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This study investigated the effects of weather conditions, air pollutants, and the air quality index (AQI) on daily cases of COVID-19 in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR). In this research, we collected data from January 1 to March 30, 2020 (90 days). This study used secondary data of meteorological and air pollutant parameters obtained from the Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as well as daily confirmed COVID-19 case data in the BMR obtained from the official webpage of the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. We employed descriptive statistics, and Spearman and Kendall rank correlation tests were used to investigate the associations of weather variables, air pollutants, AQI with daily confirmed COVID-19 cases. Our findings indicate that CO, NO 2 , SO 2 , O 3 PM 10 , PM 2.5 , AQI have a significantly negative association with daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in the BMR, whereas meteorological parameters such as temperature, relative humidity (RH), absolute humidity (AH) and wind speed (WS) showed significant positive associations with daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in the BMR. Our study is a useful supplement to encourage regulatory bodies to promote environmental strategies, as air pollution regulation could be a sustainable policy for mitigating the harmful effects of air pollutants. Furthermore, this study provides new insights into the relationship between daily meteorological factors, AQI, and air pollutants and daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in the BMR. These data may provide useful information to the public health authorities and decision makers in Thailand, as well as to the World Health Organization (WHO), in order to set proper strategic aimed at reducing the impact of the COVID-19. Future studies concerning SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses should investigate the possibility of infectious droplet dispersion in indoor and outdoor air during and after the epidemic outbreak., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Air pollution is a major environmental hazard and is likely to have more severe effects on public health in the future. However, the data on the relationship of air pollution to health are still limited. This study aimed to analyze and quantify the long-term impact of the concentration of particulate matter, a diameter = 2.5 µm (PM2.5), in the ambient air meteorological factors, and circulatory system diseases registered in Muang District, Khon Kaen Province from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019. The results of the study showed that most of the patients (76,247) were males (60.36%), out of which a majority (66,482) were older people aged 65 years and above (52.63%). The analysis result of Poisson regression indicated that air pollutants and meteorological factors influenced the incidence rate of circulatory system diseases (CSDs) with statistical significance (p-value < 0.05). In addition, PM2.5 caused a 1.0007 times increase in the incidence of CSDs (IRR = 1.0007; 95% CI = 1.0001-1.0013, p-value = 0.031). In other words, for every increase of 10 µg/cu.m. of PM2.5, the corresponding increase in the incidence rate was 1.0070 times. Based on the epidemiological and statistical analysis, after controlling the other confounding factors, exposure to PM2.5 increased the incidence rate of CSDs in Muang Khon Kaen. The results of this study could be used to assist local health authorities in taking preventative measures in the long run. Nonetheless, to fully comprehend the link between recurring occurrences and recurrent events, more study is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a complex group of chemicals that pose a direct risk to human health. They also lead to the formation of other air pollution constituents, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground level ozone (O₃). The ambient air concentrations of 19 VOCs were measured using multi-day 24 h sampling at two urban sites and two rural sites in the area of Khon Kaen, Thailand. Results showed that most VOCs were at concentrations considered acceptable according to the 24 h average standards established by the Thai Pollution Control Department. The VOC acrolein, however, was detected at concentrations (0.69–1.15 μg/m3) in excess of the 24 h average standard (0.55 μg/m3). Two other VOCs, benzene and 1,3-butadiene, were also detected at elevated levels (1.73–2.75 and 0.18–0.40 μg/m3, respectively) that indicated the potential to exceed the 1-year average standard. VOC concentrations were highest in the urban market monitoring site, suggesting that vehicle exhaust and food preparation using cooking oil at high temperatures may have been potential sources of the elevated VOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]