Using GIS Tools to Estimate Health Risk from Biomass Burning in Northern Thailand

The assessment of adverse health effect from air pollutants exposure in the north of Thailand was studied. Eight provinces were in the risk areas from biomass burning pollutants which occurred in the dry season from January to April annually. The haze pollutants are from the burning of agricultural wastes to prepare for the next crops plantation in addition to natural forest fires. The pollutants such as, fine particulate matter (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) have adverse health effects to the resident and tourists in this area. Daily concentrations of three monitored air pollutants (PM10, O3, CO) during January 2011-December 2015 were provided by the Pollution control department in Thailand. Each individual was geo-coded in ArcGIS10.1 software. The spatial distribution of three pollutants and the temporalspatial specific air pollutants exposure level for each individual was estimated by the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) of PM10, CO and O3 were calculated from the ratio of exposure concentration and reference concentration Hazard Indices (HIPM10,CO,O3) are calculated from summation of HQ. The HI of each co-ordinate areas were compared and illustrated by a GIS-based map. In the dry season, most areas were exposed to air pollution and HI >1 which indicated potential health risks. The hazard map identified from average HI in 2011-2015, indicated potential health risk areas in the dry season were Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Sorn, Phayao and Phrae.