Asbestos Exposure in Low-Middle Income Communities of Cartagena, Colombia: A Survey of Knowledge, Practices, and Environmental Contamination.

IF 1.4

Journal of occupational and environmental medicine Pub Date : 2025-10-01 Epub Date: 2025-05-30 DOI:10.1097/JOM.0000000000003472

Guillermo Villamizar, Arthur Frank, Paula Bizzi Junqueira, Juan Felipe Villamizar, Gabriel Camero

{"title":"Asbestos Exposure in Low-Middle Income Communities of Cartagena, Colombia: A Survey of Knowledge, Practices, and Environmental Contamination.","authors":"Guillermo Villamizar, Arthur Frank, Paula Bizzi Junqueira, Juan Felipe Villamizar, Gabriel Camero","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003472","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Objective: The aim of the study was to assess community knowledge, practices, and environmental risks associated with residential asbestos exposure in low-middle income neighborhoods of Cartagena, Colombia.Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, 305 residents from 30 asbestos-affected neighborhoods completed questionnaires on asbestos knowledge and practices. Environmental samples (roofing, dust, and water) were analyzed for asbestos fibers.Results: Asbestos-cement roofing was present in 87.5% of homes. While 55.8% recognized asbestos hazards, 52% routinely disturbed asbestos materials, and informal disposal was common. Socially embedded practices, such as repurposing asbestos sheets and improper disposal were common. Asbestos fibers were found in 90% of dust samples and 85% of rainwater samples.Conclusions: Residential asbestos exposure remains a major health risk in these communities. Mitigation requires not only education but also improved policies for safe removal and replacement of asbestos materials.","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e708-e719"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003472","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/5/30 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess community knowledge, practices, and environmental risks associated with residential asbestos exposure in low-middle income neighborhoods of Cartagena, Colombia.

Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, 305 residents from 30 asbestos-affected neighborhoods completed questionnaires on asbestos knowledge and practices. Environmental samples (roofing, dust, and water) were analyzed for asbestos fibers.

Results: Asbestos-cement roofing was present in 87.5% of homes. While 55.8% recognized asbestos hazards, 52% routinely disturbed asbestos materials, and informal disposal was common. Socially embedded practices, such as repurposing asbestos sheets and improper disposal were common. Asbestos fibers were found in 90% of dust samples and 85% of rainwater samples.

Conclusions: Residential asbestos exposure remains a major health risk in these communities. Mitigation requires not only education but also improved policies for safe removal and replacement of asbestos materials.

查看原文本刊更多论文

哥伦比亚卡塔赫纳中低收入社区的石棉暴露：知识、实践和环境污染调查。

目的：评估哥伦比亚卡塔赫纳中低收入社区与住宅石棉暴露相关的社区知识、实践和环境风险。方法：在横断面调查中，来自30个石棉影响社区的305名居民填写了关于石棉知识和实践的问卷。环境样品（屋顶，灰尘和水）分析石棉纤维。结果：87.5%的家庭使用石棉水泥屋顶。55.8%的人认识到石棉危害，52%的人经常干扰石棉材料，非正式处置很常见。社会根深蒂固的做法，如重新利用石棉板和不当处置是常见的。在90%的粉尘样本和85%的雨水样本中发现了石棉纤维。结论：住宅石棉暴露仍然是这些社区的主要健康风险。减轻影响不仅需要教育，还需要改进安全清除和更换石棉材料的政策。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of occupational and environmental medicine

自引率

0.00%

发文量