Mayurachat Mopuang. Microbial air quality and particulate matter and related illnesses among street venders in Bangkok fashion city. Master's Degree(Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2009-07-27.
Microbial air quality and particulate matter and related illnesses among street venders in Bangkok fashion city
Abstract:
A descriptive-analytic study was carried out from November 2004 to February 2005 to investigate microbial counts and particulate matter (PM10) in outdoor air samples collected from Bangkok Fashion City Street and air quality related illnesses among street venders. A total of 50 air sampling points were purposively selected. Triplicate air samples for each point (totally 150 samples) were collected for investigating bacterial counts and fungal counts by using a Millipore Air Tester. In addition, duplicate air samples for each point (totally 100 samples) were collected for assessing PM10 dust by using Personal Pump Cyclone. For indoor air sample collection, 25 samples were collected from 25 shops on the roadside of the study area for investigating bacterial counts and fungal counts. Three street venders from each air sample collection point (totally 150 persons) were randomly selected for interviews concerning risk exposure and related illnesses by using structured questionnaires.
Results revealed that mean ± SD of outdoor bacterial counts was 393.93 ± 325.39 cfu/m3; that of fungal counts was 121.00 ± 93.99 cfu/m3; and that of PM10 quantity was 126.67 ± 229.82 μg/m3. These were higher than mean ± SD of indoor bacterial counts (228.33 ± 162.16 cfu/m3) and fungal counts (58.33 ± 43.28 cfu/m3). When compared with the recommended levels of the standard guideline, it was found that 4.67% and 26% of total air samples had bacterial counts and PM10 higher than the recommended level (>1,000 cfu/m3 for bacterial counts and >120 μg/m3 for PM10). The prevalence of air quality related illnesses in studied street venders was 58% (87/150). It showed 28% had eye irritation symptoms, 16.67% had shortness of breath and/or sore throat, and 10.67% had running nose symptoms. The relationship between studied factors including bacterial counts and PM10 and air quality related illnesses was analyzed, and it showed no significant association, (p>0.05). In addition, the correlation between microbial counts and PM10 was analyzed, and it showed that only bacterial counts and fungal counts were significantly correlated, (r=0.402, p=0.004).