Respiratory functions of conservancy workers working in solid waste management sector of Chennai, India

Abstract

Chennai is the fourth largest metropolitan city in India. Around 10,000 conservancy workers of the Chennai Corporation handle about 4500 to 5200 tons of solid wastes per day. These workers are exposed to a lot of environmental and occupational hazards affecting the respiratory system. This paper presents the results of pulmonary function assessment in 178 conservancy workers (100 sweepers & 78 loaders) of the Chennai Corporation. Detailed medical and occupational history was obtained and clinical examination was performed after obtaining informed consent. Pulmonary functions (forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] and peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR]) were measured using a portable spirometer. Since normal pulmonary function values for healthy non-smoking South Indian adults are available through previously published studies, the pulmonary function test (PFT) values from the study group were compared with the predicted values after corrections for age and anthropometry. The pulmonary functions of the conservancy workers were significantly lower than their predicted values. Moreover, the pulmonary functions declined with increasing years of working. Among both the groups of conservancy workers, the pulmonary functions were significantly lower in sweepers than loaders (P<0.01). This study has generated lung function data of the Chennai Corporation conservancy workers that can aid the concerned authorities to implement specific interventions to reduce the exposure and improve the health status of the workers.

Exhaled Carbon Monoxide Levels of Scavengers in Bantar Gebang Landfill, Bekasi

“…No. 1 January 2020: [1][2][3][4] mass index (BMI) of the subjects were normal category in 60 subjects (55.6%), less in 10 subjects, overweight in 31 subjects, and obesity in 7 subjects. The level of education of the subjects were 21 subjects (19.4%) never attend formal education, 78 subjects (72.2%) graduated from Elementary Schools, 7 subjects (6.5%) graduated from Junior High Schools, and 2 subjects (1.9%) graduated from Senior High Schools.…”

“…Many researches were carried out in developed countries, but the data cannot be directly extrapolated to developing countries. 2,3 There have been reported occupational health hazards associated with handling waste which include skin, eye, and respiratory system infections, accidents such as bone and muscle disorders resulting from handling heavy containers, wound infections due to contact with sharp objects, poisoning and chemical burns due to contact with small amount of hazardous chemical waste mixed with general waste, and other injuries due to workplace accidents at landfills or from methane gas explosions at landfill sites. 4 Based on the research conducted by Abdou, there are four major health problems due to working in landfills, namely respiratory infections and/or allergies (65.5%), eye infections (48.3%), gastrointestinal infections (20.7%), and musculoskeletal injuries (17.2%).…”