Knowledge and Practices of Municipal Solid Waste Workers: Findings from Focused Group Discussions

Nandimath, Priya T; Rao, Namratha; Subramaniyan, U.; Mishra, B.; Kalidindi, Bharat; Shrivastava, Rahul; Panta, Subarna; Kumar, H. Vasanth

doi:10.1007/978-981-10-7290-1_25

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The elevated levels of PM 2.5 in the current study raise concern that inhalation of PM 2.5 from SWM sites can cause pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular disorders, gastrointestinal infections and allergic and musculoskeletal diseases among the workers and populations living within facilities of such MSWM sites. Fine particles penetrate deeper into lungs in the form of liquid droplets and cause severe health problems by fixing several biological functions [35][36][37].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of Air Quality within Facilities of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) Sites in Lahore, Pakistan

et al. 2021

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The pollutants emission during the process of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is of great concern due to its hazardous effect on the environment and living organisms. An assessment of the air quality of MSWM sites was made after having 16 repetitive visits at solid waste disposal sites and transfer stations of Lahore during wet and dry seasons. Pollution parameters such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and greenhouse gases (GHG) were measured along with meteorological parameters. PM2.5 measurement was made by using particle counter Dylos and TSI’s Dust Trak. Both of these instruments were positioned simultaneously at the source site and downwind (50 m). CH4 and meteorological parameters were measured by Aeroqual 500 series, while the Extech CO220 monitor was used to measure CO2 concentration. An assessment of air quality showed the levels of their mean values as CH4 and CO2 ranged between 1.5–13.7 ppm and 443.4–515.7 ppm, respectively. The PM2.5 ranged between 127.1 and 307.1 µg/m3 at sources and 172.3 and 403.8 µg/m3 downwind (50 m). GHG showed lower levels than the proposed limit value, which could not cause any health issues, while PM2.5 was 6–10 times higher than the Pak-EPA established standards. Higher pollutant concentration was recorded in the dry season than the wet season. Regression analysis was performed to predict correlation of PM2.5 with GHG and meteorological parameters. GHG as well as meteorological parameters also exhibited a correlation with PM2.5. It was estimated that the ambient air of such sites is not safe for public health. So, it is necessary to use safe practices for MSWM and its emission control to prevent nearby communities and the environment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of Air Quality within Facilities of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) Sites in Lahore, Pakistan

et al. 2021

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“…Waste collectors are usually migrants to urban areas, earn less than other population groups, and often stay homeless which collectively causes them to be highly vulnerable with respect to health and nutrition (Bagchi et al, 2017). They have been found to have poor knowledge and practice about solid waste handling which increases the chance of their exposure to hazardous materials or chemicals (Azfar et al, 2018;Nandimath et al, 2019). They suffer from various health problems such as gastrointestinal infections, loss of appetite, respiratory symptoms, and musculoskeletal disorders (Ivens et al, 1997;Thorn et al, 1998;El-Wahab et al, 2014;Patil et al, 2017;Habybabady et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Practices and Nutritional Status of the Urban Vulnerable: A Cross Sectional Study on Waste Collectors of Dhaka City in Bangladesh

Biswas¹,

Rifat²,

Sufian³

et al. 2020

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Purpose The socioeconomic conditions of urban waste collectors are vulnerable. However, their nutrition vulnerability remains undocumented. Here we focused on dietary practices and the nutritional status of waste collectors of Dhaka city in Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed that included 130 waste collectors from 15 different sites of Dhaka city. The 24-hours recall method, body mass index (BMI) and BMI for age Z-score were used to determine dietary practices and nutritional status respectively. Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to observe the associations and their risk factors. Results The majority (58.5%) of the waste collectors were normal by BMI whereas 36.2%, 4.5%, and 0.8% were underweight, overweight, and obese respectively. The prevalence of underweight was higher among males and respondents less than 18-years old (P<0.001). The dietary pattern of the respondents was poor. Meals were mainly rice and vegetable-based. Consumption of meats, eggs and fruits was low. Only 18.4% and 16.92% respondents were found to consume meat and eggs at least once a day, respectively. In addition, 78.5% consumed insufficient foods in their main meals, 9.2% had skipped meals and 13.1% consumed stale food and food waste regularly. Consumption of less than three main meals a day and food of poor dietary quality were risk factors of underweight. Conclusion Findings demonstrated that waste collectors in Dhaka city had poor nutritional status which was primarily associated with inadequate dietary intake. Increased quality and quantity of food in the diet, which could be achieved through appropriate health and nutritional support, are needed to overcome the situation.

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Understanding Solid Waste Collectors’ Awareness of Occupational Hazards and Personal Protective Equipment Practices in Northern Malawi

Ngwira,

Chitete,

Sibande

et al. 2024

Environ�Health�Insights

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate Solid Waste Collectors’ (SWCs) knowledge of occupational hazards, their views on personal protective equipment (PPE), strategies for PPE use, and challenges in managing occupational risks. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of protective measures in addressing occupational hazards, but there is a need for further research to assess the knowledge levels of waste collectors regarding these hazards and PPE practices. This study used a qualitative research technique, particularly, a phenomenological research design to capture the living experiences from SWCs. Focused group discussions and in-depth interviews were employed to gather data. Subgroups of topics were created by coding the data using a predefined codebook as part of the content analysis process. SWCs demonstrated that they were aware of the risks they face in their work environments. The risks include which can range from long-term health issues brought by repetitive exposure to harmful substances and sharp objects. The lack of PPE accessibility and availability has become a significant issue, exposing waste collectors to various diseases and accidents, forcing them to work without necessary safeguards. Efforts to increase PPEs through public-private partnerships (PPPs) should be promoted. The city council should provide on-the-job training on health risks, occupational hazards related to waste collection, and PPE usage regularly; and establish efficient channels for SWCs to report problems and ensure that their grievances are properly addressed.

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Knowledge and Practices of Municipal Solid Waste Workers: Findings from Focused Group Discussions

Cited by 3 publications

References 5 publications

An Assessment of Air Quality within Facilities of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) Sites in Lahore, Pakistan

An Assessment of Air Quality within Facilities of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) Sites in Lahore, Pakistan

Dietary Practices and Nutritional Status of the Urban Vulnerable: A Cross Sectional Study on Waste Collectors of Dhaka City in Bangladesh

Understanding Solid Waste Collectors’ Awareness of Occupational Hazards and Personal Protective Equipment Practices in Northern Malawi

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