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