Abstract

The activity-based exposure concentrations of airborne polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling workers in Buriram province were examined, and their possible carcinogenic risk was assessed. The average exposure concentration of total PCBs in the particle (PM<inf>2.5–10</inf> and PM<inf>2.5</inf>) and gas phases were 53.51 ± 23.68, 65.41 ± 23.06, and 82.72 ± 78.61 ng/m³, respectively, and were all significantly (p < 0.05) higher for workers exposed during burning wires than those of the dismantling bulky-, small-, and internal e-waste parts. The dominant PCB congeners mainly found during e-waste dismantling were the low-chlorinated group, including PCB-28, -52, −77, −81, −105, −118, and −126. PCB-28 and -77 were observed as predominant co-congeners derived from mechanical dismantling, whereas PCB-52, -118, and −126 were the main species emitted from burning activities. The workers exposed to PCBs from burning wires were estimated to have the highest lifetime cancer risk of 1.64E-05, about 2.5- to 3.3-fold higher than those who dismantled bulky-, small- and internal e-waste parts. Consequently, workers should be recommended to wear high-efficiency respiratory protection masks to avoid direct exposure to PCBs and to reduce their possible carcinogenic risk.