Sains Malaysiana 51(7)(2022): 1993-2002

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5107-04

The Influence of Air Pollution on Disease and Related Health Problems in Northern Thailand

(Pengaruh Pencemaran Udara terhadap Penyakit dan Masalah Berkaitan Kesihatan di Utara Thailand)

SAKESUN THONGTIP^1,2,*, PIYAVADEE SRIVICHAI¹, NARONG CHAITIANG³ & KRAICHAT TANTRAKARNAPA⁴

¹Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, 19 Phahonyothin, Maeka, Muang, Phayao 56000, Thailand

²Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Model Laboratory, Atmospheric Pollution and Climate, Change Research Unit, University of Phayao, 19 Phahonyothin, Maeka, Muang, Phayao 56000,

Thailand

³Praboromarajchanok Institute, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Road, Talad Kwan, Meaung, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand

⁴Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Rd, Thung Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand

Received: 23 September 2021/Accepted: 17 December 2021

Abstract

Air pollution is a significant health risk factor. Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution has a significant impact on chronic respiratory illnesses and diseases related to health problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between air pollution, respiratory diseases and diseases related to health in Northern Thailand. The daily mean concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, including meteorological condition data from 2015 to 2020, were measured and recorded by Pollution Control Department (PCD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand. The daily cumulative number of respiratory diseases and related health problems data from 2015 to 2020 was measured and recorded by Information and Communication Technology Centre, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. The daily mean concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were positively associated with CO, NO₂, SO₂, O₃, circulatory system (I00-I99), respiratory system (J00-J99.8), eye (H10-H19.8), rash and other nonspecific skin eruption (R21), and neoplasms (C00-D48). After adjusting for confounding factors, the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the escalating daily mean PM₁₀ concentrations were connected to the increasing daily mean PM_2.5 concentrations. This indicates that providing health education programmes and pollution protection, as well as policymakers and legislation, is required for better health.

Keywords: Air pollution; meteorological conditions; PM₁₀; PM_2.5; respiratory diseases

Abstrak

Pencemaran udara adalah faktor risiko kesihatan yang utama. Pendedahan jangka panjang kepada pencemaran udara persekitaran memberi impak yang besar kepada penyakit pernafasan kronik dan penyakit yang berkaitan dengan masalah kesihatan. Matlamat kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji perkaitan antara pencemaran udara, penyakit pernafasan dan penyakit yang berkaitan dengan kesihatan di Utara Thailand. Purata kepekatan harian PM₁₀ dan PM_2.5, termasuk data keadaan meteorologi dari 2015 hingga 2020, diukur dan direkodkan oleh Jabatan Kawalan Pencemaran (PCD), Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, Thailand. Bilangan kumulatif harian penyakit pernafasan dan data masalah kesihatan yang berkaitan dari 2015 hingga 2020 telah diukur dan direkodkan oleh Pusat Teknologi Maklumat dan Komunikasi, Kementerian Kesihatan Awam, Thailand. Purata kepekatan harian PM₁₀ dan PM_2.5 dikaitkan secara positif dengan CO, NO₂, SO₂, O₃, sistem peredaran darah (I00-I99), sistem pernafasan (J00-J99.8), mata (H10-H19.8), ruam dan letusan kulit tidak khusus lain (R21) dan neoplasma (C00-D48). Selepas melaraskan faktor yang mengelirukan, analisis regresi linear berganda mendedahkan bahawa purata kepekatan PM₁₀ harian yang semakin meningkat dikaitkan dengan peningkatan purata kepekatan PM_2.5 harian. Ini menunjukkan bahawa penyediaan program pendidikan kesihatan dan perlindungan pencemaran, serta penggubalan dasar dan perundangan, diperlukan untuk jaminan kesihatan yang lebih baik.

Kata kunci: Keadaan meteorologi; pencemaran udara; penyakit pernafasan; PM₁₀; PM_2.5

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^*Corresponding author; email: sake_115@hotmail.com