The Sero-Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Municipal Waste Collectors in Southwest of Iran.

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serological markers among waste collectors in the municipality of Shiraz city, southwest of Iran, 2018. Settings and Design: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 385 waste collectors from all 10 districts of Shiraz city, southwest of Iran were enrolled. A questionnaire was used to gather occupational and demographic information as well as awareness about viral hepatitis. Methods and Material: Their blood samples were collected, and the sera were investigated for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBs antibody, and anti-HCV antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: All the participants were men with a mean age of 41 ± 8 years. Out of 385 participants, 6 (1.5%) subjects were positive for HBsAg, indicative of HBV infection. Moreover, 38 (9.9%) had a protective level of anti-HBs antibodies, while more than 90% had a low level of anti-HBs antibodies. All participants were negative for HCV antibodies. Conclusion: According to these findings, evaluation of HBsAg and anti-HBs levels is recommended in the healthy program of waste collector workers (WCWs). However, this occupation might not be a risk factor for the acquisition of HBV and especially HCV infections.

Comparison of physical workload and physical work capacity among municipality cleaners in Shiraz to determine number of workers needed to counterbalance physical workload.

BACKGROUND: Assessing physical workload is the most important step in deciding whether a workload is high and adopting appropriate control strategies to reduce physical workload. This study aimed to compare physical workload and Physical Work Capacity (PWC) among municipality cleaners in Shiraz to determine the number of workers needed to counterbalance physical workload. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was performed on 97 municipality cleaners in Shiraz. In the first step, the participants' maximum aerobic capacity (VO2-max) was estimated in the laboratory using an ergometer bicycle and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) protocol, based on which the PWC was estimated. Secondly, energy expenditure and heart rate during work were measured using a POLAR400 device in an eight-hour shift. At the end of the work shift, the workers' perceived physical exertion was assessed using a Rating of Perceived Exertion 6-20 (RPE 6-20) Borg scale. In the final stage, the physical workload was assessed based on the results of the two steps. RESULTS: The mean VO2-max of the cleaners and PWC were estimated to be 2.6 ± 0.66 l min-1 and 4.3 ± 1.088 kcal min-1, respectively. The average energy consumed during work was 4.122 ± 1.016 kcal min-1. The overall results of this study showed that physical workload was greater than PWC in 46% of the municipality cleaners. In addition, it was found that 12.45% workforce was required to be added to the street cleaners of Shiraz municipality to reduce the physiological workload on the employed workforce. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to the high level of physical activity in a significant proportion of the cleaners, measures such as increasing the workforce are suggested.

Serosurvey of hepatitis A virus and E virus infection among municipal sweepers working in the largest city in the south of Iran.

This study was conducted to determine the exposure rate of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E viruses in urban solid waste collectors/sweepers in the south of Iran. The 385 samples (serums) were collected from Shiraz Municipality waste sweepers.. A questionnaire was used to gather data on their demographic and occupational characteristics, as well as their awareness of viral hepatitis disease. The viral seroprevalence was determined by commercial IgG ELISA kit. All participants were male, mean age of 41 ± 8 years. ELISA assay showed that all of them were positive for anti-HAV IgG. Also, 62 out of 385 individuals were positive for anti-HEV IgG. The statistical analysis showed that the frequency of HEV IgG antibody among age groups 20-30, 31-40, 41-50 and >50 years old had an increasing trend, 4.5%, 10.1%, 17.4%, and 36.7%, respectively, indicating age factor significance (p = .001). Based on some investigated factors including the duration of work experience, current and previous jobs, habitation, personal hygiene status, and knowledge on viral hepatitis diseasees/their transmission, there was no statistically significant difference between anti-HEV IgG positive versus negative sweepers. The results indicated a slighty higher frequency of anti-HAV and anti-HEV IgG among sweepers compared to other pre-investigated population. It doesn't seem that garbage collecting/sweeping could be a significant risk factor for HAV and HEV infection.

Does food insecurity affect musculoskeletal symptoms, fatigue, and productivity of municipality cleaners? A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Municipality cleaners are exposed to food insecurity, Musculoskeletal Symptoms (MSs), and fatigue. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of food insecurity on MSs, fatigue, and productivity among municipality cleaners. METHODS: This study was conducted on 399 Iranian male municipality cleaners with at least one year of working experience. The data were gathered via a demographic/occupational questionnaire, the Persian version of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (P-HFIAS), the Persian version of Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (P-NMQ), the Persian version of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue scale (P-MAF), and the Persian version of Health and Work Questionnaire (P-HWQ). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple logistic regression (Forward Wald), and multiple linear regression (Stepwise). RESULTS: The findings revealed that 42.6%of the municipality cleaners were in the 'severely food insecure' category. The highest prevalence of MSs in the past week were related to knees (35.8%), lower back (35.1%), and ankles/feet (28.8%). Based on the results, the chance of MSs in the shoulders (OR = 1.66) and ankles/feet (1.60) regions, and MSs at least in one body region (OR = 1.47) was higher in the individuals with severe food insecurity than the others. Considering the P-MAF, food insecurity was associated with the 'degree and severity', 'distress that it causes', and 'timing of fatigue' subscales and 'total fatigue'. Considering the P-HWQ, food insecurity was associated with 'productivity', 'other's assessment', 'concentration/focus', 'supervisor relations', 'non-work satisfaction', and 'impatience/irritability' subscales. CONCLUSION: The study revealed an association between food insecurity and MSs in some body regions and fatigue and productivity subscales among the municipality cleaners. Nutritional and ergonomic programs are recommended to reduce municipality cleaners' food insecurity, MSs, and fatigue and enhance their productivity.

Evidence of Hantavirus circulation among municipal street sweepers, southwest of Iran.

Hantaviruses are rodent-borne zoonosis pathogens that cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in humans. Rodents spread the virus via their excretions. The outbreak of Hantaviruses pose a significant public health problem. The epidemiology and history of Hantaviruses in Iran is not clear and regardless of the data from the few available studies, little is known about its epidemiology in this country. Herein, we discuss the prevalence of IgG antibody against Hantavirus serotypes in 385 street sweepers from southwest of Iran. Serum samples were investigated, using Hantavirus Pool 1 "Eurasia" IgG kit and Pool 2 "America" ELISA IgG kit (Euroimmun, Germany) to detect IgG antibodies against Old and New World Hantaviruses. The results showed a specific IgG antibody in two samples (0.5%). Both of seropositive cases had specific IgG antibody against Old World Hantaviruses. The data of the current study along with the previous data, indicate the circulation of Hantaviruses in Iran. Hence, the risk of Hantavirus infection in high-risk groups should be considered as a serious health issue.

Psychological and physical job demands, decision latitude, and work-related social support among Iranian waste collectors.

Waste collection is known as a stressful and physically demanding job in low/middle income countries. This study aimed to assess the psychological and physical job demands, decision latitude, and work-related social support among Iranian waste collectors. In this cross-sectional study, field observation, video capture, and unstructured interviews were performed to understand the process of waste collection. Data were collected from 200 waste collectors of Shiraz city using a demographic/work characteristics questionnaire and a job content questionnaire (JCQ). Logistic regression analysis was used for the prediction of independent variables affecting job content dimensions. A p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results show that the rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in Shiraz city was 0.576 kg/capita/day, which translates into about 1076 tons of waste per day per the current population of 1,869,001. The total amount of MSW produced in Shiraz over a four-year period from 2014 to 2017 were 346,093, 363,505, 392,869, and 400,863 tons, respectively. About half of the waste collectors reported high levels of psychological and physical job demands. More than half were concerned with the low level of decision latitude and social support in the workplace. Night-workers (OR = 3.29) and smokers (OR = 2.75) reported higher psychological job demands than day-workers and non-smokers, respectively. Decision latitude and social support were inversely associated with the level of education (OR = 1.90), and daily working time (OR = 2.46), respectively. Based on the Demand-Control-Support Model, waste collectors were exposed to relatively high levels of job stress associated with occupational risk factors.