Dataset Information

Health Risks Awareness of Electronic Waste Workers in the Informal Sector in Nigeria.

ABSTRACT: Insight into the health risk awareness levels of e-waste workers is important as it may offer opportunities for better e-waste recycling management strategies to reduce the health effects of informal e-waste recycling. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices associated with occupational health risk awareness of e-waste workers compared with a control group (butchers) in the informal sector in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was used to assess health risk awareness of 279 e-waste workers (repairers and dismantlers) and 221 butchers from the informal sector in three locations in Nigeria in 2015. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic backgrounds, occupational history, knowledge, attitude, and work practices. The data was analysed using Analysis of Variance. The three job designations had significantly different knowledge, attitude, and practice mean scores (p = 0.000), with butchers consistently having the highest mean scores. Only 43% of e-waste workers could mention one or more Personal Protective Equipment needed for their job compared with 70% of the butchers. The health risk awareness level of the e-waste workers was significantly lower compared with their counterparts in the same informal sector. A positive correlation existed between the workers' knowledge and their attitude and practice. Therefore, increasing the workers' knowledge may decrease risky practices.

SUBMITTER: Ohajinwa CM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5580614 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Health Risks Awareness of Electronic Waste Workers in the Informal Sector in Nigeria.

Ohajinwa Chimere M CM Van Bodegom Peter M PM Vijver Martina G MG Peijnenburg Willie J G M WJGM

International journal of environmental research and public health 20170813 8

Insight into the health risk awareness levels of e-waste workers is important as it may offer opportunities for better e-waste recycling management strategies to reduce the health effects of informal e-waste recycling. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices associated with occupational health risk awareness of e-waste workers compared with a control group (butchers) in the informal sector in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was used to assess health risk awareness ...[more]

PMID: 28805712

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Project description:BackgroundElectronic waste (e-waste) contains both valuable and hazardous materials. E-waste scavengers specialize in the collection and crude recycling of waste electronics to retrieve valuable metals, which are then sold. These activities provide an income for scavengers, but also expose them to toxic heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and copper (Cu).ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to investigate the level of awareness and concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn)) in the blood levels of e-waste scavengers at Jakande dumpsite, Alaba International Market, Lagos, Nigeria.MethodsMaterial and data were collected by empirical survey with the use of a questionnaire to obtain information from e-waste scavengers. Blood samples of the scavengers in the present study (30 adult males exposed to recycling processes) were collected and concentrations of heavy metals were determined through acid digestion and the use of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AGILENT 55B AA, 2010).ResultsThe geometric means of blood levels of Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn were 11.0, 33.85, 126.15 and 19.38 μg / dL, respectively. High concentrations of Pb and Mn (11.0 and 19.38 μg / dL) were found in the blood samples, while Zn and Cu (126.15 and 33.85 μg / dL) showed low concentrations. The maximum blood level of lead (BPb) (24.0 μg / dL) was extremely high compared to the maximum BPb of occupationally exposed males. Statistical analysis of the questionnaires showed that all of the respondents were male, and more than half (56.7%) were between 21-30 years of age and had been involved in recycling of e-waste for 1-5 years. The results showed that 83% of the respondents were aware that hazardous fractions in e-waste require special treatment, while 76.7% were aware of the possible negative impact on their health.ConclusionsLack of education, poverty and lack of effective enforcement of e-waste management and regulations are the major contributors to the current situation and thus scavengers carry on with their activities unhindered. The authors recommend the use of protective clothing, sensitization visits and awareness campaigns on the safe disposal of hazardous components.Participant consentObtained.Ethics approvalThe study was approved by the ethics committee of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja Lagos.Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing financial interests.

Dataset Information

Health Risks Awareness of Electronic Waste Workers in the Informal Sector in Nigeria.

Publications

Health Risks Awareness of Electronic Waste Workers in the Informal Sector in Nigeria.

Similar Datasets

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