ABSTRACT
IntroductionE-waste workers in Hong Kong are exposed to more chemicals because more e-waste needs to be handled locally. However, studies suggested that many e-waste workers are unwilling to wear respiratory protective equipment (RPE) for different reasons. This study aimed to identify the determinants of e-waste workers' intention to wear RPE in Hong Kong.Material and MethodsWe recruited 109 e-waste workers from June 2021 to September 2022. A workplace RPE intention scale (WRPIEs) was developed based on validated Robertsen's RPE behavior intention model and Hong Kong Occupational Safety Culture Index. The WRPIEs was consolidated by exploratory factor analysis and further enhanced by confirmatory factor analysis. Multivariate linear regression was used to test the association between the identified domain factors and the intention to use RPE at work.ResultsMost of the participants were aged over 40 years (76%), had middle school or below educational degrees (83%), wore RPE (94%) at work, and had increased time of wearing RPE after the Covid-19 pandemic (69%). Four domain factors (containing 17 manifest variables) were confirmed, including ‘subjective norms (SN)', ‘supportive working conditions (SWC)', ‘autonomy', and ‘occupational safety and health'. The enhanced WRPIEs had good indices in internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α ranged: 0.78–0.94), good composite reliability (range: 0.79–0.95), and model fit (SRMR=0.05, RMSEA=0.03, CFI=0.99). Among the identified domain factors, SN (β=0.36) and SWC (β=0.30) significantly increased e-waste workers' intention to wear RPE at the workplace.ConclusionsThis newly validated WRPIEs scale can help capture Chinese e-waste workers' intention to wear RPE. Results from this study also suggested that various stakeholders could enhance SN and SWC to facilitate workers' willingness to wear PPE. (Acknowledgements: GRF/RGC-165056653 & VCDFIII-136366853. Ethics approval: CREC 2020.039;*shelly@cuhk.edu.hk)
ABSTRACT
Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) are antimicrobials that are widely applied in personal care products, textiles, and plastics. TCS and TCC exposure at low doses may disturb hormone levels and even facilitate bacterial resistance to antibiotics. In the post-coronavirus disease pandemic era, chronic health effects and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes associated with TCS and TCC exposure represent an increasing concern. This study sought to screen and review the exposure levels and sources and changes after the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, potential health outcomes, bacterial resistance and cross-resistance, and health risk assessment tools associated with TCS and TCC exposure. Daily use of antimicrobial products accounts for most observed associations between internal exposure and diseases, while secondary exposure at trace levels mainly lead to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. The roles of altered gut microbiota in multi-system toxicities warrant further attention. Sublethal dose of TCC selects ARGs without obviously increasing tolerance to TCC. But TCS induce persistent TCS resistance and reversibly select antibiotic resistance, which highlights the benefits of minimizing its use. To derive reference doses (RfDs) for humans, more sensitive endpoints observed in populational studies need to be confirmed using toxicological tests. Additionally, the human equivalent dose is recommended to be incorporated into the health risk assessment to reduce uncertainty of extrapolation.