RESUMO
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare workplace conditions and metal exposures in 431 waste pickers who worked nearby at the Estrutural Dump in Brasilia utilizing hair (n = 310) and nail (n = 355) as matrices of exposure. Waste pickers were grouped according to their workplace (open waste dump: G1 and sorting plants: G2). Hair and nail samples were collected and analyzed using ICP-MS. The work duration in the facilities was significantly different between the groups with averages of 16.46 (8.48) yrs and 9.26 (6.28) yrs for hair donors in G1 and G2, and 15.92 (7.72) yrs and 8.55 (5.77) yrs for toenail donors in G1 and G2, respectively. The arithmetic means (µg/g) of cadmium, copper, lead, and manganese in hair were significantly higher in G2 (0.076 ± 0.133; 19.61 ± 18.16; 2.27 ± .56 and 3.87 ± 5.59, respectively) compared to G1 (0.069 ± 0.235; 15.72 ± 15.18; 1.72 ± 4.04 and 3.65 ± 5.5, respectively). Concentrations of arsenic, barium, cadmium, copper, cobalt, lead, manganese, and molybdenum in nail were significantly higher in G2 (0.57 ± 0.39; 22.74 ± 42.06; 0.1 ± 0.08; 22.7 ± 51.60; 0.48 ± 0.45; 4.69 ± 9.43; 19.07 ± 20.75; 1.80 ± 1.76, respectively) compared to G1 (0.40 ± 0.28; 15.32 ± 22.31; 0.08 ± 0.11; 11.91 ± 16.25; 0.37 ± 0.37; 3.94 ± 15.04; 13.01 ± 19.08; 1.16 ± 1.80, respective. Our findings suggest that the studied population was exposed to toxic metals and indicates the need for chemical exposure prevention policies to monitor chemical risk exposures in waste pickers.
Assuntos
Cobre , Eliminação de Resíduos , Cádmio , Manganês , Unhas/química , Brasil , Estudos Transversais , Reciclagem , Metais , Cabelo/químicaRESUMO
This study aimed to analyze the sociodemographic profile, risk factors and health conditions of elderly collectors of recyclable material who worked in an open-air garbage dump, the Structural City Dump in the Federal District, Brazil. The study is cross-sectional and data were collected from a semi-structured instrument, in which sociodemographic, epidemiological and laboratory variables of the research participants were analyzed. The survey demonstrates great vulnerability of this group, highlighting gender differences such as: 64.6% were women, 46.2% were single, 60% reported brown color, 26.2% had more than 4 children, 33.8% had no education level , 52.3 hypertensive and of these 61.9% were women; 83.1% reported exposure to risks with sharp piercing material and 61.5% to contact with decomposing garbage; 56.9% reported accidents with cuts and perforations; 70.8% contact with rodents; 83.1% reported exposure to smoke. This study suggests that the implementation of public and health policies are important to this group, as well as awareness strategies in society, in order to guarantee safe working and living conditions for the health of this population.
Este trabalho objetivou analisar o perfil sociodemográfico, os fatores de risco e as condições de saúde dos idosos catadores de material reciclável que atuavam em um depósito de lixo a céu aberto, o Lixão da cidade Estrutural no Distrito Federal, Brasil. O estudo é transversal e os dados foram coletados a partir de um instrumento semiestruturado, em que foram analisadas variáveis sociodemográficas, epidemiológicas e laboratoriais dos participantes da pesquisa. A pesquisa demonstra grande vulnerabilidade deste grupo, destacando diferenças de gênero como: 64,6% eram mulheres, 46,2% solteiros, 60% referiram cor parda, 26.2 % com mais de 4 filhos, 33,8% sem nenhum grau de escolaridade, 52,3 hipertensos e destes 61,9% são mulheres; 83,1% relataram exposição a riscos com material perfuro cortante e 61,5 % ao contato com lixo em decomposição; 56,9% relataram acidentes com corte e perfuração; 70,8% contato com roedores; 83,1% relataram exposição à fumaça. Este estudo sugere que a implantação de políticas públicas e de saúde são importantes a este grupo, assim como estratégias de sensibilização da sociedade, a fim de garantir condições de trabalho e de vida seguras para a saúde desta população.
