Working and health conditions of recyclable material pickers in Brazil

Introduction
Despite its economic and environmental contribution, the work of catadores (recyclable material pickers or garbage pickers), adopted by more than one million Brazilians, is inserted in a context of informality, precariousness and social exclusion, exposing them to various forms of illness at their work routine. This study aimed to identify among the Brazilian literature the occupational risks and illness at the work of recyclable material pickers. 

Methods
An integrative review study, using the method proposed by Ganong. The literature search was conducted in the Virtual Health Library, LILACS and SciELO, using the keywords: recyclable material pickers, garbage pickers, occupational health and working conditions. We included scientific papers and national doctoral and master’s thesis, published in the last ten years. Thirteen articles had been found.

Results
The recyclable material pickers are exposed to biological, physical, chemical and ergonomic risks, like cuts, punctures, chemical contamination by waste, burns, bruises, trampling and excessive sun exposure, with complains related to musculoskeletal, respiratory, circulatory, digestive and skin diseases. Regarding to psychosocial aspects, the studies indicate reports of devaluation feeling, prejudice and social exclusion.

Discussion
Although there are policies in Brazil ensuring the health protection of workers regardless of their employment status, many of them, including recyclable material pickers, remain at risk. The work in this context, performed only as a mean of survival, leads to health deterioration, which is contradictory, considering the fact that it is essential to be healthy to work and live. There is a need of implementation of improvements in working conditions of catadores and measures to transform the reality involving above all the workers.