Resumen
Las plantas de faenamiento urbanas en ciudades en desarrollo suelen operar en entornos densamente poblados y con una supervisión limitada, lo que genera riesgos significativos para la salud ocupacional. Este estudio investigó la influencia de la planificación urbana y los factores de proximidad en la transmisión de enfermedades entre trabajadores de plantas de faenamiento en Aba, Estado de Abia, Nigeria. El objetivo fue evaluar cómo la ubicación espacial, el diseño arquitectónico y las exposiciones ambientales contribuyen a la aparición de enfermedades ocupacionales. Se empleó un enfoque de métodos mixtos que incluyó análisis geoespacial, monitoreo ambiental, encuestas de salud (n = 180) e inspecciones de instalaciones en seis plantas de faenamiento (SH-1 a SH-6). El mapeo por GPS reveló que cuatro de las seis instalaciones se encontraban a menos de 200 metros de zonas residenciales o mercados, y que SH-1, SH-3 y SH-5 incumplían regulaciones básicas de zonificación. El monitoreo ambiental mostró niveles elevados de PM2.5 que oscilaron entre 54 y 94 µg/m³ (límite de la OMS: 25 µg/m³), con los valores más altos en SH-3 (94 µg/m³). Las concentraciones de amoníaco (NH₃) y sulfuro de hidrógeno (H₂S) superaron los umbrales de seguridad en tres instalaciones. Los datos de salud registraron síntomas respiratorios en hasta el 73 % de los trabajadores (SH-3) y afecciones cutáneas en el 60 % (SH-3). Se observó una fuerte correlación positiva entre la exposición a PM2.5 y las enfermedades reportadas, así como una correlación negativa significativa entre la distancia a las zonas residenciales y las quejas respiratorias. Se determinó que la infraestructura deficiente, la escasa aplicación de políticas y una zonificación inadecuada agravaban estos riesgos para la salud. Este estudio concluye que el diseño urbano insuficiente y la ubicación inadecuada de las plantas de faenamiento impactaron de manera significativa la salud ocupacional. Se recomienda una reestructuración espacial, mejoras de infraestructura e integración de evaluaciones de impacto en salud en las políticas de planificación de plantas de faenamiento en Nigeria.
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Derechos de autor 2025 Francis Madu, Chininso Unagha, Gerald Anozie, Agnes Nnamdi, Sylvia Chukwukere, Celestine Ogechi Obele
