Contribution of the professional in respiratory therapy to the respiratory health of people who work in garbage collection activities

Abstract

Introduction: the exposure of garbage to meteorological conditions allows the acceleration of its decomposition processes. Among the most dangerous conditions is garbage in a liquid state (leachate) that can be influenced by rainwater and by the moisture contained in the waste, these leachates can be drained for later treatment or if they are in the layers surface of landfills can evaporate causing garbage in a gaseous state that generates biogas, which can be inhaled and cause respiratory diseases. The danger of developing diseases of this type is focused on the population in direct contact with the garbage in these states. Objective: to determine the contribution of the respiratory therapist to the respiratory health of people who work in garbage collection activities. Methodology: a narrative bibliographical review was carried out to answer the question about what the contribution of the respiratory therapist to the respiratory health of the people is who work in garbage collection activities. Search engines include Pubmed, Scielo, Redalyc, Google Scholar and Elsevier. The descriptors were: “respiratory pathologies”, “garbage”, “interventions”, “evaluations”, “respiratory therapy”. Thirty-six scientific articles were included and classified according to Sackett's level of evidence, as follows: 2 (6%) level II, 3 (8%) level III, 15 (42%) level IV, 16 (44%) level V with a timeframe that goes from 2016 to 2021, in English and Spanish. Results: the contribution of respiratory therapist in this population focuses on prevention and health promotion, use of peak flow, application of spirometry, functional capacity tests, respiratory physiotherapy, nasal lavages, bronchopulmonary hygiene techniques, among other evaluations and interventions. Conclusion: the main respiratory diseases that people who work with garbage can develop are asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, rhinitis, and sinusitis, for which the intervention of a professional in respiratory therapy is necessary through the evaluations and interventions mentioned. previously.