Municipal solid waste management at Chennai in southern India – an occupational health perspective

Abstract

The reasonable concern of India is the health of municipal solid waste (MSW) workers (rag pickers in particular) who scavenge recyclables. A study was conducted among the conservancy staff and rag pickers to examine the occupational health of MSW workers in India. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the rag pickers, conservancy staff and residents through a questionnaire survey. The health evaluation was performed using a combination of a detailed medical history, clinical examinations, blood investigations, pulmonary function tests, X-rays and serology on all associated workers. Pulmonary function test results were significantly lower than predicted for both male and female study groups, viz. residents, rag pickers and conservancy workers. Most significant among the findings were the high prevalence of eosinophilia and hepatitis B. Prevalence of 8% hepatitis B carriers among conservancy workers points to the imminent need for prophylactic immunizations within this group of conservancy workers. A high prevalence of eosinophilia is not surprising given the multitude of allergen exposures. As compared to permissible biological exposure indices (BEI) in blood (ACGIH 2005), levels of metals were higher than BEIs, viz. mercury in 10% of workers, lead in 15% of workers, chromium in 12% of workers and cadmium in 3% of workers. As a means of organizing MSW management, the role of informal sector in recycling resources was recognized in the latest Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 in India.