Health effects of air pollution in Bangkok

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Despite the famous air pollution in Bangkok, no epidemiological study had been performed on the health effects of the air pollution until recently. The World Bank project reported in 1999 which looked at the acute health effects of air pollution in Bangkok concluded that an epidemiological study on chronic respiratory effects is warranted. This is the study to look at the chronic effects of air pollution in Bangkok and it comprises three portions : Environmental monitoring and exposure evaluation, Effects of air pollution on respiratory function, and Effects on chronic respiratory symptoms.For the exposure assessment, PMィイD210ィエD2 data reported by Pollution Control Department in Bangkok was analyzed First, PCD data was validated by simultaneous measurement at the same site with PCD, parallel measurement of PMィイD210ィエD2 and PMィイD22.5ィエD2. Also, personal exposure level of traffic policemen was conducted and compared with the other data. As the result, PCD data were well correlated with o … More ur direct measurement and the PMィイD210ィエD2 level in several monitoring stations often exceeded the National Air Standard for PMィイD210ィエD2 (120 g/mィイD13ィエD1). Spirometry tests were administered to traffic policemen and non-traffic policemen in Bangkok, in addition to general policemen in Ayutthaya Thailand. No consistent trend of decreased pulmonary function was observed in traffic policemen, however, after controlling for age, height and smoking index, mean levels of FEVィイD21.0ィエD2% and VィイD225ィエD2 were significantly lower in Bangkok policemen than in Ayutthaya policemen. Using Thai version of the ATS-DLD respiratory questionnaire, chronic respiratory symptoms were surveyed among traffic policemen working in three different levels of air pollution in Bangkok. As the results, both smokers and nonsmokers in high exposed area showed a higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms of non-specific respiratory diseases compared to less polluted area after controlling for age.These results suggest the urgent necessity of the air pollution control program in Bangkok. Less