Opportunities and challenges for circular economy in the Maldives: A stakeholder analysis of informal E-waste management in the Greater Malé Region.

In the Maldives, the contribution of the informal sector to e-waste management is significant as a formal e-waste management system is not yet established. The opportunities for advancing the circular economy in the Maldives' e-waste sector rely on the possibility of its formalization. This study aimed to examine the current and anticipated situations of e-waste management in the Greater Malé Region of the Maldives, with a specific focus on formalizing the informal sector. Interviews and questionnaire-based surveys were conducted followed by statistical analysis of the data. The t-test performed for the consumer survey data (n = 202) suggests that formalization encourages consumers to engage with the informal sector, resulting in increased resource recovery. Thematic analysis of interviews conducted with both formal and informal sector stakeholders (n = 17) revealed that the informal sector plays a substantial role in managing e-waste. It also underscored the need for government assistance to enhance safety and productivity in this sector. Various opportunities and challenges for establishing a circular economy in the country were identified, such as the rise in e-waste generation, the presence of an active informal workforce, the lack of sufficient government support, and prevailing stereotypes among consumers regarding informal workers. These findings provide a fresh perspective on the solutions for waste management in the Maldives and open the door to further explore the significance of the informal sector and feasible formalization initiatives. This study could contribute to the literature on the role of the informal sector in waste management in the Maldives and other small island developing states.

Applying social life cycle assessment in the informal recycling sector: Understanding challenges and limitations.

The transition towards Circular Economy (CE) is a promising approach to sustainable development that may cause significant social impacts. Despite the benefits of CE initiatives, key players such as informal recyclers face serious social issues such as poverty, lack of social security, and discrimination. Although evaluating social impacts remains a considerable challenge, Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) is recognized as a suitable methodology with a life cycle perspective. While most SLCA experiences are conducted in the formal sector, it is important to consider the informal sector, which plays a crucial role in developing countries. This article presents an analysis of SLCA studies in informal recycling settings in order to identify the challenges and adjustments required for informal settings. The analysis is based on a literature review and a documentary review of a pilot application of SLCA in the informal recycling system in Cuenca, Ecuador. The results show that SLCA requires adaptation to be applied in informal settings. There are particular challenges in delineating boundaries due to the fuzzy nature and variability of informal activities. Tasks such as establishing specific indicators, developing reference scales and data collection, require careful planning and active stakeholder participation. For instance, indicators regarding Fair Salary or Working hours were adapted based on best practices. Furthermore, tasks such as verifying and disseminating results should be included in interpretation phases to generate long-term impacts and influence behaviors. The study underscores SLCA's multidimensional view but highlights the need for further standardization and adaptation for informal sectors.

Effect of social capital on enrolment of informal sector occupational groups in the national health insurance scheme in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Enrolment of informal sector workers in Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is critical to achieving increased risk-pooling and attainment of Universal Health Coverage. However, the NHIS has struggled over the years to improve enrolment of this subpopulation. This study analysed effect of social capital on enrolment of informal sector workers in the NHIS. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 528 members of hairdressers and beauticians, farmers, and commercial road transport drivers' groups. Descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and multinomial logit regression model were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Social capital including membership in occupational group, trust, and collective action were significantly associated with enrolment in the NHIS, overall. Other factors such as household size, education, ethnicity, and usual source of health care were, however, correlated with both enrolment and dropout. Notwithstanding these factors, the chance of enrolling in the NHIS and staying active was 44.6% higher for the hairdressers and beauticians; the probability of dropping out of the scheme was 62.9% higher for the farmers; and the chance of never enrolling in the scheme was 22.3% higher for the commercial road transport drivers. CONCLUSIONS: Social capital particularly collective action and predominantly female occupational groups are key determinants of informal sector workers' participation in the NHIS. Policy interventions to improve enrolment of this subpopulation should consider group enrolment, targeting female dominated informal sector occupational groups. Further studies should consider inclusion of mediating and moderating variables to provide a clearer picture of the relationship between occupational group social capital and enrolment in health insurance schemes.

Understanding the interplay of occupational, public health, and climate-related risks for informal workers: A new framework with findings from Zimbabwe and India.

Globally, there are 2 billion 'informal' workers, who lack access to social protection while facing profound health risks and socioeconomic exclusions. The informal economy has generated most jobs in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), but few studies have explored informal workers' complex health vulnerabilities, including in the face of climate change. This paper will discuss recent action-research in Indore (India), Harare, and Masvingo (Zimbabwe) with informal workers like vendors, waste-pickers, and urban farmers. We conducted qualitative interviews (N = 110 in India), focus group discussions (N = 207 in Zimbabwe), and a quantitative survey (N = 418 in Zimbabwe). Many informal workers live in informal settlements ('slums'), and we highlight the interrelated health risks at their homes and workplaces. We explore how climate-related threats-including heatwaves, drought, and floods-negatively affect informal workers' health and livelihoods. These challenges often have gender-inequitable impacts. We also analyse workers' individual and collective responses. We propose a comprehensive framework to reveal the drivers of health in the informal economy, and we complement this holistic approach with a new research agenda. Our framework highlights the socioeconomic, environmental, and political determinants of informal workers' health. We argue that informal workers may face difficult trade-offs, due to competing priorities in the face of climate change and other risks. Future interventions will need to recognise informal workers' array of risks and co-develop multifaceted solutions, thereby helping to avoid such impossible choices. We recommend holistic initiatives to foster health and climate resilience, as well as participatory action-research partnerships and qualitative, intersectional data-collection with informal workers.

Religious Belief and Workplace Safety Behavior Among the Informal Automobile Workers in Nigeria.

It is well known that informal workers in developing countries are exposed to occupational health problems (OHPs), and they work unsafely. However, little is known about how their religious beliefs influence their safety behavior at the workplace. This study explores the interaction between the automobile artisans' religious beliefs and their workplace safety behavior. Forty three male artisans (either Christian: n = 17; or Muslim: n = 26) were purposively interviewed. Even though their religious teachings are against risk-taking, the artisans took risks at their workplace. Specific programs like seminars and various outreaches for workers in religious settings influence their perception of OHP prevention. Religious organizations have a role to play in OHP prevention.

Impacts of unconditional cash transfers on health care utilisation in informal sector households in Togo.

BACKGROUND: Most Togolese population earns their income from informal sector, and they are very often exposed to health outcomes. Cash transfers impact healthcare utilization by improving household's social capital, socio-economic status, lifestyle choice, and physical health. The aim of this paper was to analyse the impact of unconditional cash transfers on health care utilisation in informal sector households. METHODS: We used the propensity-score method to compare health care utilisation by households that received cash transfers from nonbeneficiary households and simulated a potential confounder to assess the robustness of the impacts of the estimated treatment (i.e., cash transfer). Data were obtained from a national survey that covered 1405 households. RESULTS: The results show that women benefited the most from cash transfers (73.1%). Our estimates indicate that health care utilisation increased by 28.3% among workers in the informal sectors who benefited from unconditional cash transfers compared to nonbeneficiaries. The greatest impact was found on agriculture households with an increase by 31.3% in the health care utilisation. In general, cash transfer beneficiaries are more likely to use public health centres; there was an increase in public health facility attendance of 21.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Cash transfers are a valuable social protection instrument that improve health care utilisation of populations in the informal sector. Policymakers could use cash transfer as the infusion of income and/or assets that may impact health outcomes. Cash transfers are an opportunity to alleviate barriers of access to health care by older people. Future research must examine impact of cash transfer on health of vulnerable groups such as older people, children, and people with disabilities.

Status of occupational health and safety in the informal sectors in Tanzania: the case of stone quarrying and soil brickmaking.

Objectives. The informal economy in Tanzania, as in many other developing countries, presents numerous workplace safety issues. This study was conducted in stone quarrying (SQ) and soil brickmaking (SBM) sites to assess workers' awareness and perceptions of safety practices, identify common workplace risks and hazards, and evaluate challenges hindering the implementation of workplace safety culture. Methods. A total of 173 workers responded to a semi-structured questionnaire and 15 workers were interviewed. Data were summarized using Stata (version 15). Results. More than 95% of the SQ and SBM workers were exposed to ergonomic hazards and related health risks, due to low awareness (90%) and unavailable leadership structures (>96%) for enforcing and overseeing the implementation of workplace occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations. Conclusion. Due to the lack of regulation and oversight, workers in the informal sector in Tanzania often face hazardous conditions that put their health and safety at risk. Workers use self-intuitions, observations, injuries and near miss incidences to improvise control measures and minimize hazardous risks. This study provides baseline information that can be used for evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation to safeguard workers' safety and health in the informal sectors of Tanzania.

Determinants of retirement of formal and informal sector workers in Mexico: the role of health and economic security.

OBJECTIVE: We examine the socioeconomic and health drivers of retirement decisions and compare these determinants between formal and informal sector workers in Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study 2012 and 2015, we estimate conditional probit models of retirement using sociodemographic, health, health care utilization, health insurance, private pensions, and social security systems covariates. The Institutional Review Board at the University of Southern California reviewed and approved the research (IRB # UP-15-00023). RESULTS: We find that the social security systems are an important determinant for retirement age for formal sector workers. The informal sector workers, who lack access to retirement benefits of the social security system, make retirement decisions mainly based on health and access to health insurance through social security. CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of access to social security benefits, informal sector workers do not respond strongly to socioeconomic factors in determining the timing of retirement. Strengthening access to better health care services could improve health, extend working lives, and promote healthy aging for workers in the informal sector.

Exploring the impact of formal and informal finance on green innovation under the lens of carbon neutrality.

In order to reduce environmental deterioration and promote sustainable growth, green innovation-which includes ecologically friendly technology and practices-has become a top priority of policymakers worldwide. This research investigates how formal and informal finance affects green innovation in highly polluted high, middle-, and low-income economies, using data spanning from 2007 to 2021. For analyzing the empirical link between formal finance, informal finance, and green innovation, we have employed the 2SLS and GMM estimation techniques. The primary estimates of the analysis suggest that formal and informal funding methods significantly impact environment-related technologies in high-income and middle- and low-income nations. Moreover, the GDP, carbon emissions, trade openness, human capital, research and development, financial stability, and digital finance are essential factors in promoting environment-related technologies in high-, middle-, and low-income nations, respectively. The policymakers in both groups of countries should foster collaboration between the formal and informal sectors to promote green innovations, which is essential for achieving sustainable development goals.

Factors affecting access to healthcare for young people in the informal sector in developing countries: a systematic review.

Background: Young people are increasingly seeking employment in the informal sector due to increasing global unemployment. However, the precarious nature of work in the informal sectors, coupled with the high risk of occupational hazards, calls for a greater need for effective healthcare for informal sector workers, particularly young people. In addressing the health vulnerabilities of informal workers, systematic data on the determinants of health is a persistent challenge. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review was to identify and summarise the existing factors that affect access to healthcare among young people from the informal sector. Methods: We searched six data databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Crossref, and Google Scholar), which was followed by hand searching. Then we screened the identified literature using review-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria, extracted data from the included studies and assessed study quality. Then we presented the results in narrative form, though meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity in the study design. Results: After the screening, we retrieved 14 studies. The majority were cross-sectional surveys and were conducted in Asia (n = 9); four were conducted in Africa, and one in South America. Samples ranged in size from 120 to 2,726. The synthesised results demonstrate that problems of affordability, availability, accessibility, and acceptability of healthcare were barriers to young informal workers seeking healthcare. We found social networks and health insurance as facilitators of access for this group of people. Conclusion: To date, this is the most comprehensive review of the evidence on access to healthcare for young people in the informal sector. Our study finding highlights the key gaps in knowledge where future research could further illuminate the mechanisms through which social networks and the determinants of access to healthcare could influence the health and well-being of young people and thus inform policy development.

Potential demand for National Health Insurance in Zimbabwe: Evidence from selected urban informal sector clusters in Harare.

BACKGROUND: Zimbabwe's tax-based healthcare financing model has been characterised by perennial financing deficits and widespread application of user fees and has thus been socially exclusive. The country's urban informal sector population is not spared from these challenges. The study explored the potential demand for National Health Insurance (NHI) among respondents from selected urban informal sector clusters of Harare. The following clusters were targeted: Glenview furniture complex, Harare home industries, Mupedzanhamo flea market, Mbare new wholesale market and Mbare retail market. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 388 respondents from the selected clusters, and data on the determinants of Willingness to Join (WTJ) and Willingness to Pay (WTP) was gathered. Respondents were recruited via a multi-stage sampling procedure. In the first stage, the five informal sector clusters were purposely selected. The second stage involved a proportional allocation of respondents by cluster size. Finally, based on the stalls allocated by municipal authorities in each area, respondents were selected using systematic sampling. The sampling interval (k) was determined by dividing the total number of allocated stalls in a cluster (N) by the sample size proportionate to that cluster (n). For each cluster, the first stall (respondent) was randomly chosen, and thereafter, a respondent from every 10th stall was selected and interviewed at their workplace. Contingent valuation was adopted to elicit WTP. Logit models and interval regression were applied for the econometric analyses. RESULTS: A total of 388 respondents participated in the survey. The dominant informal sector activity among the surveyed clusters was the sale of clothing and shoes (39.2%), followed by the sale of agricultural products (27.1%). Concerning employment status, the majority were own-account workers (73.1%). Most of the respondents (84.8%) completed secondary school. On monthly income from informal sector activities, the highest frequency (37.1%) was observed in the Zw$(1000 to <3000) or US$(28.57 to <85.71) category. The mean age of respondents was 36 years. Out of the 388 respondents, 325 (83.8%) were willing to join the proposed NHI scheme. WTJ was influenced by the following factors: health insurance awareness, health insurance perception, membership to a resource-pooling scheme, solidarity with the sick, and household recently experiencing difficulties paying for healthcare. On average, respondents were willing to pay Zw$72.13 (approximately US$2.06) per person per month. The key determinants of WTP were household size, respondent's education level, income, and health insurance perception. CONCLUSIONS: Since the majority of respondents from the sampled clusters were willing to join and pay for the contributory NHI scheme, it follows that there is potential to implement the scheme for the urban informal sector workers from the clusters studied. However, some issues require careful consideration. The informal sector workers need to be educated on the concept of risk pooling and the benefits of being members of an NHI scheme. Household size and income are factors that require special attention when deciding on the premiums for the scheme. Moreover, given that price instability hurts financial products such as health insurance, there is a need for ensuring macroeconomic stability.

Food insecurity and health outcome nexus: empirical evidence from the informal sector enterprises in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity indicates the difficulty of constantly obtaining adequate food because of limited economic resources. Food insecurity challenges the desired health outcomes. Although extensive literature has examined the associations between food security and health, low-wage informal sector workers have been less frequently addressed in this topic. The present study has focused on food insecurity among the workers working in the informal sector enterprises who experienced entrenched disadvantage during COVID-19 and examines the relationship between food insecurity and health status as measured by self-reported physical and mental health conditions. METHODS: This study has utilized cross-sectional data collected from workers working in informal manufacturing and business enterprises in Dhaka city of Bangladesh. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) with eight items is used to screen for food insecurity, and the Short Form 12v2 (SF12v2) scale with 12 questions, and validated for use with Bengali respondents, is used to measure the health status of the informal workers. A health production function has been constructed where the health status (both physical and mental) of workers is associated with food insecurity and other socio-economic and health care factors. Empirical analyses of the study have included descriptive statistics, mean score comparisons, and multivariate regression analyses to identify the predictive factors of the physical and mental health status of the workers. RESULTS: A moderate to severe food insecurity is found to be responsible for the poor health status (both physical and mental) of the selected working group population. Moreover, age over 40 years, having a large family, dissatisfaction with the work place, and the prevalence of occupational health risks are linked to lower physical health, while dissatisfaction with the work place and the incidence of severe diseases contribute to poor mental health status along with food insecurity. CONCLUSIONS: Extending social and economic protection towards health coverage and basic consumption is suggested as an immediate action to save lives and ensure productivity of the informal workers. Besides, an increase in income and ensuring decent working conditions are also recommended for the health, safety and satisfaction of workers working in informal sector enterprises.

Corruption and informal sector households' participation in health insurance in Sierra Leone.

Lack of credibility and trust in fund managers has been highlighted as one of the key reasons why people do not join health insurance schemes in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Africa. This work investigates the impact of corruption on households' willingness to participate and pay for health insurance in Sierra Leone. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) method was used to elicit households' willingness to participate in a health insurance scheme with different attributes. The data were collected from 1458 representative households working in the informal sector of the Northern and Western regions. We explore the relationship between household characteristics and experienced (respectively, perceived) corruption with binary and ordered logit models. We use a Mixed Logit model to estimate the association between corruption and participation in a Health Insurance Scheme (HIS) and households' willingness to pay for a HIS. We find that corruption decreases participation in a public HIS and the willingness to pay for it. Our results highlight the perverse spillover effects of corruption. Not only does corruption hinder the effectiveness of healthcare systems and, thus, worsen health outcomes. It also undermines the willingness to pay for them, jeopardizing the sustainability of healthcare systems in the countries that need them most.

Confidence in the health system and health insurance enrollment among the informal sector population in Lusaka, Zambia.

BACKGROUND: To improve equitable access to quality essential services and reduce financial hardship, low-and-middle-income countries are increasingly relying on prepayment strategies such as health insurance schemes. Among the informal sector population, confidence in the health system to provide effective treatment and trust in institutions can play an important role in health insurance enrollment. The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which confidence and trust affect enrollment into the recently introduced Zambia National Health insurance. METHODS: We conducted a regionally representative cross-sectional household survey in Lusaka, Zambia collecting information on demographics, health expenditure, ratings of last health facility visit, health insurance status and confidence in the health system. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between enrollment and confidence in the private and public health sector as well as trust in the government in general. RESULTS: Of the 620 respondents interviewed, 70% were enrolled or planning to enroll in the health insurance. Only about one-fifth of respondents were very confident that they would receive effective care in the public health sector 'if they became sick tomorrow' while 48% were very confident in the private health sector. While confidence in the public system was only weakly associated with enrollment, confidence in the private health sector was strongly associated with enrollment (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.40 95% CI 1.73 - 6.68). No association was found between enrollment and trust in government or perceived government performance. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that confidence in the health system, particularly in the private health sector, is strongly associated with health insurance enrollment. Focusing on achieving high quality of care across all levels of the health system may be an effective strategy to increase enrollment in health insurance.

What inhibits the progress of early-career women in Karachi? Studying the effects of socio-spatial mobility barriers on women's employment.

BACKGROUND: There is a widespread acceptance and shift towards sustainable, inclusive and smart mobility solutions around the world. However, in Karachi, poorly coordinated urban planning, lack of effective governance structure and investment in transport, has allowed the growth of an almost unregulated and ungovernable informal transport sector. Women are more severely affected by the poor service since men not only have more space allocated to them on public transport but also have the freedom to use alternative and cheaper private vehicles such as motorbikes and cycles. Poor representation of women in the transport sector further aggravates the situation. OBJECTIVE: The paper aims to highlight the gender-disaggregated effects of poor transport design, provision and lack of personal agency on mobility, for emphasising the social and cultural attitudes faced by female employees. It argues that not integrating the gender-based disadvantages faced by women into planning, reinforces their disadvantaged position and force them to take complex trips. METHODS: Scenario-based questions were designed for focus group discussion which covered not only the everyday mobility challenges but also their reactions to the potential solutions. For a gender-based comparative analysis, two separate focus group discussions were organised. RESULTS: Adopting a sector-based mapping approach of the issues discussed in the groups helped understand the complexity of female user experience at various levels, starting from planning or discussing the trips with families, to making modal choices. It also helped to tease out the impact of these issues on their employment opportunities as early-career women. CONCLUSION: The model proposed in this paper can help illustrate where changes can be made in the system considering the social aspects of transport.

Informal sector employment and the health outcomes of older workers in India.

A large proportion of the older population in India constitutes an undeniable share of workforce after the retirement age. This stresses the need to understand the implications of working at older ages on health outcomes. The main objective of this study is to examine the variations in health outcomes by formal/informal sector of employment of older workers using the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India. Using binary logistic regression models, the results of this study affirm that type of work does play a significant role in determining health outcomes even after controlling socio-economic, demographic, life-style behaviour, childhood health and work characteristics. The risk of Poor Cognitive Functioning (PCF) is high among informal workers, while formal workers suffer greatly from Chronic Health Conditions (CHC) and Functional Limitations (FL). Moreover, the risk of PCF and/or FL among formal workers increases with the increase in risk of CHC. Therefore, the present research study underscores the relevance of policies focusing on providing health and healthcare benefits by respective economic activity and socio-economic position of older workers.

Formal and informal solid waste management in Kutaisi, Georgia: A status quo report based on material flow analysis.

The goal of this study is a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of processes and flows within the solid waste management (WM) system in Kutaisi, Georgia, and the wider Imereti region. The applied methodology based upon data collected through customized questionnaires enabled both the formal and informal sectors (IS) to be characterized. Moreover, waste composition studies in the region's rural and semi-urban areas revealed that the share of recyclables is higher in urban areas and commercial centres. A material flow analysis was used to transparently consolidate the collected data, showing that dumping and landfilling still play a major role within the Georgian WM system. The total amount of waste landfilled on 'Nikea' landfill in 2019 equals 58,000 tonnes year-1, from where around 55,500 tonnes year-1 is formally collected municipal solid waste, and 2,503 tonnes year-1 is commercial and industrial waste. According to the findings, the size of the IS in Kutaisi is 0.07-0.15% of the city's population, whose supposed cumulative income is estimated GEL 0.57-1.13 million (EUR 180-360 thousand) in 2019. Informally collected recyclables are estimated 870-1,750 tonnes year-1, comprising 6-11% of recyclables landfilled in Kutaisi in 2019. The study provides a basis for decision-makers. Replicating the applied methodologies and approaches to create this sound database could support the WM system across whole Georgia. The study further reveals the importance of the need to stop neglecting the IS and recognizes the importance of its role in the WM system of Kutaisi and the wider Imereti region, respectively.

Environmental impact of e-waste management in Indian microscale informal sectors.

Inappropriate e-waste processing in the informal sector is a serious issue in developing countries. Field investigations in microscale informal recycling sites have been performed to study the impact of hazardous metal(loid)s (released from e-waste dismantling) on the environment (water and soil). Eight hazardous metal(loid)s (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, As, Hg, Ni, and Cr) were primarily found in the monitored water and soil samples (Sangrampur, West Bengal) because of widespread informal e-waste handling and primitive processing. Elevated concentrations of Cd, Pb, As, Cu, and Cr were observed in pond water samples (0.04, 1.62, 0.03, 1.40, 1.74 mg/L respectively). These ponds, which are regularly used for e-waste handling/dismantling, are usually flooded during the monsoon season mixing with further larger water resources - posing a serious threat to public health. Enriched levels of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn were detected in collected soil samples, both top surface soil (Pb up to 2042.27 ± 206.80, Cd up to 25.90 ± 9.53, Cu up to 6967.30 ± 711.70, and Zn up to 657.10 ± 67.05 mg/Kg) and deeper subsurface soil (Pb, 419.70 ± 44.70; Cd, 18.34 ± 3.81; Cu, 3928.60 ± 356.40; and Zn, 134.40 ± 33.40 mg/Kg), compared to the levels of As, Hg, Ni, and Cr. Seasonal variation of soil metal(loid) content indicated that higher levels of most of the metal(loids) were detected in the pre-monsoon (Nov-May) season, possibly due to the monsoonal dilution effect, except for Pb and Cd. The results highlighted that the composition and the handling of e-waste were important factors affecting the metal(loid) concentrations. E-waste policy and legislation have great influence on the handling and disposal procedures. An improved e-waste management practice has been proposed to encourage eco-friendly and safe e-waste disposal. It is recommended that regulatory agencies and manufacturers should create a road map to convince the informal sector to develop a systematic approach towards a more standardized formal e-waste management practices at the microscale field level.

Concentrações de metais em poeira depositada em casas de trabalhadores informais e domiciliares da cadeia produtiva de joias e bijuterias de Limeira, SP: avaliação de risco à saúde infantil / Metal concentrations in dust deposited in the homes of informal and home-based workers in the jewelry and fashion jewelry production of Limeira, SP: risk assessment for children's health

Introdução: O trabalho informal é acompanhado de diversas particularidades, além do manuseio de produtos químicos sem equipamentos adequados, pode acontecer a exposição passiva de familiares ou amigos próximos, como por exemplo as crianças. Na cidade de Limeira, no interior de São Paulo, há a produção informal de joias e bijuterias, envolvendo atividades que vão desde a montagem de peças até a solda. Objetivos: este estudo avaliou a exposição de crianças à poeiras contendo metais, nas residências de trabalhadores informais e domiciliares da cadeia produtiva de joias e bijuterias de Limeira. Método: foram coletadas amostras de poeira com lenços eletrostáticos em 21 domicílios do grupo exposto e 23 do grupo controle e determinados os Elementos Potencialmente Tóxicos (EPT) Cr, Sn, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb e As, nos ambientes. As análises foram realizadas no Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo (IPT), por ICP-MS. Também, foram cedidos os resultados das concentrações de EPT no sangue de uma subamostra de crianças, presentes na população de estudo, pela coordenadora do projeto (KPKO). Resultados: As concentrações de Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd e Sn na poeira doméstica foram significativamente maiores no grupo exposto (<0,05), assim como as concentrações de Pb e Cd no sangue das crianças do grupo exposto (<0,05). As concentrações de EPT na poeira doméstica e no sangue das crianças apresentaram correlação moderada para Cr (Coeficiente de Correlação de Spearman (Rho) 0,40), Zn (Rho -0,43) e As (Rho 0,40), e uma forte correlação para Cd (Rho 0,80) (p <0,05). Conclusões: Os resultados do estudo apontaram riscos para a exposição infantil ao Cd, As e Cr durante a produção informal e doméstica de joias e bijuterias, salientando a importância de proteger a saúde infantil através da promoção de ações de segurança. Adicionalmente, os lenços eletrostáticos se mostraram ferramentas de baixo custo e eficazes para avaliação da exposição a EPT.

Introduction: Informal work is followed by several particularities, besides the handling of chemicals without proper equipment, there may happen the passive exposure of family members or close friends, such as children. In the city of Limeira, in the interior of São Paulo, there is informal jewelry production, involving activities ranging from assembling pieces to welding. Objectives: This study evaluated the exposure of children to dust containing metals in the homes of informal and home-based workers in the jewelry production industry in Limeira. Method: dust samples were collected with electrostatic cloths from 21 households in the exposed group and 23 in the control group, and the Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE) Cr, Sn, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and As were determined in the environments. The analyses were carried out at the Technological Research Institute of the State of São Paulo (IPT), by ICP-MS. Also, the results of PTE concentrations in the blood of a subsample of children, present in the study population, were provided by the project coordinator (KPKO). Results: Concentrations of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Sn in household dust were significantly higher in the exposed group (<0.05), as were concentrations of Pb and Cd in the blood of children in the exposed group (<0.05). PTE concentrations in house dust and children's blood showed moderate correlation for Cr (Spearman's Correlation Coefficient (Rho) 0.40), Zn (Rho -0.43) and As (Rho 0.40), and a strong correlation for Cd (Rho 0.80) (p <0.05). Conclusions: The results of the study indicated risks for children's exposure to Cd, As and Cr during informal, domestic jewelry production, highlighting the importance of protecting children's health by promoting safety actions. Additionally, electrostatic cloths proved to be low-cost and effective tools for assessing exposure to PTE.