A case study on hazardous grounds: Stabilized legacy waste and occupational health concerns at the Okhla landfill, New Delhi

This study evaluates the status of stabilized legacy waste and the impact of work and environmental conditions on the health of landfill workers at Okhla landfill, New Delhi. A mixed- methods strategy was utilized to collect primary and secondary data, including a cross- sectional questionnaire dis...

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Main Authors: Sonam Angmo, Shachi Shah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Action for Sustainable Efficacious Development and Awareness 2025-04-01
Series:Environment Conservation Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.environcj.in/index.php/ecj/article/view/2983
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author Sonam Angmo
Shachi Shah
author_facet Sonam Angmo
Shachi Shah
author_sort Sonam Angmo
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluates the status of stabilized legacy waste and the impact of work and environmental conditions on the health of landfill workers at Okhla landfill, New Delhi. A mixed- methods strategy was utilized to collect primary and secondary data, including a cross- sectional questionnaire distributed to 107 landfill workers. Approximately 55-60 lakh tons of legacy waste are present at the site, an around 06 Trommels with bio-mining and bioremediation efforts underway to clear the site by 2024.The survey findings indicated that 5% of workers believed that approximately 400-500 trucks deposit waste in the landfill daily, whereas 95% were unaware of this fact. The study unveiled that a significant proportion of participants experienced occupational health hazards intermittently, including skin allergies (36.17%), respiratory illnesses (31.91%), eye redness/hair loss (23.40%), and cardiac problems (8.51%). 51% of workers reported poor rest room conditions and lack of leachate collection and treatment facilities were identified as major concerns. Workers demonstrated a good understanding of leachate generation and its seasonal variability. Adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and regular health checkups for workers. Improved hygiene in workers' restrooms. Consequently, it emphasized the imperative for adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), regular health checkups, improved hygiene in workers' restrooms, and the implementation of leachate collection facilities in the study area.
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spelling doaj-art-27bc90c1ae694919af86a01af59321bf2025-08-20T02:10:17ZengAction for Sustainable Efficacious Development and AwarenessEnvironment Conservation Journal0972-30992278-51242025-04-0126210.36953/ECJ.29492983A case study on hazardous grounds: Stabilized legacy waste and occupational health concerns at the Okhla landfill, New Delhi Sonam Angmo0Shachi Shah1Department of Environmental Science, Kargil Campus, University of LadakhSchool of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies, IGNOU, New Delhi, India This study evaluates the status of stabilized legacy waste and the impact of work and environmental conditions on the health of landfill workers at Okhla landfill, New Delhi. A mixed- methods strategy was utilized to collect primary and secondary data, including a cross- sectional questionnaire distributed to 107 landfill workers. Approximately 55-60 lakh tons of legacy waste are present at the site, an around 06 Trommels with bio-mining and bioremediation efforts underway to clear the site by 2024.The survey findings indicated that 5% of workers believed that approximately 400-500 trucks deposit waste in the landfill daily, whereas 95% were unaware of this fact. The study unveiled that a significant proportion of participants experienced occupational health hazards intermittently, including skin allergies (36.17%), respiratory illnesses (31.91%), eye redness/hair loss (23.40%), and cardiac problems (8.51%). 51% of workers reported poor rest room conditions and lack of leachate collection and treatment facilities were identified as major concerns. Workers demonstrated a good understanding of leachate generation and its seasonal variability. Adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and regular health checkups for workers. Improved hygiene in workers' restrooms. Consequently, it emphasized the imperative for adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), regular health checkups, improved hygiene in workers' restrooms, and the implementation of leachate collection facilities in the study area. https://journal.environcj.in/index.php/ecj/article/view/2983BiominingLandfill workerOccupational healthPPEsRemediation Solid waste
spellingShingle Sonam Angmo
Shachi Shah
A case study on hazardous grounds: Stabilized legacy waste and occupational health concerns at the Okhla landfill, New Delhi
Environment Conservation Journal
Biomining
Landfill worker
Occupational health
PPEs
Remediation Solid waste
title A case study on hazardous grounds: Stabilized legacy waste and occupational health concerns at the Okhla landfill, New Delhi
title_full A case study on hazardous grounds: Stabilized legacy waste and occupational health concerns at the Okhla landfill, New Delhi
title_fullStr A case study on hazardous grounds: Stabilized legacy waste and occupational health concerns at the Okhla landfill, New Delhi
title_full_unstemmed A case study on hazardous grounds: Stabilized legacy waste and occupational health concerns at the Okhla landfill, New Delhi
title_short A case study on hazardous grounds: Stabilized legacy waste and occupational health concerns at the Okhla landfill, New Delhi
title_sort case study on hazardous grounds stabilized legacy waste and occupational health concerns at the okhla landfill new delhi
topic Biomining
Landfill worker
Occupational health
PPEs
Remediation Solid waste
url https://journal.environcj.in/index.php/ecj/article/view/2983
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