Health Study of New York City Department of Sanitation Landfill Employees

Employees currently working at a large municipal landfill expressed concern that they experience higher rates of illness than other municipal sanitation workers. Therefore, this study was designed to examine acute health effects among employees working at the New York City Department of Sanitation, with special emphasis upon the landfill workers. Interviews conducted with 238 landfill and 262 off-site male employees asked questions about health symptoms experienced in the six months prior to the interview and about workplace exposures. This study found a higher prevalence among landfill employees of work-related dermatologic, neurologic, hearing, and respiratory symptoms, and sore and itching throats than among off-site employees. The respiratory and dermatologic symptoms were not associated with any specific occupational title or work task, other than working at the landfill. Off-site laborers experienced more neuromuscular symptoms and injuries.