Effect of Particulate Matter Exposure on Respiratory Health of e-Waste Workers at Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana

Afua Asabea Amoabeng Nti, John Arko-Mensah, Paul K. Botwe, Duah Dwomoh, Lawrencia Kwarteng, Sylvia Akpene Takyi, Augustine Appah Acquah, Prudence Tettey, Niladri Basu, Stuart Batterman, Thomas G. Robins and Julius N. Fobil
Additional contact information
Afua Asabea Amoabeng Nti: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13 Accra, Ghana
John Arko-Mensah: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13 Accra, Ghana
Paul K. Botwe: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13 Accra, Ghana
Duah Dwomoh: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13 Accra, Ghana
Lawrencia Kwarteng: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13 Accra, Ghana
Sylvia Akpene Takyi: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13 Accra, Ghana
Augustine Appah Acquah: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13 Accra, Ghana
Prudence Tettey: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13 Accra, Ghana
Niladri Basu: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
Stuart Batterman: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
Thomas G. Robins: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
Julius N. Fobil: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13 Accra, Ghana

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Background : Direct and continuous exposure to particulate matter (PM), especially in occupational settings is known to impact negatively on respiratory health and lung function. Objective : To determine the association between concentrations of PM (2.5, 2.5–10 and 10 µm) in breathing zone and lung function of informal e-waste workers at Agbogbloshie. Methods : To evaluate lung function responses to PM (2.5, 2.5–10 and 10 µm), we conducted a longitudinal cohort study with three repeated measures among 207 participants comprising 142 healthy e-waste workers from Agbogbloshie scrapyard and 65 control participants from Madina-Zongo in Accra, Ghana from 2017–2018. Lung function parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, and FEF 25-75) and PM (2.5, 2.5–10 and 10 µm) concentrations were measured, corresponding to prevailing seasonal variations. Socio-demographic data, respiratory exposures and lifestyle habits were determined using questionnaires. Random effects models were then used to examine the effects of PM (2.5, 2.5–10 and 10 µm) on lung function. Results : The median concentrations of PM (2.5, 2.5–10 and 10 µm) were all consistently above the WHO ambient air standards across the study waves. Small effect estimates per IQR of PM (2.5, 2.5–10 and 10 µm) on lung function parameters were observed even after adjustment for potential confounders. However, a 10 µg increase in PM (2.5, 2.5–10 and 10 µm) was associated with decreases in PEF and FEF 25–75 by 13.3% % [β = −3.133; 95% CI: −0.243, −0.022) and 26.6% [β = −0.266; 95% CI: −0.437, 0.094]. E-waste burning and a history of asthma significantly predicted a decrease in PEF by 14.2% [β = −0.142; 95% CI: −0.278, −0.008) and FEV1 by 35.8% [β = −0.358; 95% CI: −0.590, 0.125] among e-waste burners. Conclusions : Direct exposure of e-waste workers to PM predisposes to decline in lung function and risk for small airway diseases such as asthma and COPD.

Keywords: PM exposure; breathing zone; informal e-waste workers; Agbogbloshie; lung function; longitudinal study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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