COLLECTION OF DOMESTIC WASTE - REVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL-HEALTH PROBLEMSAND THEIR POSSIBLE CAUSES

During the last decade, a growing interest in recycling of domestic wa ste has emerged, and action plans to increase the recycling of domesti c waste have been agreed by many governments. A common feature of thes e plans is the implementation of new systems and equipment for the col lection of domestic waste which has been separated at source. However, only limited information exists on possible occupational health probl ems related to such new systems. Occupational accidents are very frequ ent among waste collectors. Based on current knowledge, it appears tha t the risk factors should be considered as an integrated entity, i.e. technical factors (poor accessibility to the waste, design of equipmen t) may act in concert with high working rate, visual fatigue due to po or illumination and perhaps muscle fatigue due to high work load. Musc uloskeletal problems are also common among waste collectors. A good de al of knowledge has accumulated on mechanical load on the spine and en ergetic load on the cardio-pulmonary system in relation to the handlin g of waste bags, bins, domestic containers and large containers. Howev er, epidemiologic studies with exposure classification based on field measurement are needed, both to further identify high risk work condit ions and to provide a detailed basis for the establishment of occupati onal exposure limits for mechanical and energetic load particularly in relation to pulling, pushing and tilting of containers. In 1975, an e xcess risk for chronic bronchitis was reported for waste collectors in Geneva (Rufener-Press et al., 1975) and data from the Danish Registry of Occupational Accidents and Diseases also indicate an excess risk f or pulmonary problems among waste collectors compared with the total w ork force. Surprisingly few measurements of potentially hazardous airb orne exposures have been performed, and the causality of work-related pulmonary problems among waste collectors is unknown. Recent studies h ave indicated that implementation of some new waste collection systems may result in an increased risk of occupational health problems. High incidence rates of gastrointestinal problems, irritation of the eye a nd skin, and perhaps symptoms of organic dust toxic syndrome (influenz a-like symptoms, cough, muscle pains, fever, fatigue, headache) have b een reported among workers collecting the biodegradable fraction of do mestic waste. The few data available on exposure to bio-aerosols and v olatile compounds have indicated that these waste collectors may be si multaneously exposed to multiple agents such as dust containing bacter ia, endotoxin, mould spores, glucans, volatile organic compounds, and diesel exhaust. Several studies have reported similar health problems as well as high incidence rates of pulmonary diseases among workers at plants recycling domestic waste. Large scale research activities incl uding surveys and analytical epidemiologic studies are needed to ident ify the actual causes of these occupational diseases aiming at the pre vention of occupational health problems when new waste collection syst ems are implemented.