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

Ohajinwa, Chimere May; Bodegom, Peter M. van; Vijver, Martina G.; Peijnenburg, Willie J.G.M.

doi:10.3390/ijerph14080911

Cited by 71 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The sample appeared to be knowledgeable that their work carries health risks. Our finding that low risk perception is associated with non-use of PPE mirrors findings from studies of waste workers in Nigeria 34 , India 9 and Thailand. 10 Interestingly, our study did not show any association between the prevalence of injury and non-use of PPE unlike other studies which have shown higher odds of injury in those not using PPE.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

The health risks of informal waste workers in the Kathmandu Valley: a cross-sectional survey

et al. 2019

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To describe the health and occupational risks of informal waste workers (IWW) in the Kathmandu valley and explore factors associated with not using personal protective equipment (PPE). Study Design A cross-sectional survey of IWWs. Method Data was collected on the health and occupational risks of adult IWWs working on waste sites in the Kathmandu Valley and in the adjacent Nuwakot District, Nepal in November 2017, through convenience sampling. Using a standardized health assessment questionnaire, face to face interviews were undertaken to record sociodemographic data, indicators of general and occupational health, data on healthcare access and use, physical risks, perception of occupational risks and use of PPE. Associations between use of PPE and gender, age, education, country of origin, injury and perception of occupational risks were examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results In 1278 surveyed IWWs, prevalent physical risks included injuries (66.2% in the previous 12 months) and the main reported symptoms were respiratory in nature (69.9% in the previous 3 months). Most prevalent injuries were glass cuts (44.4%) and metal cuts (43.9%). Less than half of IWWs (46.8%) had been vaccinated against Tetanus and 7.5% against Hepatitis B. 72.5% of IWWs considered their work as 'risky', but 67.6% did not use PPE. Non-use of PPE was independently associated with male gender (odds ratio [OR] 2.19; p <0.001), Indian origin (OR 1.35; p=0.018), older age (OR 2.97 for over 55 years old; p=0.007) and low perception of occupational risks (OR 2.41; p<0.001). Low perception of occupational risk was associated with older age (55+ years) and lack of receipt of information on the risks. Conclusion IWWs are at increased risk of injury in their work, yet are poorly protected in relation to vaccine-preventable infections and work wear. The results suggest that information is important in relation to perception of occupational risk, which in turn is associated with the use of PPE. There is a need for policymakers and public health practitioners to have a robust understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of this group, as well as identify effective interventions that can be taken to safeguard the health and welfare of IWWs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

The health risks of informal waste workers in the Kathmandu Valley: a cross-sectional survey

et al. 2019

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“…This finding is significantly higher than what had been reported by some researchers who found that only 43% of e-waste workers had awareness of the health hazards associated with e-waste from three locations in Nigeria. 24 However, this finding compares with the awareness level of 70% among butchers also found by the same researchers in the same locations. 24 The reason for this paradoxically lower awareness among the e-waste workers is not known.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 43%

“…24 However, this finding compares with the awareness level of 70% among butchers also found by the same researchers in the same locations. 24 The reason for this paradoxically lower awareness among the e-waste workers is not known. It could be that their desire to earn a living from e-waste business had led to their feigning ignorance of the health hazards associated with e-waste handling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 43%

Fate of e-waste in households in Enugu West Senatorial District of Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria

Umegbolu¹

2018

Int J Community Med Public Health

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Background: E-waste, is the waste generated from used electrical and electronic devices that are no longer fit for their original intended use. Currently e-waste comprises more than 5% of total municipal waste flow, equivalent to 20-50 million tonnes annually worldwide. In 2014, Nigeria generated about 219 kilo tonnes of e-waste. The study aimed to increase public awareness on the need for proper management of e-waste because of its hazardous nature.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in Enugu West Senatorial District of Enugu State comprising Oji-River, Ezeagu, Udi, Awgu and Aninri Local Government Areas with a population of 980,988. An adaptation of the UNEP, EMPA and Basel convention questionnaire, administered to 400 households was used for data collection.Results: The potential e-waste generation in the study area was 0.05 kg per inhabitant. 76% of the households were aware of the hazards of e-waste. 64% were willing to give out their e-waste to waste collectors. Only 26% of the e-waste were collected with the general waste. The correlation between awareness of the hazards of e-waste and willingness of the households to give out their e-waste was positive, moderate, and insignificant (r= 0.43, p=0.47).Conclusions: Although 76 per cent of the households were aware of the hazards of e-waste, with 64% willing to give out their e-waste, only 26% of the e-waste were eventually collected together with the general waste. There is a need to create a separate e-waste collection system.

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“…The metal concentration at the burning sites were also higher than the concentration reported in studies in China (Yekeen et al, 2016;Awasthi et al, 2016a). This is more disturbing as majority of the e-waste workers are unaware of the health risks associated with their jobs (Ohajinwa et al, 2017). Our results show an urgent need for action to stop open burning of e-waste and to reverse/stop the environmental deterioratation as a result of informal e-waste recycling.…”

Section: Implications Of High Metals Concentrations In the Environmentcontrasting

confidence: 58%

Impact of informal electronic waste recycling on metal concentrations in soils and dusts

Ohajinwa

Bodegom

Vijver

et al. 2018

Environmental Research

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

Cited by 71 publications

References 25 publications

The health risks of informal waste workers in the Kathmandu Valley: a cross-sectional survey

The health risks of informal waste workers in the Kathmandu Valley: a cross-sectional survey

Fate of e-waste in households in Enugu West Senatorial District of Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria

Impact of informal electronic waste recycling on metal concentrations in soils and dusts

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