Adverse Health Effects among Household Waste Collectors in Taiwan

Household waste collectors (HWCs) are potentially exposed to a variety of bioaerosols and toxic materials. Collection of household waste is also a job which requires repeated heavy physical activity such as lifting, carrying, pulling, and pushing. The object of this study was to assess whether there...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental research 2001-03, Vol.85 (3), p.195-199
Main Authors: Yang, Chun-Yuh, Chang, Wen-Tzong, Chuang, Hung-Yi, Tsai, Shang-Shyue, Wu, Trong-Neng, Sung, Fung-Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Air Pollution - adverse effects
Biological and medical sciences
Female
household waste collectors
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
musculoskeletal complaints
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
occupational epidemiology
Occupational medicine
Prevalence
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Refuse Disposal
respiratory symptoms
respiratory tract diseases
Taiwan - epidemiology
Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology
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Summary:Household waste collectors (HWCs) are potentially exposed to a variety of bioaerosols and toxic materials. Collection of household waste is also a job which requires repeated heavy physical activity such as lifting, carrying, pulling, and pushing. The object of this study was to assess whether there is an excess of adverse health outcomes among HWCs. The subjects were all current employees of the Household Waste Collection Department in the County of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The survey questionnaire was completed by 533 HWCs and 320 office workers. Our data indicate that household waste collection presents a risk for the development of chronic respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm, wheezing, and chronic bronchitis), musculoskeletal symptoms (low back pain and elbow/wrist pain), and injuries caused by sharp objects.
ISSN:0013-9351
1096-0953
DOI:10.1006/enrs.2000.4235