摘要：We reviewed the key steps in the launch of the Vida Verde Women's Co-Op among Brazilian immigrant housecleaners in Somerville, MA. The co-op provides green housecleaning products, encourages healthy work practices, and promotes a sense of community among its members. We conducted in-depth interviews with 8 of the first co-op members, who reported a reduction in symptoms associated with the use of traditional cleaning agents and a new sense of mutual support. Critical to the co-op's success have been the supportive roles of its academic partners (Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts, Lowell), effective media outreach, and a focus on advancing social justice. Next steps include implementing a formal business plan and assessing the appropriateness of cooperatives in other industries. IMMIGRANTS ARE AT AN increased risk of work-related disease and injury. A developing conceptual literature 1 and evidence from industry 2 support this conclusion. The ability to document such disparities is complicated by a host of factors, including cultural and language barriers, insufficient trust in host-society institutions, and the lack of health insurance. In addition, problems encountered in tracking occupational health outcomes range from a broad lack of reporting 3 to definitional issues. 4 We examined the conceptualization, launch, and evaluation of the Vida Verde Women's Co-Op championed by the Brazilian Women's Group (BWG) of Massachusetts ( http://verdeamarelo.org ). The cleaning worker industry has attracted some of the growing interest in the hazards posed by various informal segments of the global economy. 5 Housecleaning is the most common occupation of Brazilian women in Massachusetts. Estimates of the proportion of Brazilian immigrants engaged in housecleaning range from 7.4% to 25.5%; this range reflects the broader categories of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance operations. 6 Because of this concentration of employment and constant contact with toxic chemicals, the development of the co-op can be seen as a direct outgrowth of environmental justice concerns. A growing literature describes the respiratory, dermatological, and ergonomic health outcomes associated with housecleaning. 7 – 9 Traditional household cleaning agents have come under greater scrutiny because of their irritant and caustic effect on both professional and nonprofessional housecleaners. 10 These health concerns spurred the launch of the co-op, which features the use of green, or less toxic, cleaning materials. Equally important to the founders of the co-op was cultivating a sense of community and empowerment among its members that historically is lacking in the housecleaning industry. A collaboration between 2 research projects—Assessing and Controlling Occupational Health Risks to Immigrants in Somerville, Massachusetts, led by Tufts University and funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety, and the Collaboration for Better Work Environment Among Brazilians, based at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell ( http://www.cobwebproject.org ) and funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences—provided the impetus for the co-op.
