Exposure to Heavy Metals in Electronic Waste Recycling in Thailand

Chalermkhwan Kuntawee, Kraichat Tantrakarnapa, Yanin Limpanont, Saranath Lawpoolsri, Athit Phetrak, Rachaneekorn Mingkhwan and Suwalee Worakhunpiset
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Chalermkhwan Kuntawee: Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University 420/6 Ratchawithi Rd., Ratchathewee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Kraichat Tantrakarnapa: Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University 420/6 Ratchawithi Rd., Ratchathewee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Yanin Limpanont: Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University 420/6 Ratchawithi Rd., Ratchathewee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Saranath Lawpoolsri: Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University 420/6 Ratchawithi Rd., Ratchathewee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Athit Phetrak: Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University 420/6 Ratchawithi Rd., Ratchathewee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Rachaneekorn Mingkhwan: Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University 420/6 Ratchawithi Rd., Ratchathewee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Suwalee Worakhunpiset: Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University 420/6 Ratchawithi Rd., Ratchathewee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Electronic waste recycling can release heavy metals into the environment and cause adverse health effects. We assessed the association between exposure to heavy metals from electronic waste recycling and the prevalence of asthma in a nested case-control study of 51 subject pairs with and without asthma. House dust, airborne dust, blood, and urine were collected from residents of two neighboring sites in Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand. Multiple electronic waste-handling activities are conducted in the first site, while the second site is mostly agricultural. Concentrations of chromium, mercury, nickel, and lead in house dust and airborne dust were higher in the electronic waste-handling site ( p < 0.05), but levels of exposure were similar in subjects with and without asthma. Although we did not find an association between exposure to these metals and the prevalence of asthma, control measures should be implemented to reduce health risks from long-term exposure to heavy metals.

Keywords: heavy metals; asthma; house dust; airborne dust; e-waste (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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