E-waste management: A review of recycling process, environmental and occupational health hazards, and potential solutions

Improper biomedical wastes management could lead to health risks and environmental hazards. The study aimed to evaluate the health risks of improper biomedical wastes management among health workers. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 health workers across private and public hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria, using a self-developed and administered questionnaire. Analysis of the data involved descriptive and inferential statistics. The Nurses were the predominant respondents (28%), and many respondents had bachelor’s degree qualifications (86%). The respondents agreed that health workers are exposed to several health risks following poor handling of biomedical wastes from the point of generation, transport, treatment, and disposal. The study revealed satisfactory practices of precautionary measures while experience, gender, and type of hospital were significantly associated with the transmission of blood-borne infections such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) through needle pricks and injuries from sharps (p<0.0001). Gender and hospital type were significantly related to environmental pollution (p<0.0001), and work experience was significantly linked to water and foodborne infections such as cholera and typhoid (p<0.0003). Work experience and hospital type were significantly associated with the public health risks of improper biomedical wastes management (p<0.0001). Training of health workers on appropriate safety procedures of biomedical waste management is essential to prevent occupational health hazards, achieve a safe working environment, and efficient health service delivery. Government and hospital management should enforce appropriate safety measures. Keywords: Biomedical Wastes, Health Risks, Infections, Injuries, Occupational Health Hazards.

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Assessment of Occupational Health Hazards from Photocopying Machines

International Journal of Innovative Research and Development ◽

10.24940/ijird/2017/v6/i4/apr17053 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ogobiri Ebikabowei Godwin ◽

Opuaye Reginald

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

Health Hazards

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Occupational health hazards among mortuary attendants at ndola teaching and arthur davison children’s hospitals

Asian Pacific Journal of Health Sciences ◽

10.21276/apjhs.2017.4.3.14 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 88-94

Author(s):

Mercy Litana ◽

◽

Chishala Kapambwe ◽

Keyword(s):

Occupational Health ◽

Health Hazards ◽

Children's Hospitals ◽

Children’S Hospitals

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Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (CCREOH) Cohort Study: influences of complex environmental exposures on maternal and child health in Suriname

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034702 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e034702

Author(s):

Wilco Zijlmans ◽

Jeffrey Wickliffe ◽

Ashna Hindori-Mohangoo ◽

Sigrid MacDonald-Ottevanger ◽

Paul Ouboter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Occupational Health ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Environmental Exposures ◽

International Standards ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

The Impact ◽

Environmental And Occupational Health

PurposeThe Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health prospective environmental epidemiologic cohort study addresses the impact of chemical and non-chemical environmental exposures on mother/child dyads in Suriname. The study determines associations between levels of environmental elements and toxicants in pregnant women, and birth outcomes and neurodevelopment in their children.ParticipantsPregnant women (N=1143) were enrolled from December 2016 to July 2019 from three regions of Suriname: Paramaribo (N=738), Nickerie (N=204) and the tropical rainforest interior (N=201). Infants (N=992) were enrolled at birth. Follow-up will take place until children are 48 months old.Findings to dateBiospecimens and questionnaire data on physiological and psychosocial health in pregnant women have been analysed. 39.1% had hair mercury (Hg) levels exceeding values considered safe by international standards. Median hair Hg concentrations in women from Paramaribo (N=522) were 0.64 µg/g hair (IQRs 0.36–1.09; range 0.00–7.12), from Nickerie (N=176) 0.73 µg/g (IQR 0.45–1.05; range 0.00–5.79) and the interior (N=178) 3.48 µg/g (IQR 1.92–7.39; range 0.38–18.20). 96.1% of women ate fish, respective consumption of the three most consumed carnivorous species, Hoplias aimara, Serrasalmus rhombeus and Cichla ocellaris, known to have high Hg levels, was 44.4%, 19.3% and 26.3%, respectively, and was greater among the interior subcohort. 89% frequently consumed the vegetable tannia, samples of which showed presence of worldwide banned pesticides. 24.9% of pregnant women had Edinburgh Depression Scale scores indicative of probable depression.Future plansFish consumption advisories are in development, especially relevant to interior women for whom fish consumption is likely to be the primary source of Hg exposure. Effects of potentially beneficial neuroprotective factors in fish that may counter neurotoxic effects of Hg are being examined. A pesticide literacy assessment in pregnant women is in progress. Neurodevelopmental assessments and telomere length measurements of the children to evaluate long-term effects of prenatal exposures to toxicant mixtures are ongoing.

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