PM10 Levels and Hotspots in Western Thailand in Agro-Residue Burning Season

Abstract

Open burning of agro-residues normally generates a large amount of pollutants which may result inpotential impacts on the ambient air quality and public health. A study of a correlation between PM 10 levelsin ambient air and hotspot counts in Western Thailand was conducted to investigate whether the air qualityof Nakhon Pathom Province was influenced by the emission from agro-residue burning. Two high VolumeSamplers for PM 10 sampling were installed in Silpakorn University to obtain the representative PM 10 levelsin Nakhon Pathom province. The number of hotspots, as the fingerprints of open burnings, was provided bythe NASA’s Earth Observatory website. The hotspot counting was divided into 2 parts; (i) 5-year backwardcounting in the province to investigate the burning season, and (ii) counting in Nakhon Pathom province andupwind-adjacent provinces including Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Pathumthani, Pranakorn Sriayudhaya andSuphanburi in a burning season. Wind directions to the sampling locations were obtained from a HYSPLITModel. Average PM 10 levels found in this study was 88±34 mg/m3, which does not exceed Thailand AirQuality Standard of 120mg/m3. The positive correlation between PM 10 levels and hotspot counts was foundat R2=+0.81. This study indicated that air quality in Nakhon Pathom Province was affected by emissionsfrom agro-residue burning. Key Words: Agro-residues; Burning Season; Hotspots; PM 10