
Reported job tasks that have led to more injuries, n (%) | 49 (53) | 29 (55) | 14 (56) | 6 (40) | 0.417 |
Report instructions/training prior to injury, n (%) | 12 (17) | 8 (22) | 3 (14) | 1 (9.1) | 0.510 |
Use of safety equipment at work, n (%) | |||||
- Leather/rubber globes | 53 (57) | 32 (60) | 8 (32) | 13 (87) | 0.002 |
- Rubber-soled boots or shoes | 46 (50) | 17 (32) | 15 (60) | 14 (93) | 0.001 |
- Safety glasses/face shields/eye protection | 33 (36) | 21 (40) | 9 (36) | 3 (20) | 0.373 |
- Dust mask | 15 (16) | 8 (15) | 4 (16) | 3 (20) | 0.901 |
- Latex/plastic gloves | 11 (12) | 6 (11) | 5 (20) | 0 (0) | 0.163 |
- Earplugs or earmuffs | 8 (8.6) | 4 (7.5) | 2 (8) | 2 (13) | 0.774 |
- Other | 18 (19) | 10 (19) | 4 (16) | 4 (27) | 0.704 |
Pain in hands/wrists after e-waste working, n (%) | 47 (51) | 27 (51) | 11 (44) | 9 (60) | 0.778 |
Intensity of pain in hands/wrists (VAS 0–10) b, mean ± SD | 4.9 ± 2.0 | 5.0 ± 2.1 | 4.9 ± 1.8 | 4.6 ± 1.8 | 0.913 |
Muscle soreness from sitting in the same position, n (%) | 57 (61) | 36 (68) | 12 (48) | 9 (60) | 0.260 |
Intensity of muscle soreness (VAS 0–10) b, mean ± SD | 5.0 ± 2.2 | 5.4 ± 2.1 | 4.8 ± 2.1 | 3.4 ± 1.7 | 0.044 |
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Yohannessen, K.; Pinto-Galleguillos, D.; Parra-Giordano, D.; Agost, A.; Valdés, M.; Smith, L.M.; Galen, K.; Arain, A.; Rojas, F.; Neitzel, R.L.; et al. Health Assessment of Electronic Waste Workers in Chile: Participant Characterization. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 386. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030386
Yohannessen K, Pinto-Galleguillos D, Parra-Giordano D, Agost A, Valdés M, Smith LM, Galen K, Arain A, Rojas F, Neitzel RL, et al. Health Assessment of Electronic Waste Workers in Chile: Participant Characterization. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(3):386. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030386
Chicago/Turabian StyleYohannessen, Karla, Daniela Pinto-Galleguillos, Denisse Parra-Giordano, Amaranta Agost, Macarena Valdés, Lauren M. Smith, Katherine Galen, Aubrey Arain, Felipe Rojas, Richard L. Neitzel, and et al. 2019. "Health Assessment of Electronic Waste Workers in Chile: Participant Characterization" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 3: 386. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030386
APA StyleYohannessen, K., Pinto-Galleguillos, D., Parra-Giordano, D., Agost, A., Valdés, M., Smith, L. M., Galen, K., Arain, A., Rojas, F., Neitzel, R. L., & Ruiz-Rudolph, P. (2019). Health Assessment of Electronic Waste Workers in Chile: Participant Characterization. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(3), 386. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030386