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Matthews JC, Navasumrit P, Wright MD, Chaisatra K, Chompoobut C, Arbon R, Khan MAH, Ruchirawat M, Shallcross DE. Aerosol mass and size-resolved metal content in urban Bangkok, Thailand. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:79025-79040. [PMID: 35705762 PMCID: PMC9587116 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20806-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Inhalable particulate matter (PM) is a health concern, and people living in large cities such as Bangkok are exposed to high concentrations. This exposure has been linked to respiratory and cardiac diseases and cancers of the lung and brain. Throughout 2018, PM was measured in northern Bangkok near a toll road (13.87°N, 100.58°E) covering all three seasons (cool, hot and rainy). PM10 was measured in 24- and 72-h samples. On selected dates aerodynamic size and mass distribution were measured as 3-day samples from a fixed 5th floor inlet. Particle number concentration was measured from the 5th floor inlet and in roadside survey measurements. There was a large fraction of particle number concentration in the sub-micron range, which showed the greatest variability compared with larger fractions. Metals associated with combustion sources were most found on the smaller size fraction of particles, which may have implications for associated adverse health outcomes because of the likely location of aerosol deposition in the distal airways of the lung. PM10 samples varied between 30 and 100 μg m-3, with highest concentrations in the cool season. The largest metal fractions present in the PM10 measurements were calcium, iron and magnesium during the hot season with average airborne concentrations of 13.2, 3.6 and 2.0 μg m-3, respectively. Copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, cadmium, antimony and lead had large non-crustal sources. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified likely sources of the metals as crustal minerals, tailpipe exhaust and non-combustion traffic. A health risk analysis showed a higher risk of both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects in the drier seasons than the wet season due to ingestion of nickel, arsenic, cadmium and lead.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C Matthews
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
| | - Panida Navasumrit
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
| | - Matthew D Wright
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Krittinee Chaisatra
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
| | - Chalida Chompoobut
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
| | - Robert Arbon
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
- Jean Golding Institute, Royal Fort House, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UH, UK
| | - M Anwar H Khan
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Mathuros Ruchirawat
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
| | - Dudley E Shallcross
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville, 7375, South Africa
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Kaewrat J, Janta R, Sichum S, Rattikansukha C, Tala W, Kanabkaew T. Human Health Risks and Air Quality Changes Following Restrictions for the Control of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10090520. [PMID: 36136484 PMCID: PMC9501010 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10090520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic first impacted Thailand in early 2020. The government imposed lockdown measures from April to May 2020 to control the spread of infection. Daily lifestyles then morphed into a so-called new normal in which activities were conducted at home and people avoided congregation in order to prevent the spread of an infectious disease. This study evaluated the long-term air quality improvement which resulted from the restrictions enforced on normal human activities in Thailand. The air quality index (AQI) of six criteria pollutants and health risk assessments were evaluated in four areas, including metropolitan, suburban, industrial, and tourism areas in Thailand. The results showed that, after the restriction measures, the overall AQI improved by 30%. The subindex of each pollutant (sub-AQI) of most pollutants significantly improved (by 30%) in metropolitan areas after human activities changed due to the implementation of lockdown measures. With regard to industrial and tourism areas, only the sub-AQI of traffic-related pollutants decreased (34%) while the sub-AQIs of other pollutants before and after lockdown were similar. However, the changes in human activities were not clearly related to air quality improvement in the suburban area. The overall hazard index (HI) after lockdown decreased by 23% because of the reduction of traffic-related pollutants. However, the HI value remained above the recommended limits for the health of the adult residents in all areas. Therefore, strict regulations to control other pollutant sources, such as industry and open burning, will also be necessary for air quality improvement in Thailand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenjira Kaewrat
- School of Languages and General Education, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Sustainable Disaster Management, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Rungruang Janta
- School of Languages and General Education, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Sustainable Disaster Management, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-75-672-401
| | - Surasak Sichum
- Center of Excellence in Sustainable Disaster Management, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Chuthamat Rattikansukha
- School of Languages and General Education, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Sustainable Disaster Management, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Wittaya Tala
- Environmental Science Research Center (ESRC), Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Environmental Chemistry Research Laboratory (ECRL), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Thongchai Kanabkaew
- Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 10120, Thailand
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