Influence of meteorological factors on air pollution and health risks: A comparative analysis of industrial and urban areas in Chonburi Province, Thailand

Abstract

Air pollution is a major global issue due to its short- and long-term effects on public health, with meteorological factors significantly influencing its spread. This study compared the relationships between meteorological factors, air pollution concentrations, and health risk assessments in the urban and industrial areas of Chonburi Province, Thailand. Data on air pollutant concentrations and meteorological factors spanning 10 years (2012–2021) were collected from automatic air pollution monitoring stations operated by the Thailand Pollution Control Department and Thai Meteorological Department. The results revealed that air pollutant concentrations were the highest during the winter season in industrial and urban areas. Pearson's correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between atmospheric pressure and the concentrations of NO₂, particulate matter with diameters <10 μm (PM₁₀), and <2.5 μm (PM_2.5). Conversely, relative humidity (RH), rainfall, and wind speed were negatively correlated with pollutant concentrations. In urban areas, rainfall and RH were negatively correlated with NO₂, CO, O₃, PM₁₀, and PM_2.5. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that meteorological factors moderately influenced O₃, PM₁₀, and PM_2.5 in urban and industrial areas. Industrial areas have higher hazard quotient (HQ) values than urban areas. Notably, the industrial area exhibited higher HQ values than the urban area, with the maximum HQ reaching 1.224 during winter. The results of this study are crucial for planning and developing effective strategies to mitigate the health risks to both the general public and workers from exposure to air pollution.