Personal exposure to airborne microplastics in different workplaces in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand | |
| Author | Kanokwan Limsiriwong |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-23-08 |
| Subject(s) | Microplastics--Environmental aspects--Thailand--Pathum Thani Plastic scrap--Environmental aspects--Thailand--Pathum Thani |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Microplastics, one type of Atmospheric Suspended Particles, have raised public concern of potential exposure through inhalation, and their ability to accumulate in the respiratory system due to their tiny size. Additionally, some reports have linked microplastics to lung inflammation in textile industry workers, which prompted this study to investigate the potential exposure of workers who work near microplastic sources for extended periods. This study also investigated different microplastic identification methods from previous studies in terms of their recovery efficiency of microplastics in the samples. Quartz and GF/A filters showed no statistically significant difference in performance, while Nile Red staining methods provided the highest recovery rate for identifying airborne microplastic exposure. Therefore, GF/A filter and Nile Red staining were selected to use to sampling and identify airborne microplastics in this study. The personal air sampler was placed in the "breathing zone" of the worker during 8 hours of work time with an air flow rate of 2 L/min for collecting microplastic exposure in both indoor and outdoor environments. The occupational groups studied included housekeeper, laundromat staff, office worker, van driver, street vendor, maintenance technician in the wastewater treatment plant, waste segregation officer at the university, and waste segregation officer in the market. Characteristics of AMPs were then analyzed in terms of shape, size, color, and polymer types. The results revealed that the level of exposure to airborne microplastics depended on the daily activities and environmental conditions of the workplace. Waste segregation officers at the university and the market had the highest level of exposure to airborne microplastics at 3964±2575 number per cubic meter (n/m³) and 3474±678 n/m³, respectively, while the lowest level of exposure was found in office worker at 192 ± 73 n/m³. The main characteristics of airborne microplastics that workers had a higher potential to inhale were microplastics with fragments shape, with more than 99.46%-96.20% falling into this category. Airborne microplastics range of <100-10μm in size accounted for 50.18% to 71.84% of the whole amount of AMPs in the outdoor and indoor groups, respectively. Polymer types found in indoor areas included Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyester (PES), Styrene acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) and Cellophane.while Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyester (PES), and Styrene acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) were found in outdoor areas. Additionally, the concentration of TSP and the amount of microplastics have a low positive relationship. |
| Year | 2023 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ekbordin Winijkul, |
| Examination Committee(s) | Xue, Wenchao; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Thai Government Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2023 |