Abstract
The occupational exposure to mercury (Hg) was assessed in four cooperatives of recyclable materials by air sampling in nine areas (recyclable materials pile, scale, baling press machine, e-waste room, cafeteria, office, forklift, conveyor belt, and outside patio). Of the 83 samples, only 14.5% showed concentrations above the limit of quantification (LOQ) while 53% were between the LOD (limit of detection) and LOQ. Most values > LOQ occurred at Cooperative A, at the pile (0.032 μg.m-3) and scale (0.029 μg.m-3). The higher values recorded at this Cooperative might be associated with the unloading of fluorescent lamps on the day of sampling. In cooperative B, the concentration was 0.033 μg.m-3 on the conveyor belt and < 0.003 µg.m-3 in other areas. In cooperatives C and D, all samples showed values < 0.007 μg.m-3. The Hg concentrations were low in areas of e-waste handling and storage, probably due to the small amount of material and way of processing. The results were below the occupational reference values, showing that the workers are not exposed to Hg. However, the sampling design might not have been comprehensive due to the discontinuity of the e-waste processing and the unpredictable occurrence of fluorescent lamps mixed with recyclable materials .
Highlights
The concern with the generation and disposal of solid waste in Brazil has grown considerably during the last decades
Cooperative A had the highest number of samples with values > limit of quantification (LOQ) (N = 9) and no value < limit of detection (LOD)
Cooperatives B and C showed similar patterns, with a predominance of concentrations between LOD and LOQ, and values > LOQ were only observed in the conveyor belt in both cooperatives
Summary
The concern with the generation and disposal of solid waste in Brazil has grown considerably during the last decades. The increased generation, the lack of management policy for these residues and the existence of a significant portion of the population living in poverty led to the emergence of the recyclable material collector decades ago. Recent estimates point out to the existence of around 380,000 people surviving from the collection, processing and sale of recyclable materials[3] This profession was consolidated following the approval of the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS) in 2010, which proposed the allocation of federal and state resources to the municipalities to carry out a work of integration and training of waste pickers, fostering the establishment and development of cooperatives or other forms of association[4]. The city of São Paulo has 23 covenanted cooperatives of recyclable material and eight certified cooperatives, working together with the municipality in the Selective Collection Program, besides two mechanized plants[5]
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