Estimate of PM10 by using visual range in order to substitute the air quality monitoring station in two areas of Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
Keywords:
Particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less, PM10, Visual Range, Air quality level, Chiang Mai ProvinceAbstract
Background: “Smog” is a major problem in the upper northern region of Thailand. It has negative impact to everyone’s health especially the risk groups with low immunity. Up to present, many areas of Chiang Mai Province still do not have air quality monitoring station. They have estimated PM10 by using the visual range evaluation. The research team then interested in studying the correlation between the PM10 estimated by visual range and the PM10 measured from the air quality monitoring stations, both in Mueang and Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province, in order to recommend the disease control measures.
Methods: This study is a descriptive study. By collecting PM10 estimated by visual range and PM10 measured from the air quality monitoring station in Mueang and Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai province, during 1 March–31 May 2017. We analyzed data by means of frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, Spearman rank correlation and t-test with level of significant 0.01.
Results: During 1 March–31 May 2017, the visual range evaluation showed the highest PM10 levels of Mueang and Mae Chaem district were in March and April-May 2017 which were 139–351 and 89–138 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), respectively. The air quality monitoring stations showed the highest PM10 levels of Mueang and Mae Chaem district were in March and April 2017 which were 83.40 ± 20.48 and 76.70 ± 35.00 μg/m3, respectively. The PM10 measured from those two methods had correlation with statistically significant. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient of Muang and Mae Jam District were 0.70 and 0.86, respectively (p = 0.01).
Recommendations: 1) The establishment of air quality monitoring stations should be prioritized in many areas of Chiang Mai Province. For the areas that have limited resource, they can use estimated number of PM10 from visual range evaluation for substitution. 2) For visual range evaluation, the evaluators should have good vision and pass the disease screening. And 3) the air quality level evaluation should be carefully conducted because its results will lead to the announcement of public health measures.
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