Assessment of serological Plasmodium falciparum–specific antibodies in highly endemic areas provi... more Assessment of serological Plasmodium falciparum–specific antibodies in highly endemic areas provides valuable information about malaria status and parasite exposure in the population. Although serological evidence of Plasmodium exposure is commonly determined by Plasmodium-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels; IgM and IgA are likely markers of malaria status that remain relatively unexplored. Previous studies on IgM and IgA responses have been based on their affinity for single antigens with shortage of immune responses analysis against the whole Plasmodium proteome. Here, we provide evidence of how P. falciparum infection triggers the production of specific IgM and IgA in plasma and its relationship with parasite density and changes in hematological parameters. A total of 201 individuals attending a hospital in Breman Asikuma, Ghana, were recruited into this study. Total and P. falciparum–specific IgM, IgA, and IgG were assessed by ELISA and examined in relation to age (0–5, 14–4...
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to substantial interruptions in critical health services,... more BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to substantial interruptions in critical health services, with 90% of countries reporting interruptions in routine vaccinations, maternal health care and chronic disease management. The use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as lockdowns and self-isolation had implications on the provision of essential health services (EHS). We investigated exemplary COVID-19 outbreak control strategies and explored the extent to which the adoption of these NPIs affected the provision of EHS including immunization coverage and facility-based deliveries. Finally, we document core health system strategies and practices adopted to maintain EHS during the early phase of the pandemic.MethodsThis study used an explanatory sequential study design. First, we utilized data from routine health management information systems to quantify the impact of the pandemic on the provision of EHS using interrupted time series models. Second, we explored exemplary stra...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling in Africa has become a major public health concern.... more Informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling in Africa has become a major public health concern. This review examined studies that report on the association between e-waste exposure and adverse human health outcomes in Africa. The review was conducted following the updated version of the Preferred Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA 2020) statement checklist. We included papers that were original peer-reviewed epidemiological studies and conference papers, written in English, and reported on e-waste exposure among human populations and any health-related outcome in the context of Africa. Our results from the evaluation of 17 studies found an association between informal e-waste recycling methods and musculoskeletal disease (MSD) symptoms and physical injuries such as back pains, lacerations, eye problems, skin burns, and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). In addition, the generation and release of particulate matter (PM) of various sizes, and toxic and essential m...
Objectvies This study is aimed at establishing reference intervals (RIs) of 40 chemistry and immu... more Objectvies This study is aimed at establishing reference intervals (RIs) of 40 chemistry and immunochemistry analytes for Ghanaian adults based on internationally harmonized protocol by IFCC Committee on Reference Intervals and Decision Limits (C-RIDL). Methods A total of 501 healthy volunteers aged ≥18 years were recruited from the northern and southern regions of Ghana. Blood samples were analyzed with Beckman-Coulter AU480 and Centaur-XP/Siemen auto-analyzers. Sources of variations of reference values (RVs) were evaluated by multiple regression analysis (MRA). The need for partitioning RVs by sex and age was guided by the SD ratio (SDR). The RI for each analyte was derived using parametric method with application of the latent abnormal values exclusion (LAVE) method. Results Using SDR≥0.4 as threshold, RVs were partitioned by sex for most enzymes, creatinine, uric acid (UA), bilirubin, immunoglobulin-M. MRA revealed age and body mass index (BMI) as major source of variations of m...
Background Malaria remains one of the most devastating diseases globally, and the control of mosq... more Background Malaria remains one of the most devastating diseases globally, and the control of mosquitoes as the vector is mainly dependent on chemical insecticides. Elevated temperatures associated with future warmer climates could affect mosquitoes' metabolic enzyme expression and increase insecticide resistance, making vector control difficult. Understanding how mosquito rearing temperatures influence their susceptibility to insecticide and expression of metabolic enzymes could aid in the development of novel tools and strategies to control mosquitoes in a future warmer climate. This study evaluated the effects of temperature on the susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) mosquitoes to pyrethroids and their expression of metabolic enzymes. Methods Anopheles gambiae s.l. eggs obtained from laboratory-established colonies were reared under eight temperature regimes (25, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 °C). Upon adult emergence, 3- to 5-day-old female non-blood-fed mo...
Higher temperatures expected in a future warmer climate could adversely affect the growth and dev... more Higher temperatures expected in a future warmer climate could adversely affect the growth and development of mosquitoes. This study investigated the effects of elevated temperatures on longevity, gonotrophic cycle length, biting rate, fecundity, and body size of Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes. Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) eggs obtained from laboratory established colonies were reared under eight temperature regimes (25, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40°C), and 80 ± 10% RH. All adults were allowed to feed on a 10% sugar solution soaked in cotton wool; however, some mosquitoes were provided blood meal using guinea pig. Longevity was estimated for both blood-fed and non-blood-fed mosquitoes and analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. One-way ANOVA was used to test the effect of temperature on gonotrophic cycle length, biting rate, and fecundity. Adult measurement data were log-transformed and analyzed using ordinary least square regression with robust sta...
Introduction. Exposure to electrical and electronic equipment waste (e-waste) has become a growin... more Introduction. Exposure to electrical and electronic equipment waste (e-waste) has become a growing health concern. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of exposure to e-waste on respiratory symptoms and on lung function parameters in workers involved in informal recycling activities in Cotonou city, Benin. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study, in which exposed e-waste workers in Cotonou city were randomly selected. A matching nonexposed group based on age and sex was recruited from the general population. Respiratory symptoms were investigated using a questionnaire adapted from the British Medical Research Council’s standardized respiratory questionnaire. Participants underwent lung function test using a portable spirometer (MIR SPIROBANK). Data were analyzed with STATA version 15 software. Results. The overall prevalence of respiratory symptoms in e-waste workers was statistically higher in the exposed group (33.1% vs. 21.6%; p = 0.027 ). Chest tightness (11.8...
Vital registration systems (VRS) are impor-tant in the collection of routine data on indica-tors ... more Vital registration systems (VRS) are impor-tant in the collection of routine data on indica-tors of development. These are particularly useful if they are properly built to address weaknesses in the system leading to poor data quality. For instance, routine data on health events (e.g. morbidity, mortality etc.) are cru-cial for rapid assessment of disease burden and mortality trends in the population. They are also useful in the identification of vulnera-ble groups in populations. Despite their useful-ness, VRS in many developing countries including Ghana are poorly structured raising questions about the quality of the output data from these systems. The present study aimed at assessing and documenting the structure and function of the VRS in Ghana, as well as at identifying the structural features that poten-tially compromise the reliability and validity of the output data from the Ghanaian VRS. To perform this study, collection and review of pol-icy and legal documents establishin...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Informal e-waste recycling is associated with several health hazards. Thus far, the main focus of... more Informal e-waste recycling is associated with several health hazards. Thus far, the main focus of research in the e-waste sector has been to assess the exposure site, such as the burden of heavy metals or organic pollutants. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the health consequences associated with informal e-waste recycling. A questionnaire-based assessment regarding occupational information, medical history, and current symptoms and complaints was carried out with a group of n = 84 e-waste workers and compared to a control cohort of n = 94 bystanders at the e-waste recycling site Agbogbloshie. E-waste workers suffered significantly more from work-related injuries, back pain, and red itchy eyes in comparison to the control group. In addition, regular drug use was more common in e-waste workers (25% vs. 6.4%). Both groups showed a noticeable high use of pain killers (all workers 79%). The higher frequency of symptoms in the e-waste group can be explained by the spec...
Background Informal electronic waste recycling activities are major contributors to ambient air p... more Background Informal electronic waste recycling activities are major contributors to ambient air pollution, yet studies assessing the effects or relationship between direct/continuous exposure of informal e-waste workers to particulate matter and cardiovascular function are rare. Methods Repeated measurements of fractions of PM2.5, PM10–2.5, and PM10 in personal air of informal e-waste workers, (n = 142) and a comparable group (n = 65) were taken over a period of 20 months (March 2017 to November, 2018). Concurrently, 5-min resting electrocardiogram was performed on each participant to assess resting heart rate variability indices. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the association between PM fractions and cardiac function. Results SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF and LH/HF ratio were all associated with PM. Significant associations were observed for PM2.5 and Mean NN (p = 0.039), PM10 and SDNN (p = 0.035) and PM 10–2.5 and LH/HF (p = 0.039). A 10 μg/m3 increase in the concentrations...
Objectives Inappropriate processing and disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) expose workers and... more Objectives Inappropriate processing and disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) expose workers and surrounding populations to hazardous chemicals, including clastogens and aneugens. Recently, considerable literature has grown around e-waste recycling, associated chemical exposures and intermediate health outcomes, including DNA damage. Micronuclei (MN) frequency has been widely used as a biomarker to investigate DNA damage in human populations exposed to genotoxic agents. We conducted a systematic review of published studies to assess DNA damage in e-waste-exposed populations and performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between e-waste exposure and DNA damage. Methods This systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement checklist. Articles published in English from January 2000 through December 2020 investigating the associations between e-waste exposure and DNA damage ...
Background: Electronic waste recycling processes such as dismantling with rudimentary tools and o... more Background: Electronic waste recycling processes such as dismantling with rudimentary tools and open-air burning result in the release of several toxic chemicals into the environment. Exposure to these toxic chemical mixtures has been associated with many adverse health outcomes affecting respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and reproductive systems. DNA methylation has been associated with exposure to toxic chemicals, including heavy metals in several epidemiological studies. DNA methylation profile due to exposure to toxic chemicals among e-waste recyclers has not been studied.Objective: This study assessed the associations between blood and urine levels of heavy metals; cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) and methylation levels of the LINE1 gene among e-waste and control populations in Ghana.Methods: The study enrolled 100 male e-waste workers and 51 all-male non e-waste workers or controls. Body burden of Cd, Pb and As was measured in blood and urine using Inductivel...
Background: Growing evidence suggests that heavy metals (e.g., cadmium, lead and arsenic) negativ... more Background: Growing evidence suggests that heavy metals (e.g., cadmium, lead and arsenic) negatively influence micronutrient status. Electronic waste (e-waste) recyclers are amongst the highest metals-exposed groups worldwide, though their micronutrient status is yet to be explored. This study therefore assessed the micronutrient status of e-waste recyclers using dietary information and biomarker data. Methods: Micronutrient status of 151 participants (100 e-waste recyclers and 51 controls from the Accra region, Ghana) was assessed in March 2017 using a 2-day 24-hour recall survey and biomarker (blood and urine) levels. Blood and urine levels of iron [Fe], calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], selenium [Se], zinc [Zn] and copper [Cu] were analyzed by ICP-MS. Linear regression models were used to assess associations between work-related factors and sociodemographic characteristics with micronutrient intake, blood and urine micronutrient levels. Results: Dietary Fe and Zn were adequately cons...
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 2019
Electronic waste (e-waste) is a worldwide problem in terms of increasing production rate in the g... more Electronic waste (e-waste) is a worldwide problem in terms of increasing production rate in the global waste stream. Its recycling is known to be associated with adverse health outcomes. The recycling site at Agbogbloshie is a major e-waste recycling hub which presents enormous health threats to the residents in this community as a result of exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals associated with the poor work methods employed. This paper describes the processes involved in e-waste recycling at Agbogbloshie and discusses some of the associated health and psychosocial challenges. Direct field observations and in-depth interviews of eight e-waste workers were conducted from November, 2017 to December, 2017. Results from a thematic analysis of the data gathered; suggest that inappropriate recycling methods, financial constraints, and the high physical demands of e-waste recycling work were associated with adverse musculoskeletal health conditions among the workers. A more systematic ...
Assessment of serological Plasmodium falciparum–specific antibodies in highly endemic areas provi... more Assessment of serological Plasmodium falciparum–specific antibodies in highly endemic areas provides valuable information about malaria status and parasite exposure in the population. Although serological evidence of Plasmodium exposure is commonly determined by Plasmodium-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels; IgM and IgA are likely markers of malaria status that remain relatively unexplored. Previous studies on IgM and IgA responses have been based on their affinity for single antigens with shortage of immune responses analysis against the whole Plasmodium proteome. Here, we provide evidence of how P. falciparum infection triggers the production of specific IgM and IgA in plasma and its relationship with parasite density and changes in hematological parameters. A total of 201 individuals attending a hospital in Breman Asikuma, Ghana, were recruited into this study. Total and P. falciparum–specific IgM, IgA, and IgG were assessed by ELISA and examined in relation to age (0–5, 14–4...
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to substantial interruptions in critical health services,... more BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to substantial interruptions in critical health services, with 90% of countries reporting interruptions in routine vaccinations, maternal health care and chronic disease management. The use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as lockdowns and self-isolation had implications on the provision of essential health services (EHS). We investigated exemplary COVID-19 outbreak control strategies and explored the extent to which the adoption of these NPIs affected the provision of EHS including immunization coverage and facility-based deliveries. Finally, we document core health system strategies and practices adopted to maintain EHS during the early phase of the pandemic.MethodsThis study used an explanatory sequential study design. First, we utilized data from routine health management information systems to quantify the impact of the pandemic on the provision of EHS using interrupted time series models. Second, we explored exemplary stra...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling in Africa has become a major public health concern.... more Informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling in Africa has become a major public health concern. This review examined studies that report on the association between e-waste exposure and adverse human health outcomes in Africa. The review was conducted following the updated version of the Preferred Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA 2020) statement checklist. We included papers that were original peer-reviewed epidemiological studies and conference papers, written in English, and reported on e-waste exposure among human populations and any health-related outcome in the context of Africa. Our results from the evaluation of 17 studies found an association between informal e-waste recycling methods and musculoskeletal disease (MSD) symptoms and physical injuries such as back pains, lacerations, eye problems, skin burns, and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). In addition, the generation and release of particulate matter (PM) of various sizes, and toxic and essential m...
Objectvies This study is aimed at establishing reference intervals (RIs) of 40 chemistry and immu... more Objectvies This study is aimed at establishing reference intervals (RIs) of 40 chemistry and immunochemistry analytes for Ghanaian adults based on internationally harmonized protocol by IFCC Committee on Reference Intervals and Decision Limits (C-RIDL). Methods A total of 501 healthy volunteers aged ≥18 years were recruited from the northern and southern regions of Ghana. Blood samples were analyzed with Beckman-Coulter AU480 and Centaur-XP/Siemen auto-analyzers. Sources of variations of reference values (RVs) were evaluated by multiple regression analysis (MRA). The need for partitioning RVs by sex and age was guided by the SD ratio (SDR). The RI for each analyte was derived using parametric method with application of the latent abnormal values exclusion (LAVE) method. Results Using SDR≥0.4 as threshold, RVs were partitioned by sex for most enzymes, creatinine, uric acid (UA), bilirubin, immunoglobulin-M. MRA revealed age and body mass index (BMI) as major source of variations of m...
Background Malaria remains one of the most devastating diseases globally, and the control of mosq... more Background Malaria remains one of the most devastating diseases globally, and the control of mosquitoes as the vector is mainly dependent on chemical insecticides. Elevated temperatures associated with future warmer climates could affect mosquitoes' metabolic enzyme expression and increase insecticide resistance, making vector control difficult. Understanding how mosquito rearing temperatures influence their susceptibility to insecticide and expression of metabolic enzymes could aid in the development of novel tools and strategies to control mosquitoes in a future warmer climate. This study evaluated the effects of temperature on the susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) mosquitoes to pyrethroids and their expression of metabolic enzymes. Methods Anopheles gambiae s.l. eggs obtained from laboratory-established colonies were reared under eight temperature regimes (25, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 °C). Upon adult emergence, 3- to 5-day-old female non-blood-fed mo...
Higher temperatures expected in a future warmer climate could adversely affect the growth and dev... more Higher temperatures expected in a future warmer climate could adversely affect the growth and development of mosquitoes. This study investigated the effects of elevated temperatures on longevity, gonotrophic cycle length, biting rate, fecundity, and body size of Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes. Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) eggs obtained from laboratory established colonies were reared under eight temperature regimes (25, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40°C), and 80 ± 10% RH. All adults were allowed to feed on a 10% sugar solution soaked in cotton wool; however, some mosquitoes were provided blood meal using guinea pig. Longevity was estimated for both blood-fed and non-blood-fed mosquitoes and analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. One-way ANOVA was used to test the effect of temperature on gonotrophic cycle length, biting rate, and fecundity. Adult measurement data were log-transformed and analyzed using ordinary least square regression with robust sta...
Introduction. Exposure to electrical and electronic equipment waste (e-waste) has become a growin... more Introduction. Exposure to electrical and electronic equipment waste (e-waste) has become a growing health concern. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of exposure to e-waste on respiratory symptoms and on lung function parameters in workers involved in informal recycling activities in Cotonou city, Benin. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study, in which exposed e-waste workers in Cotonou city were randomly selected. A matching nonexposed group based on age and sex was recruited from the general population. Respiratory symptoms were investigated using a questionnaire adapted from the British Medical Research Council’s standardized respiratory questionnaire. Participants underwent lung function test using a portable spirometer (MIR SPIROBANK). Data were analyzed with STATA version 15 software. Results. The overall prevalence of respiratory symptoms in e-waste workers was statistically higher in the exposed group (33.1% vs. 21.6%; p = 0.027 ). Chest tightness (11.8...
Vital registration systems (VRS) are impor-tant in the collection of routine data on indica-tors ... more Vital registration systems (VRS) are impor-tant in the collection of routine data on indica-tors of development. These are particularly useful if they are properly built to address weaknesses in the system leading to poor data quality. For instance, routine data on health events (e.g. morbidity, mortality etc.) are cru-cial for rapid assessment of disease burden and mortality trends in the population. They are also useful in the identification of vulnera-ble groups in populations. Despite their useful-ness, VRS in many developing countries including Ghana are poorly structured raising questions about the quality of the output data from these systems. The present study aimed at assessing and documenting the structure and function of the VRS in Ghana, as well as at identifying the structural features that poten-tially compromise the reliability and validity of the output data from the Ghanaian VRS. To perform this study, collection and review of pol-icy and legal documents establishin...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Informal e-waste recycling is associated with several health hazards. Thus far, the main focus of... more Informal e-waste recycling is associated with several health hazards. Thus far, the main focus of research in the e-waste sector has been to assess the exposure site, such as the burden of heavy metals or organic pollutants. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the health consequences associated with informal e-waste recycling. A questionnaire-based assessment regarding occupational information, medical history, and current symptoms and complaints was carried out with a group of n = 84 e-waste workers and compared to a control cohort of n = 94 bystanders at the e-waste recycling site Agbogbloshie. E-waste workers suffered significantly more from work-related injuries, back pain, and red itchy eyes in comparison to the control group. In addition, regular drug use was more common in e-waste workers (25% vs. 6.4%). Both groups showed a noticeable high use of pain killers (all workers 79%). The higher frequency of symptoms in the e-waste group can be explained by the spec...
Background Informal electronic waste recycling activities are major contributors to ambient air p... more Background Informal electronic waste recycling activities are major contributors to ambient air pollution, yet studies assessing the effects or relationship between direct/continuous exposure of informal e-waste workers to particulate matter and cardiovascular function are rare. Methods Repeated measurements of fractions of PM2.5, PM10–2.5, and PM10 in personal air of informal e-waste workers, (n = 142) and a comparable group (n = 65) were taken over a period of 20 months (March 2017 to November, 2018). Concurrently, 5-min resting electrocardiogram was performed on each participant to assess resting heart rate variability indices. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the association between PM fractions and cardiac function. Results SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF and LH/HF ratio were all associated with PM. Significant associations were observed for PM2.5 and Mean NN (p = 0.039), PM10 and SDNN (p = 0.035) and PM 10–2.5 and LH/HF (p = 0.039). A 10 μg/m3 increase in the concentrations...
Objectives Inappropriate processing and disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) expose workers and... more Objectives Inappropriate processing and disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) expose workers and surrounding populations to hazardous chemicals, including clastogens and aneugens. Recently, considerable literature has grown around e-waste recycling, associated chemical exposures and intermediate health outcomes, including DNA damage. Micronuclei (MN) frequency has been widely used as a biomarker to investigate DNA damage in human populations exposed to genotoxic agents. We conducted a systematic review of published studies to assess DNA damage in e-waste-exposed populations and performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between e-waste exposure and DNA damage. Methods This systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement checklist. Articles published in English from January 2000 through December 2020 investigating the associations between e-waste exposure and DNA damage ...
Background: Electronic waste recycling processes such as dismantling with rudimentary tools and o... more Background: Electronic waste recycling processes such as dismantling with rudimentary tools and open-air burning result in the release of several toxic chemicals into the environment. Exposure to these toxic chemical mixtures has been associated with many adverse health outcomes affecting respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and reproductive systems. DNA methylation has been associated with exposure to toxic chemicals, including heavy metals in several epidemiological studies. DNA methylation profile due to exposure to toxic chemicals among e-waste recyclers has not been studied.Objective: This study assessed the associations between blood and urine levels of heavy metals; cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) and methylation levels of the LINE1 gene among e-waste and control populations in Ghana.Methods: The study enrolled 100 male e-waste workers and 51 all-male non e-waste workers or controls. Body burden of Cd, Pb and As was measured in blood and urine using Inductivel...
Background: Growing evidence suggests that heavy metals (e.g., cadmium, lead and arsenic) negativ... more Background: Growing evidence suggests that heavy metals (e.g., cadmium, lead and arsenic) negatively influence micronutrient status. Electronic waste (e-waste) recyclers are amongst the highest metals-exposed groups worldwide, though their micronutrient status is yet to be explored. This study therefore assessed the micronutrient status of e-waste recyclers using dietary information and biomarker data. Methods: Micronutrient status of 151 participants (100 e-waste recyclers and 51 controls from the Accra region, Ghana) was assessed in March 2017 using a 2-day 24-hour recall survey and biomarker (blood and urine) levels. Blood and urine levels of iron [Fe], calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], selenium [Se], zinc [Zn] and copper [Cu] were analyzed by ICP-MS. Linear regression models were used to assess associations between work-related factors and sociodemographic characteristics with micronutrient intake, blood and urine micronutrient levels. Results: Dietary Fe and Zn were adequately cons...
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 2019
Electronic waste (e-waste) is a worldwide problem in terms of increasing production rate in the g... more Electronic waste (e-waste) is a worldwide problem in terms of increasing production rate in the global waste stream. Its recycling is known to be associated with adverse health outcomes. The recycling site at Agbogbloshie is a major e-waste recycling hub which presents enormous health threats to the residents in this community as a result of exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals associated with the poor work methods employed. This paper describes the processes involved in e-waste recycling at Agbogbloshie and discusses some of the associated health and psychosocial challenges. Direct field observations and in-depth interviews of eight e-waste workers were conducted from November, 2017 to December, 2017. Results from a thematic analysis of the data gathered; suggest that inappropriate recycling methods, financial constraints, and the high physical demands of e-waste recycling work were associated with adverse musculoskeletal health conditions among the workers. A more systematic ...
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Papers by Julius Fobil