Inhalation exposure to respirable particulate matter among workers in relation to their e-waste open burning activities in Buriram Province, Thailand

Abstract

The mass concentrations of fine (PM 2.5) and coarse (PM 2.5-10) particulate matter were determined directly from breathing zones of e-waste dismantling workers during the primitive open burning processes using a Personal Modular Impactor connected to a personal air sampler. The average concentration of PM 2.5-10 was 441 ± 496 μg m − 3 (N = 33), and for PM 2.5 , the average concentration was 2774 ± 4713 μg m − 3 (N = 33). Additionally, the concentrations of PM 10 , which were the summation of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5-10 concentrations, had an average concentration of 3215 ± 4858 μg m − 3 (N = 33). The average PM 2.5 mass concentrations accounted for 75 ± 18% from those of PM 10 , suggesting that PM 2.5 was the main component of particulate matter that the workers were exposed to during the burning activity. The study also found that increased amounts of burnt e-waste significantly influenced the concentrations of coarse and fine particles emitted. Moreover, the Pearson's correlation showed a positive relationship between each type of PM mass concentrations and their own total weighted scores of activity patterns. The results indicated that the activity that most increased the exposure concentration of PM 2.5 was mixing e-waste on fire. In contrast, the activities that influenced the exposure of PM 2.5-10 are mechanical activities, such as compiling and sweeping of e-waste, which are processes that emit and spread larger sizes of particulate matter into the air around the working environment.

The Health Risks of Airborne Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Upper North Thailand

“…The extraction and analytical procedure of PAHs were applied from the study of Baugadaeng (2019) and NIOSH manual method 5506 (NIOSH, 1994). Sixteen PAHs were analyzed by HPLC coupled with two detectors, fluorescence and UV (Shimadzu, SPD‐M20A).…”

Enhanced photocatalytic removal of nitric oxide over Ag-decorated ZnSn(OH)6 microcubes

“…Nitrogen oxide (NO x ) is one of the leading greenhouse gases directly causing global warming. Also, NO x represents a highly toxic gas, causing extreme weather phenomena such as acid rain, ozone layer depletion, PM 2.5 [4], or photochemical smog [5].…”

Effect of Particulate Matter Exposure on Respiratory Health of e-Waste Workers at Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana

“…The median/IQR values of PM (2.5, 2.5-10 and 10 µm) concentrations across the three seasons at both sites exceeded the WHO air quality standards of 25 µg/m 3 and 50 µg/m 3 per 24-hour mean and the average in-country ambient PM 2.5 concentration levels of 35 µg/m [32]. [33], also reported significantly high concentrations of PM (2.5, 2.5-10 and 10 µm) in the breathing zone of individuals who were involved in consistent burning of e-waste in Thailand. They reported mean PM2.5 and PM 2.5-10 concentrations of 441 µg/m 3 and 2274 µg/m 3 respectively.…”