Projection of the Near-Future PM2.5 in Northern Peninsular Southeast Asia under RCP8.5

Perspective on Particulate Matter: From Biomass Burning to the Health Crisis in Mainland Southeast Asia

Air pollution, notably particulate matter pollution, has become a serious concern in Southeast Asia in recent decades. The combustion of biomass has been recognized to considerably increase air pollution problems from particulate matter in this region. Consequently, its effect on people in this area is significant. This article presents a synthesis of several datasets obtained from satellites, global emissions, global reanalysis, and the global burden of disease (GBD) to highlight the air quality issue and emphasize the health crisis in mainland Southeast Asia. We found that the death rates of people have increased significantly along with the rise of hotspots in mainland Southeast Asia over the last two decades (2000-2019). In comparison, most countries saw a considerable increase in the predicted fatality rates associated with chronic respiratory illnesses during those two decades. Several reports highlight the continued prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases likely related to poor air quality in Southeast Asia.

Future Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to PM2.5 in Different Age Groups of Children in Northern Thailand

Particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 (PM_2.5) is one of the major threats posed by air pollution to human health. It penetrates the respiratory system, particularly the lungs. In northern Thailand, the PM_2.5 concentrations have significantly increased in the past decade, becoming a major concern for the health of children. This study aimed to assess the health risk of PM_2.5 in different age groups of children in northern Thailand between 2020 and 2029. Based on the PM_2.5 data from the simulation of the Nested Regional Climate Model with Chemistry (NRCM-Chem), the hazard quotient (HQ) was used to estimate the possible risk from PM_2.5 exposure in children. In general, all age groups of children in northern Thailand will tend to experience the threat of PM_2.5 in the future. In the context of age-related development periods, infants are at a higher risk than other groups (toddlers, young children, school age and adolescents), but adolescents also have a lower risk of exposure to PM_2.5, albeit maintaining a high HQ value (>1). Moreover, the analysis of risk assessment in different age groups of children revealed that PM_2.5 exposure might indeed affect adolescent risk differently depending on gender, with males generally at a heightened risk than females in adolescence.

Airborne particulate matter from biomass burning in Thailand: Recent issues, challenges, and options

Many of the current atmospheric environmental problems facing Thailand are linked to air pollution that is largely derived from biomass burning. Different parts of Thailand have distinctive sources of biomass emissions that affect air quality. The main contributors to atmospheric particulate matter (PM), especially the PM_2.5 fraction in Thailand, were highlighted in a recent study of PM derived from biomass burning. This review is divided into six sections. Section one is an introduction to biomass burning in Thailand. Section two covers issues related to biomass burning for each of the four main regions in Thailand, including Northern, Northeastern, Central, and Southern Thailand. In northern Thailand, forest fires and the burning of crop residues have contributed to air quality in the past decade. The northeast region is mainly affected by the burning of agricultural residues. However, the main contributor to PM in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region is motor vehicles and crop burning. In Southern Thailand, the impact of agoindustries, biomass combustion, and possible agricultural residue burning are the primary sources, and cross-border pollution is also important. The third section concerns the effect of biomass burning on human health. Finally, perspectives, new challenges, and policy recommendations are made concerning improving air quality in Thailand, e.g., forest fuel management and biomass utilization. The overall conclusions point to issues that will have a long-term impact on achieving a blue sky over Thailand through the development of coherent policies and the management of air pollution and sharing this knowledge with a broader audience.