Health Risk Assessment of Electronic Waste Dismantling Workers Exposed to Heavy Metals via Dermal Absorption in Burirum Province
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Abstract
This applied science research aimed to estimate the health risk of electronic waste dismantling workers at Dang Yai, Baan Mai Chai Poj District, Buriram Province, exposed to heavy metals through dermal absorption. The samples of dust adhered to both their hands were collected by wiping technique using wiped gauze soaked with isopropanol 20% v/v before starting dismantling in the morning, after morning work, after evening work, and after finishing their work in the evening.
The results showed that the average concentrations of arsenic, lead, copper, cadmium, nickel, and zinc in the dust collected from workers’ hands were in the range of 0.02 – 8.44, 81.50 – 6,038.26, 785.43 – 49,899.31, 2.00 – 63.25, 81.50 – 188.36 and 2,592.91– 40,722.91 mg/kg, respectively. The maximum in non-cancer risk, hazard quotients (HQ), was found in arsenic absorption with the 95% CI of 0.263 – 0.530, while the HQ of lead showed the minimum, 1.00 × 10-9 - 2.70 × 10-9. All HQs less than 1 implied that there was no increase in health risk for the workers exposed to these heavy metals through their hands. However, the workers would be recommended to wash their hands properly by using cleaning agents in order to remove residual heavy metals after finish dismantling effectively.
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