Heart Rate, Stress, and Occupational Noise Exposure among Electronic Waste Recycling Workers

Bibliographic Data

ID15470291
AuthorsKatrina Burns (University of Michigan), Kan Sun (0000-0001-9929-9791, University of Michigan), Julius N Fobil (0000-0003-3079-5337, University of Ghana), Richard Neitzel (0000-0001-5500-2589, University of Michigan, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume13
Issue1
Pages140-140
Publication date2016-01-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph13010140
PMID26797626
OpenAlexW2279391930
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited47

Electronic waste (e-waste) is a growing occupational and environmental health issue around the globe. E-waste recycling is a green industry of emerging importance, especially in low-and middle-income countries where much of this recycling work is performed, and where many people's livelihoods depend on this work. The occupational health hazards of e-waste recycling have not been adequately explored. We performed a cross-sectional study of noise exposures, heart rate, and perceived stress among e-waste recycling workers at a large e-waste site in Accra, Ghana. We interviewed 57 workers and continuously monitored their individual noise exposures and heart rates for up to 24 h. More than 40% of workers had noise exposures that exceeded recommended occupational (85 dBA) and community (70 dBA) noise exposure limits, and self-reported hearing difficulties were common. Workers also had moderate to high levels of perceived stress as measured via Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale, and reported a variety of symptoms that could indicate cardiovascular disease. Noise exposures were moderately and significantly correlated with heart rate (Spearman's ρ 0.46, p < 0.001). A mixed effects linear regression model indicated that a 1 dB increase in noise exposure was associated with a 0.17 increase in heart rate (p-value = 0.01) even after controlling for work activities, age, smoking, perceived stress, and unfavorable physical working conditions. These findings suggest that occupational and non-occupational noise exposure is associated with elevations in average heart rate, which may in turn predict potential cardiovascular damage

Environmental health · Noise (video · Occupational safety and health · Occupational stress · Advanced battery technologies research · Medicine · Noise Effects and Management · Sustainable Building Design and Assessment

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access