Urban solid waste and collectors of recyclable materials: Health, work and the environment

• Grant number: 14/50005-1
• Support type: Research Grants - Research in Public Policies for the National Health Care System (PP-SUS)
• Duration: July 01, 2014 - March 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Cooperation agreement: CNPq - PPSUS
• Principal researcher: Nelson da Cruz Gouveia
• Grantee: Nelson da Cruz Gouveia
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Solid waste has become one of the most serious environmental issues of nowadays, since its inadequate management has serious consequences to the environment and to the health of the population and the professionals most directly involved, as the waste pickers. These professionals, besides experiencing exclusion processes in the course of their working life, are also subject to various health risks due to chemical and biological contamination and accidents caused by poor working conditions. With the enactment of the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS), there is a need to develop specific research and analysis in this interdisciplinary field to support the implementation and regulation of this policy. The lack of knowledge about the current situation on the work processes of recycling, as well as the health risks faced by waste pickers, prevents the formulation of appropriate public policies and the implementation of actions aimed at bringing improvements in the work process and minimizes or eliminates health risks. Therefore, this research project aims to understand the work of organized waste pickers, considering aspects related to environmental conditions, health and work safety. Qualitative and quantitative techniques, epidemiologic study as well as environmental measurements will be used, so that the results may provide a better articulation of the different actors, public policies and practices to propose improvements in health and work conditions under the perspective of health promotion, as well as identifying integrated solutions for the working process of this professional category. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE SOUZA, GISELE FERREIRA; MUTO, ELIZABETI YURIKO; NASCIMENTO, FELIPE PARRA; GOUVEIA, NELSON. Prevalence and factors associated with respiratory diseases and diarrhea in recyclable material cooperative workers in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil: a cross-sectional study, 2013. EPIDEMIOLOGIA E SERVICOS DE SAUDE, v. 29, n. 3 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.