Assessment of Air Quality Index and Potential Health Risks Using Meteorological Parameters in Chonburi Province, Thailand
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Abstract
This study assessed seasonal variations in air pollutant concentrations, air quality index (AQI), meteorological influences, and inhalation health risks in an industrially influenced area of Chonburi Province, Thailand, during 2019–2021. Monthly concentrations of NO2, O3, PM10, and PM2.5 were analyzed by season. AQI was calculated as a screening-level indicator using available monitoring data, excluding SO2 and CO because complete data were unavailable. Associations between AQI and meteorological variables were examined using Pearson correlation and regression analyses. Non-carcinogenic inhalation risk was assessed using hazard quotient (HQ) values based on a screening-level concentration-based approach. Pollutant concentrations were generally higher in January and February and lower during June–September. Winter showed the highest
mean concentrations of NO2, O3, PM10, and PM2.5 at 16.37 ± 1.64 ppb, 30.73 ± 3.62 ppb, 60.71 ± 11.68 µg/m3, and 31.33 ± 7.53 µg/m³, respectively. AQI was also highest in winter (73.33 ± 32.69), followed by summer (30.22 ± 5.74) and the rainy season (22.67 ± 5.49). AQI was positively correlated with atmospheric pressure (r = 0.748, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with relative humidity (r = −0.621, p < 0.01) and rainfall (r = −0.524, p < 0.01). Multiple regression showed that atmospheric pressure was the only significant independent predictor of AQI (B = 8.074, p = 0.004), although this association should be interpreted cautiously due to possible temporal autocorrelation and COVID-19-related activity changes. The HQ results indicated that PM2.5 and PM₁₀ were the main contributors to potential non-carcinogenic inhalation risk, particularly during winter, when their HQ values exceeded 1.0. NO2 and O3 remained below 1.0 across all seasons. These findings support the need for season-specific air quality management, especially particulate matter control during winter pollution episodes in industrial communities.
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