Informal Electronic-Waste Recycling in Thailand John Cho - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Informal Electronic-Waste Recycling in Thailand

John Cho September 29, 2016 WHWB-US

Overview

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E-waste = discarded consumer electronics and industrial electrical equipment

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3 main categories = large household appliances (refrigerators), information technology (computers), and consumer equipment (TVs, cell phones)

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Production of EEE (electrical and electronic equipment)

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8%

• f all municipal waste and growing

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A global, interregional, and domestic problem

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75-80%

• f e-waste shipped to countries in Asia and Africa

for ” recycling” and disposal

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70%

• f e-waste unreported or unknown

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Loopholes in current e-waste regulations send e-waste to developing countries

Associated Hazards and Issues

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Heavy metals

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Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Hg, S n, etc.

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Aromatic/ less-well known compounds

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

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Dioxins, furans

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Brominated flame retardants (BFRs)

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Polybrominated biphenyls, diphenylethers (PBBs, PBDEs)

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Routes of Exposure

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Inhalation of particulates, VOCs

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Direct dermal contact

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Ingestion of contaminated dust/ food

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Environmental Contamination

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Take-home Exposure

Kalasin, Thailand

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A rural province in NE Thailand

▶ Informal e-waste recycling site previously

studied by researchers at Mae Fah Luang University

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Workers conduct burning of e-waste at a central site

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Most e-waste dismantling and recycling is conducted at the individual worker’ s home

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Doctors at the local health clinic reported elevated blood lead levels in the e-waste workers

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Goal: Characterize exposures, various routes of exposure (inhalation, dermal, etc.), electronic- waste recycling methods and processes, and general health status among the community

Methods/Data Collection

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Questionnaires

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Blood/ Urine S amples

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Personal Air S amples

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Environmental S amples (Air, S

• il, Rice)

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Noise

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Medical Data (Blood Pressure, S pirometry, Audiometry, Heart Rate)

Preliminary Findings/Future Plans

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We are waiting for the results of the samples’ analyses to come back from various labs

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Personal and environmental air samples show seemingly low airborne exposures, while wipe samples show potential exposure through food.

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S tatistical analyses will be performed on all the data.

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Results will be reported to the participants and community members involved in electronic-waste recycling by the Thai professors involved in the study

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Post-analyses, the main goal is to improve their occupational environment and work practices to that they can continue their livelihood in a safe manner.

Funding

▶ Graham S

ustainability Institute

▶ Rackham Graduate S

chool

▶ Rackham International Research Award ▶ Rackham S

ummer Research Award

▶ Rackham Graduate S

tudent Research Grant

▶ Center for the Education of Women

▶ Menakka and Essel Bailey Fellowship

▶ Center for S

• utheast Asian S

tudies

▶ Thai S

tudies Grant

Thank You!