Exposure to Heavy Metals in Electronic Waste Recycling in Thailand

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Kraichat Tantrakarnapa¹  Rachaneekorn Mingkhwan¹  Athit Phetrak¹  Yanin Limpanont¹  Chalermkhwan Kuntawee¹  Suwalee Worakhunpiset¹  Saranath Lawpoolsri² 

[1] Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University 420/6 Ratchawithi Rd., Ratchathewee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University 420/6 Ratchawithi Rd., Ratchathewee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;

关键词: heavy metals;    asthma;    house dust;    airborne dust;    e-waste;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph17092996

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown