Opinions of Khon Kaen Province residents on the source of dust, health effects, problem solving operations, and self-protection solutions against PM2.5 dust Issues

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate sources of dust, health effects of air pollution as well as opinions on problem solving operations and self-protection solutions in addressing the PM2.5 dust concerns of residents in Khon Kaen province. Participants were 850 persons selected by purposive sampling. The reliability of research tool was obtained via Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.70. Descriptive statistics in terms of percentage, mean, and standard deviation were employed to analyze the data. The results indicated that:

The following three sources of dust, soot, and ash were averaged from highest to lowest: 1) cooking fumes; 2) dust/vehicle fumes; and 3) incense smoke (M = 2.43, 2.32, and 1.84 respectively). 2) The health effects of air pollution on the symptoms of PM2.5 were ranked from least to most serious: 1) a stuffy nose; 2) a runny nose; and 3) a burning nose (58.9%, 47.5% and 38.5% respectively); 3) The top three initiatives to protect themselves from PM2.5 dust were: 1) undertaking a campaign to encourage everyone to wear a mask; 2) there should be concrete measures in place to help the PM.5 operation as well as self and environmental protection from PM2.5; and 3) there should be measures in place to deal with garbage, charcoal, sugarcane and agricultural burning (14.25%, 6.95% and 3.18% respectively). 4) Residents' top three self-remediation solutions for protecting themselves against PM2.5 dust were: 1) wearing masks; 2) helping to reduce air pollution, e.g. not burning sugarcane, waste or rice straw; and 3) avoiding exposure to dusty areas (45.18%, 26.35% and 20.59% respectively).

Recommendations for promoting actions and mitigation of PM2.5 dust in Khon Kaen province include individual, family, community and social participation in promoting campaigns and setting plans in stringent ongoing reduction and eradication of dust sources. In addition, there should be controlling and preventing strategies in short-term, medium-term and long-term plans and also legislation measures related to air pollution control of the province. The related laws, the National Environmental Quality Promotion and Conservation Act, B.E. 2535 (1992); and the Public Health Act, B.E. 2535 (1992), should be communicated for understanding and obeying leading to reducing air pollution and increasing quality of life of people.