Introduction: Sales around roads, a common activity mainly carried out by women in African urban areas, exposes these professionals to outdoor air pollution (OAP). The study aimed to compare the frequency of respiratory symptoms and lung function in saleswomen exposed to OAP with controls. Materials and Methods: In a quasi-experimental longitudinal study here-elsewhere, we compared 115 saleswomen exposed to OAP linked to heavy traffic, with 115 matched controls. The intensity of traffic on the two sites and the daily sales time of the saleswomen were assessed. Respiratory symptoms were collected by questionnaire and pulmonary function assessed by spirometry. Symptom-free survival over 12 months was described by Kaplan-Meier and the comparison by log rank. Results: The two groups corresponded to the matching criteria. The saleswomen were exposed to higher levels of traffic intensity than the controls (p<0.000). Survival was better without cough, cold and sputum in controls. The spirometric parameters were more altered in saleswomen: FVC (p<0.001), FEV1 (p<0.001), DEP (p=0.0001), DEM 25-75 (P<0.0001). The latter reported longer durations of cough (p<0.000), cold (p=0.012), sputum (p=0.002) and dyspnea (p=0.040). Conclusion: Saleswomen exposed to road traffic presented more spirometric alterations and respiratory symptoms. It is urgent to ensure the awareness of these professionals on the health risks of this exposure and actions to reduce the OAP linked to traffic. The reinforcement of the environmental police is necessary as well as intervention studies for risk mitigation. If nothing is done, the city will face worrying prevalence of chronic, preventable respiratory disorders.

Introduction: Health care generates biomedical waste that present risks to humans and the environment if poorly managed. The objective of this study was to assess the management practices of solid biomedical waste in southern Benin. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in six health facilities. The study included 12 administrative agents selected by reasoned choice and 431 health care agents selected by convenience. The data were collected by questionnaire, interview, and observation. They concerned variables related to the production, the practice of managing, knowledge of the impact of solid biomedical waste on the environment and health, training and protection of personnel. Data analysis was done with R 4.5.0 software. Quantitative variables were described by median and interquartile range. Proportions were compared with the chi-square test or that of Fisher at the threshold of 0.05. Results: The health facilities did not have solid biomedical waste management database. Sorting was not systematic in 59.5 %. Final storage locations did not meet standards. Almost one in four health workers (24.4 %) were injured by biomedical waste. Overall, 45.8 % of the staff had been trained at least once on biomedical waste management. 61 % of the staff surveyed were vaccinated, hepatitis B (41.3 %), tetanus (32.9 %). Conclusion: In view of the results, it is necessary to ensure the on ongoing awareness and training of medical staff in the sorting and packaging of biomedical waste and to set up an efficient and sustainable solid biomedical waste management system with effective monitoring mechanisms.