Self-Assessment Adaptive Capacity Indicators of Health Risks from Air Pollution

Nawhath Thanvisitthpon,Phakkharawat Sittiprapaporn,Phaisit Trakulkongsmut,Jarasphol Rintra,Akkarach Bumrungpert

doi:10.3390/su132313141

Nawhath Thanvisitthpon, Phakkharawat Sittiprapaporn + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313141

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Abstract

This research proposes a set of 12 self-assessed air pollution adaptive capacity (APAC) indicators to determine and mitigate individual-level air pollution-related health risks. In the study, the APAC indicators were first statistically validated based on data from panels of experts using structural equation modeling. The validated indicators were subsequently transformed into a questionnaire to measure the individual-level APAC index. For ease of interpretation, the APAC index was converted into an APAC grade. The APAC grade was compared against the grading criteria based on Air Quality Index (AQI) levels to assess the individual-level health risks from air pollution. The proposed APAC-based self-assessment program to determine the individual-level health impacts from air pollution could be adopted as an economical and efficient alternative to costly and complicated clinical assessment.

Highlights

Air pollution claimed an estimated seven million lives annually worldwide [1,2,3,4].The World Health Organization (WHO) and several studies reported that people in urban areas breathe air contaminated with high levels of pollutants [5,6]
To assess the levels of health risks of individuals from air pollution, the adaptive capacity (APAC) grades are compared against the grading criteria which are based on 7-day average U.S Air Quality Index (AQI) levels (Table 3)
This study proposed 12 APAC indicators to assess and mitigate the individual-level health risks from air pollution

Summary

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) and several studies reported that people in urban areas breathe air contaminated with high levels of pollutants [5,6]. More than 80% of urban residents are exposed to indoor and outdoor air pollution that exceeds. Evidence shows that exposure to air pollutants can cause respiratory disorders, ranging from cough and shortness of breath to asthma [6,10]. The long-term health risks of air pollution include severe asthma and cardiovascular diseases and death [1,3,11,12]. The elderly and small children face greater risk from air pollution than any other age group [13,14,15]

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