Asbestos Exposure in Low-Middle Income Communities of Cartagena, Colombia: A Survey of Knowledge, Practices, and
Guillermo Villamizar1, Arthur Frank, Paula Bizzi Junqueira
1From the Colombia Asbestos-Free Foundation, Bogotá, Colombia (G.V.); University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia (G.V., G.C.); Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (A.F.); Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Social Anthropology (CIESAS), San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico (P.B.J.); University of El Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia (J.F.V.); and Bogotá/Cundinamarca Regional Office, Colombian Red Cross, Bogotá, Colombia (G.C.).
Objective:
The aim of the study was to assess community knowledge, practices, and environmental risks associated with residential asbestos exposure in low-middle income neighborhoods of Cartagena, Colombia.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional survey, 305 residents from 30 asbestos-affected neighborhoods completed questionnaires on asbestos knowledge and practices. Environmental samples (roofing, dust, and water) were analyzed for asbestos fibers.
Results:
Asbestos-cement roofing was present in 87.5% of homes. While 55.8% recognized asbestos hazards, 52% routinely disturbed asbestos materials, and informal disposal was common. Socially embedded practices, such as repurposing asbestos sheets and improper disposal were common. Asbestos fibers were found in 90% of dust samples and 85% of rainwater samples.
Conclusions:
Residential asbestos exposure remains a major health risk in these communities. Mitigation requires not only education but also improved policies for safe removal and replacement of asbestos materials.
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