title: Occupational and Environmental Health Risks Associated with Informal Sector Activities-Selected Case Studies from West Africa.
abstract: Most in the Economic Community of West African States region are employed in the informal sector. While the informal sector plays a significant role in the region's economy, policymakers and the scientific community have long neglected it. To better understand informal-sector work conditions, the goal here is to bring together researchers to exchange findings and catalyze dialogue. The article showcases research studies on several economic systems, namely agriculture, resource extraction, transportation, and trade/commerce. Site-specific cases are provided concerning occupational health risks within artisanal and small-scale gold mining, aggregate mining, gasoline trade, farming and pesticide applications, and electronic waste recycling. These cases emphasize the vastness of the informal sector and that the majority of work activities across the region remain poorly documented, and thus no data or knowledge is available to help improve conditions and formulate policies and programs to promote and ensure decent work conditions.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA niladri.basu@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Niladri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Paul Ahoumènou
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ayelo
authors.affiliation: Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Luc S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Djogbénou
authors.affiliation: Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kedoté
authors.affiliation: Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Herve
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lawin
authors.affiliation: Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Honesty
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tohon
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Elizabeth O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Oloruntoba
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nurudeen A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Adebisi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cazabon
authors.affiliation: University of Ghana School of Public Health, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fobil
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.affiliation: Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fayomi
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western; D000383:Agriculture; D003132:Commerce; D004782:Environmental Health; D006801:Humans; D000070100:Informal Sector; D016272:Occupational Health; D059027:Recycling; D014186:Transportation
keywords: hazard identification; informal economy; informal sector; occupational health; public health; risk assessment