Introduction: The uncontrolled management of waste electrical and electronic
equipment (W3E) causes respiratory problems in the handlers of this
waste. The objective was to study the stains associated with respiratory
symptoms in W3E handlers. Methods: The study was cross-sectional with an
analytical focus on W3E handlers in the informal sector in Ouagadougou. A
peer-validated questionnaire collected data on a sample of 161 manipulators.
Results: the most common W3E processing tasks were the purchase or sale of
W3E (67.70%), its repair (39.75%) and its collection (31.06%). The prevalence
of cough was 21.74%, that of wheezing 14.91%, phlegm 12.50% and dyspnea
at rest 10.56%. In bivariate analysis, there were significant associations at the
5% level between W3E repair and phlegm (p-value = 0.044), between W3E
burning and wheezing (p-value = 0.011) and between W3E and cough
(p-value = 0.01). The final logistic regression models suggested that the
burning of W3E and the melting of lead batteries represented risk factors for
the occurrence of cough with respective prevalence ratios of 4.57 and 4.63.
Conclusion: raising awareness on the wearing of personal protective equipment,
in particular masks adapted by W3E handlers, favoring those who are
dedicated to the burning of electronic waste and the melting of lead could
make it possible to reduce the risk of occurrence of respiratory symptoms.

Respiratory Symptoms, W3E, Associated Tasks, Ouagadougou