Abstract
E-waste dismantling activities can release heavy metals into the environment. Heavy metals cause environmental problems and adverse health effects, especially exposure to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) of e-waste dismantling workers. The health risk of lead and cadmium from e-waste dismantling was evaluated. Blood lead and cadmium levels, which serve as biomarkers, of e-waste dismantling and non-e-waste dismantling workers in the local community (Buriram province, Thailand) were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). These levels were then compared using paired samples Mann-whitney test (U-test) with significance level at p < 0.05. A total of 60 subjects from Daeng Yai Sub-district, Ban Mai Chaiyapot district were selected and divided into two groups, comprising 30 e-waste dismantling workers and 30 non-e-waste workers who live in villages not involved in e-waste dismantling. The results showed that the mean blood lead level of e-waste workers (6.61 ± 3.07 µg/dl) was significantly higher than that of non-e-waste workers (2.73 ± 0.49 µg/dl) with p < 0.05, while the mean blood cadmium level of e-waste workers was slightly lower than that of non-e-waste workers with values of 1.00 ± 0.33 µg/l and 1.17 ± 0.39 µg/l, respectively. These results suggest that e-waste dismantling workers have a higher risk of lead exposure from e-waste dismantling activity and therefore workers should be recommended to use personal protective equipment during dismantling activities.
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Acknowledgements
This study was financially supported by the Research Program of Municipal Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste Management, Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management (HSM), the S&T Postgraduate Education and Research Development Office (PERDO), the Office of Higher Education Commission (OHEC). Moreover, the authors are grateful to all of the participants for the voluntary allowance to collect blood samples and supporting information. Finally, the authors appreciate the continued support of Ban Pao Pattana Health Promoting Hospital, Dang Yai sub-district, Ban Mai Chaiyapot district, and Ban Pao Health Promoting Hospital, Ban Pao sub-district, Putthisong district in Buriram province, Thailand.
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Sirichai, T., Prueksasit, T., Sangsuthum, S. (2020). Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels of E-waste Dismantling Workers, Buriram Province, Thailand. In: Jeon, HY. (eds) Sustainable Development of Water and Environment. ICSDWE 2020. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45263-6_34
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