Affiliation:
1. Department of Academic, Montfort College, Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand
2. Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
3. Environmental and Occupational Medicine Excellence Center (EnOMEC), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Abstract
Air pollution in upper northern Thailand raises health concerns. This study examined trends and associations between air pollutants and respiratory diseases, focusing on COPD and lung cancer during haze (December–May) and non-haze (June–November) seasons in upper northern Thailand from 2013 to 2022. This study utilized data from the Pollution Control Department and Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health. The key air pollutants included PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3. Respiratory disease data included fatality rates for lung cancer and COPD and the re-admission rate for COPD. Results indicated peak air pollutant levels and COPD re-admission rates in March, with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding air quality standards from January to April. During haze periods, COPD fatality and re-admission rates significantly increased (mean difference: 0.43 and 4.23 per 1000-case population, respectively; p < 0.001), while lung cancer fatality rates were higher without statistical significance. Pearson correlation analysis found positive correlations between PM10, PM2.5, O3, and NO2 concentrations and COPD re-admission and fatality rates at 0–1 month lag times, with a declining trend observed at subsequent lag intervals of 2 to 3 months. Overall, this study highlights the predictable pattern of air pollution in the region, correlating with higher COPD fatality and re-admission rates.