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Opportunities and challenges in reducing personal inhalation exposure to air pollution among electronic waste recovery workers in Ghana.

Zoey LaskarisStuart A BattermanJohn Arko-MensahBhramar MukherjeeJulius Najah FobilMarie S O'NeillThomas G Robins
Published in: American journal of industrial medicine (2021)
Mean (±standard deviation) personal PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 concentrations were 80 (±  81) and 123 (± 139) µg m-3 , respectively. The adjusted mean PM2.5 concentration for burning e-waste was 88 µg m-3 , a 28% increase above concentrations during non-recovery activities (such as eating). Transportation-related and burning activities were associated with the highest PM2.5-10 concentrations. Frequent changes in wind direction were associated with higher PM2.5 concentrations when burning, and high wind speeds with higher PM2.5-10 concentrations when dismantling e-waste downwind of the burning zone.
Keyphrases
  • air pollution
  • particulate matter
  • heavy metals
  • polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • lung function
  • sewage sludge
  • risk assessment
  • cystic fibrosis
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease