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Cited by 26Recycling and Waste Management TechniquesOccupational Health and Safety in WorkplacesOccupational Health and Global Justice

Health Problems Among Workers Who Recycle Electronic Waste in Southern Thailand

Open access
Decharat, Somsiri, Kiddee, Peeranart·2020·Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives
DOI 10.24171/j.phrp.2020.11.1.06PMC PMC7045883
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Abstract

Objectives: This study evaluated the prevalence of adverse health effects among recycling facility workers, and described their socioeconomic situation, health symptoms and work characteristics.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 71 workers in 20 electronic waste (e-waste) recycling facilities in southern Thailand.Data were collected by questionnaire.Risk factors were evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis.Results: Recycling facility workers with blurred vision were significantly associated with being male (p = 0.035), over 40 years old (p = 0.020), and having ≤ secondary school education (p = 0.017).Rash/ itching was associated with being male (p = 0.011), over 40 years (p = 0.018), having ≤ secondary school education (p = 0.012).not using a cloth mask (p = 0.019), not using gloves (p = 0.028), not washing hands before lunch (p = 0.005), not cleaning clothes daily (p = 0.025), and not having established ventilation systems in the place of work (p = 0.018).Hand-and-feet numbness were associated with being male (p = 0.025), and being over 40 years (p = 0.023).Headaches were associated with being male (p = 0.028).Conclusion: Personal hygiene is important for this occupational group, and it should be emphasized in education programs.

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  • Open burning for metal extraction in e-waste recycling in Thailand, Vietnam, India, and China emits hazardous compounds such as lead, cadmium, mercury, PCBs, and PCDDs/PCDFs.

    “Cases from countries such as Thailand [35], Vietnam [36,37], India [38], and China [39] have shown that an important threat arises from the practice of open burning employed for metal extraction, which results in the emission of hazardous compounds, such as lead, cadmium, mercury, as well as organic pollutants like PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs.”

    From Unveiling Environmental Potential in Smartphone Repair Practices in Vientiane Capital, Laos (2025) · cites this paper as [35]

    The Discussion reports that e-waste workers in southern Thailand used open burning to recover metals and that these recycling methods released toxic materials. The Introduction identifies lead, cadmium and PCBs in e-waste, and discusses mercury released during processing. The paper does not identify PCDDs/PCDFs or establish that open burning emitted each compound listed; this citation supports the Thailand example, not the cases in other countries. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 31

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Sorted by citations

Authors
Decharat, S., & Kiddee, P.
Affiliations
Thaksin University (TH)
Corresponding author
Decharat, Somsiri
ORCID
Venue
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives
Publisher
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
Published
2020-02-28
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
34-43
ISSN
  • 2210-9099 (ISSN-L)
  • 2233-6052
DOI
10.24171/j.phrp.2020.11.1.06
PMC
PMC7045883
OpenAlex
W3008109003
Cited by
26
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2
FWCI
1.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Thaksin University
  • Institute of Research and Development, Thaksin University
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
  • Social Sciences › Health › Occupational Health and Global Justice
Keywords
e-waste recycling, occupational health, health symptoms, personal protective equipment, hand numbness, respiratory symptoms, personal hygiene, occupational exposure, ventilation, southern Thailand

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