Zolnikov Tara Rava, Ramirez-Ortiz Daisy, Moraes Hayssa, Cruvinel Vanessa Resende Nogueira, Dominguez Aldira, Galato Dayani
National University, San Diego, California, USA.
Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.
J Health Pollut. 2019 Jul 23;9(23):190905. doi: 10.5696/2156-9614-9.23.190905. eCollection 2019 Sep.
Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, currently has the largest dumpsite of the Americas at Estrutural, with over 30 million tons of waste accumulated. Recyclable waste collectors are a group of workers who, in addition to having a low socioeconomic status and residing in vulnerable areas, work sorting garbage in inadequate and unsanitary areas. This profession puts individuals at risk, resulting in death, mutilation, and disease for workers.
The aim of this study was to understand the effects of waste on recyclable collectors, along with their perceptions of associated risks.
A qualitative study was conducted, using interviews with 34 participants at Estrutural.
Collectors were exposed to several hazards, including biological, physical, and more extreme hazards (e.g. being run over by waste trucks). Personal protective equipment was not adequately used, exposing recyclable collectors to injury. Accidents included cuts, burns, skin lesions, eyes lesions, and arm, leg, head, feet, and hand injuries and amputations. Often, homecare remedies and collected medical waste (e.g. pain killers) were used on these injuries instead of seeking out proper medical care.
Recyclable collectors were aware of occupational hazards, but lacked education on the risks and consequences associated with exposure to medical hazards. Moreover, Brazil recently formally closed all dumpsites, complicating this issue. The findings of the present study confirm the need to address these hazards to provide a safe working environment for waste pickers.
Obtained.
This study was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of the Health School of Brasília University under Opinion n. 1.517.670/2016.
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
巴西首都巴西利亚目前在埃斯特鲁图拉尔拥有美洲最大的垃圾场，累计垃圾超过3000万吨。可回收垃圾收集工是一群工人，他们除了社会经济地位低且居住在脆弱地区外，还在不适当和不卫生的区域进行垃圾分类工作。这个职业让从业者面临风险，导致工人死亡、致残和患病。
本研究的目的是了解垃圾对可回收垃圾收集工的影响，以及他们对相关风险的认知。
进行了一项定性研究，对埃斯特鲁图拉尔的34名参与者进行了访谈。
收集工面临多种危害，包括生物危害、物理危害以及更极端的危害（如被垃圾车碾压）。个人防护装备未得到充分使用，使可回收垃圾收集工容易受伤。事故包括割伤、烧伤、皮肤损伤、眼部损伤以及手臂、腿部、头部、脚部和手部受伤及截肢。这些受伤情况往往使用家庭护理疗法和收集的医疗垃圾（如止痛药）处理，而不是寻求适当的医疗护理。
可回收垃圾收集工意识到职业危害，但缺乏关于接触医疗危害的风险和后果的教育。此外，巴西最近正式关闭了所有垃圾场，使这个问题变得更加复杂。本研究结果证实有必要解决这些危害，为拾荒者提供安全的工作环境。
已获得。
本研究经巴西利亚大学健康学院研究与伦理委员会批准，批准意见编号为1.517.670/2016。
作者声明不存在竞争性财务利益。
