PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
UNASSIGNED: E-waste workers in Hong Kong are handling an unprecedented amount of e-waste, which contains various neurotoxic chemicals. However, no study has been conducted to evaluate the neurological health status of e-waste workers in Hong Kong. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of neurobehavioral alterations and to identify the vulnerable groups among Hong Kong e-waste workers.
UNASSIGNED: We recruited 109 Hong Kong e-waste workers from June 2021 to September 2022. Participants completed standard questionnaires and wore a GENEActiv accelerometer for seven days. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Questionnaire 16/18 (Q16/18) were used to assess subjective neurobehavioral alterations. The GENEActiv data generated objective sleep and circadian rhythm variables. Workers were grouped based on job designation and entity type according to the presumed hazardous level. Unconditional logistic regression models measured the associations of occupational characteristics with neurobehavioral alterations after adjusting for confounders.
UNASSIGNED: While dismantlers/repairers and the workers in entities not funded by the government were more likely to suffer from neurotoxic symptoms in Q18 (adjusted odds ratio: 3.18 [1.18-9.39] and 2.77 [1.10-7.46], respectively), the workers from self-sustained recycling facilities also have poor performances in circadian rhythm. Results also showed that the dismantlers/repairers working in entities not funded by the government had the highest risk of neurotoxic symptoms compared to the lowest-risk group (i.e., workers in government-funded companies with other job designations).
UNASSIGNED: This timely and valuable study emphasizes the importance of improving the working conditions for high-risk e-waste workers, especially the dismantlers or repairers working in facilities not funded by the government.
UNASSIGNED: We recruited 109 Hong Kong e-waste workers from June 2021 to September 2022. Participants completed standard questionnaires and wore a GENEActiv accelerometer for seven days. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Questionnaire 16/18 (Q16/18) were used to assess subjective neurobehavioral alterations. The GENEActiv data generated objective sleep and circadian rhythm variables. Workers were grouped based on job designation and entity type according to the presumed hazardous level. Unconditional logistic regression models measured the associations of occupational characteristics with neurobehavioral alterations after adjusting for confounders.
UNASSIGNED: While dismantlers/repairers and the workers in entities not funded by the government were more likely to suffer from neurotoxic symptoms in Q18 (adjusted odds ratio: 3.18 [1.18-9.39] and 2.77 [1.10-7.46], respectively), the workers from self-sustained recycling facilities also have poor performances in circadian rhythm. Results also showed that the dismantlers/repairers working in entities not funded by the government had the highest risk of neurotoxic symptoms compared to the lowest-risk group (i.e., workers in government-funded companies with other job designations).
UNASSIGNED: This timely and valuable study emphasizes the importance of improving the working conditions for high-risk e-waste workers, especially the dismantlers or repairers working in facilities not funded by the government.
摘要：
■香港的电子废物工人正在处理前所未有的电子废物，其中含有各种神经毒性化学物质。然而,没有进行任何研究来评估香港电子废物工人的神经系统健康状况。这项研究旨在评估神经行为改变的患病率，并确定香港电子垃圾工人中的弱势群体。
■从2021年6月至2022年9月，我们招募了109名香港电子垃圾工人。参与者完成标准问卷并佩戴GENEActiv加速度计7天。匹兹堡睡眠质量指数和问卷16/18（Q16/18）用于评估主观神经行为改变。GENEActiv数据产生客观的睡眠和昼夜节律变量。根据假定的危险水平，根据工作名称和实体类型对工人进行分组。非条件逻辑回归模型在校正混杂因素后测量了职业特征与神经行为改变的关联。
■在第18季度，拆迁人/修理工和非政府资助实体的工人更有可能出现神经毒性症状（调整后的比值比：3.18[1.18-9.39]和2.77[1.10-7.46]，分别)，来自自我维持的回收设施的工人在昼夜节律方面也表现不佳。结果还显示，与风险最低的人群相比，在非政府资助的实体中工作的拆除者/维修者出现神经毒性症状的风险最高（即，政府资助公司的工人，有其他工作指定)。
■这项及时而有价值的研究强调了改善高风险电子垃圾工人工作条件的重要性，特别是在非政府资助的设施中工作的拆除者或修理者。
■从2021年6月至2022年9月，我们招募了109名香港电子垃圾工人。参与者完成标准问卷并佩戴GENEActiv加速度计7天。匹兹堡睡眠质量指数和问卷16/18（Q16/18）用于评估主观神经行为改变。GENEActiv数据产生客观的睡眠和昼夜节律变量。根据假定的危险水平，根据工作名称和实体类型对工人进行分组。非条件逻辑回归模型在校正混杂因素后测量了职业特征与神经行为改变的关联。
■在第18季度，拆迁人/修理工和非政府资助实体的工人更有可能出现神经毒性症状（调整后的比值比：3.18[1.18-9.39]和2.77[1.10-7.46]，分别)，来自自我维持的回收设施的工人在昼夜节律方面也表现不佳。结果还显示，与风险最低的人群相比，在非政府资助的实体中工作的拆除者/维修者出现神经毒性症状的风险最高（即，政府资助公司的工人，有其他工作指定)。
■这项及时而有价值的研究强调了改善高风险电子垃圾工人工作条件的重要性，特别是在非政府资助的设施中工作的拆除者或修理者。
