Twenty-six tons of lead oxide used per year in wooden boat building and repairing in southern Thailand |
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Authors: | Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong Suwapit Kaeosanit Orrapan Untimanon |
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Institution: | (1) Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 90110, Thailand;(2) Songkhla Provincial Public Health Office, Songkhla, 90000, Thailand;(3) Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Diseases, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, 11000, Thailand; |
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Abstract: | In southern Thailand, the wooden boat building and repair industry uses powdered lead oxide (Pb3O4, or red lead) in the caulking process. This had been shown to be a significant source of contamination in the workplace and
the communities. This cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the amount of lead oxide used in the region and to document
the management of hazardous waste product in this industry. All boatyards in southern Thailand registered to the Ministry
of Industry were visited with walk-through observation. After consent, questionnaire-based interviews were conducted among
workers and boatyard owners who rented out the space for building and repairing the boats. Of the 63 active boatyards identified,
approximately 26 tons of lead oxide was used to repair approximately 8,000 boats each year. Due to the casual employment system
in this industry, no facility for the protection of workers and the environment from lead contamination exists. The findings
indicate the need for further studies on the extent of contamination in the broader area. Intervention programmes are also
urgently needed to reduce the release of this hazardous waste into the community. |
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