Exposure levels of dust, endotoxin, and microorganisms in the Danish recycling industry.

INTRODUCTION: Recycling of domestic waste and a number of employees in the recycling industry is expected to increase. This study aims to quantify current exposure levels of inhalable dust, endotoxin, and microorganisms and to identify determinants of exposure among recycling workers. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 170 full-shift measurements from 88 production workers and 14 administrative workers from 12 recycling companies in Denmark. The companies recycle domestic waste (sorting, shredding, and extracting materials from waste). We collected inhalable dust with personal samplers that were analysed for endotoxin (n = 170) and microorganisms (n = 101). Exposure levels of inhalable dust, endotoxin, and microorganisms and potential determinants of exposure were explored by mixed-effects models. RESULTS: The production workers were 7-fold or higher exposed to inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi than the administrative workers. Among production workers recycling domestic waste, the geometric mean exposure level was 0.6 mg/m3 for inhalable dust, 10.7 endotoxin unit (EU)/m3 for endotoxin, 1.6 × 104 colony forming units (CFU)/m³ of bacteria, 4.4 × 104 CFU/m³ of fungi (25 °C), and 1.0 × 103 CFU/m³ of fungi (37 °C). Workers handling paper or cardboard had higher exposure levels than workers handling other waste fractions. The temperature did not affect exposure levels, although there was a tendency toward increased exposure to bacteria and fungi with higher temperatures. For inhalable dust and endotoxin, exposure levels during outdoor work were low compared to indoor work. For bacteria and fungi, indoor ventilation decreased exposure. The work task, waste fraction, temperature, location, mechanical ventilation, and the company size explained around half of the variance of levels of inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi. CONCLUSION: The production workers of the Danish recycling industry participating in this study had higher exposure levels of inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi than the administrative workers. Exposure levels of inhalable dust and endotoxin among recycling workers in Denmark were generally below established or suggested occupational exposure limits (OEL). However, 43% to 58% of the individual measurements of bacteria and fungi were above the suggested OEL. The waste fraction was the most influential determinant for exposure, and the highest exposure levels were seen during handling paper or cardboard. Future studies should examine the relationship between exposure levels and health effects among workers recycling domestic waste.

Measurement of polychlorinated biphenyls with hand wipes and matched serum collected from Chinese E-waste dismantling workers: Exposure estimates and implications.

To date, dermal/hand-to-mouth exposure to chemicals in the e-waste recycling environment has not been sufficiently understood, and the importance of dermal absorption of chemicals in e-waste dismantling workers remains controversial. In this study, we utilized hand wipes and matched sera to characterize dermal/hand-to-mouth exposure to PCBs for e-waste dismantling workers, and potential effects on thyroid hormones were also assessed. PCB loadings in hand wipes varied from 0.829-265 ng wipe-1 (11.3-2850 ng m-2 wipe-1), with 37.2 ng wipe-1 (432 ng m-2 wipe-1) as the median value. Serum concentrations of PCBs ranged from 32.3-3410 ng g-1 lipid weight (lw) with 364 ng g-1 lw as the median value. Between wipes and sera, lower-chlorinated congeners (e.g. CB-28, -66, -74, -99,-105 and -118) showed significant associations (p < 0.01), but higher-chlorinated congeners (e.g. CB-138, -153, -156, -170, and -180) did not. These lower-chlorinated CBs were the major contributors to estimated dermal/hand-to-mouth average daily doses (ADDs) and the hazard index (HI). Correspondingly, their estimated contributions to serum levels by dermal absorption were also significant, with the contribution of CB-28 being as high as 21.4%. As a consequence, dermal absorption of some low-chlorinated congeners was a non-negligible route for e-waste dismantling workers. Although insignificant association was shown between serum PCBs and thyroid hormones, the potential health risk should be of concern due to the high levels of PCBs observed in workers' sera.

Workers' perception of hazards on recycling sorting facilities in São Paulo, Brazil / Percepção dos trabalhadores quanto aos perigos em centrais de triagem de recicláveis em São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract The paper discusses views, perceptions, experiences, knowledge and behaviors related to occupational risks among recycling workers. Data collection involved field observation and two focus groups in each site. Narratives were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. Findings are presented according to the following topics: economic and environmental value of recycling; aspects of employment in the cooperative system; occupational hazards; and suggestions of improvements. Municipal programs of selective collection, as implemented in most Brazilian municipalities, still need improvements to achieve their goals and objectives. We learned that organizing recycling workers in cooperatives, despite its broad acceptance as a replacement to informal garbage collection in streets and landfills, only brought small progress regarding the safety and quality of life of cooperative workers. Recycling workers noticed the existence of workplace hazards, but seemed resigned to the situation, considered them as part of the job and did not communicate their needs to supervisors. They ignored the existence of some measures to prevent hazards and sometimes even created work practices and alternatives that endangered their own health.

Resumo O artigo discute pontos de vista, percepções, experiências, conhecimentos e comportamentos relacionados aos riscos ocupacionais entre os trabalhadores de reciclagem. Coleta de dados envolveu observação de campo e dois grupos focais em cada unidade. Narrativas foram gravadas, transcritas e analisadas por temas. Resultados são apresentados de acordo com os seguintes tópicos: valor econômico e ambiental da reciclagem; aspectos do sistema cooperativista; riscos ocupacionais e sugestões de melhorias. Programas municipais de coleta seletiva, tal como implantados na maioria dos municípios brasileiros, ainda precisam de melhorias para atingir suas metas e objetivos. Aprendemos que a organização de trabalhadores da reciclagem em cooperativas, apesar de sua ampla aceitação como um substituto para a coleta de lixo informal nas ruas e aterros, trouxe pouco progresso em relação à segurança e qualidade de vida dos cooperados. Os trabalhadores notaram a existência de riscos no local de trabalho, mas parecem resignados com a situação, consideram como parte do trabalho e não comunicam as suas necessidades aos supervisores. Eles ignoraram a existência de algumas medidas para evitar riscos e, por vezes, até criam práticas de trabalho e alternativas que colocam em perigo a própria saúde.

Catadoras(es) de materiais recicláveis e as possíveis articulações entre trabalho precário e relações de gênero / Recycling workers and possible articulations between precarious work and gender relationships

Este artigo foi construído a partir de uma etnografia realizada com catadoras(es) de materiais recicláveis em uma cidade da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre. O objetivo foi pensar como a precarização das relações de trabalho atravessa as relações de gênero, questionando funções ditas e tidas culturalmente como masculinas e colocando as hierarquias de gênero em outra perspectiva. Tomaremos para análise dois espaços nos quais as(os) catadoras(es) se faziam presentes: as oficinas de formação e o trabalho no galpão de reciclagem. A partir disso, apontaremos quanto as relações de gênero, no que diz respeito aos tradicionais papéis masculinos e femininos, são modificadas de acordo com a necessidade que aquelas(es) trabalhadoras(es) têm em buscar seu sustento.

This article describes an ethnography conducted with recycling workers in a city in Porto Alegre's metropolitan area. It aims at understanding how precarious labor relationships affect gender relationships, questioning tasks culturally assumed as masculine and seeing gender hierarchies through another perspective. We will analyze two workplaces frequented by recycling workers: training sessions and a recycling unit. In our analysis we will indicate how much traditional masculine and feminine roles are transformed in order to fulfill workers needs to earn enough to sustain themselves.

Catadoras(es) de materiais recicláveis e as possíveis articulações entre trabalho precário e relações de gênero / Recycling workers and possible articulations between precarious work and gender relationships

Este artigo foi construído a partir de uma etnografia realizada com catadoras(es) de materiais recicláveis em uma cidade da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre. O objetivo foi pensar como a precarização das relações de trabalho atravessa as relações de gênero, questionando funções ditas e tidas culturalmente como masculinas e colocando as hierarquias de gênero em outra perspectiva. Tomaremos para análise dois espaços nos quais as(os) catadoras(es) se faziam presentes: as oficinas de formação e o trabalho no galpão de reciclagem. A partir disso, apontaremos quanto as relações de gênero, no que diz respeito aos tradicionais papéis masculinos e femininos, são modificadas de acordo com a necessidade que aquelas(es) trabalhadoras(es) têm em buscar seu sustento.(AU)

This article describes an ethnography conducted with recycling workers in a city in Porto Alegre's metropolitan area. It aims at understanding how precarious labor relationships affect gender relationships, questioning tasks culturally assumed as masculine and seeing gender hierarchies through another perspective. We will analyze two workplaces frequented by recycling workers: training sessions and a recycling unit. In our analysis we will indicate how much traditional masculine and feminine roles are transformed in order to fulfill workers needs to earn enough to sustain themselves.(AU)