POPs IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF E-WASTE SITES
By Arnika – Toxics and Waste Programme, International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), and Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand (EARTH) | December 2022
Electronic waste (e-waste) and its imports from abroad represent a big burden for the environment and human health in Thailand. This study is focused on mapping pollution by POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) in the vicinity of two facilities processing e-waste in Chachoengsao province, and one site affected by the disposal of sludge of unknown origin (Hat Nang Kaeo) in Prachinburi province. We focused on POPs which are used as additives in electronic equipment and plastic used for its casing, such as, for example, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), and others. We also focused on POPs produced unintentionally during the production of BFRs, and particularly during incineration and other thermal processes used for the disposal and recycling of plastics from e-waste.
