出版社：Thai Society of Higher Eduction Institutes on Environment
摘要：Particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter (PM10) from home industry has a huge impact onthe environment, adversely affecting respiratory symptoms and quality of life. We aimed to assessthe health-related quality of life (HRQOL), respiratory symptoms and residential distance. A crosssectionalstudy was carried out with 380 subjects who were interviewed using the SF-36 Qualityof Life Instrument, respiratory symptoms also being assessed. Residential distance was measuredusing a geographic information system (GIS) tool. PM10 and crystalline silica concentrations weremeasured by 41 samplers from 11 stone-mortar factories. The results showed that the average PM10and silica concentrations were lower than recommendations by NIOSH and ACGIH, while thecrystalline silica concentrations were higher. The average scores of the physical components HRQOLwere higher than those of a control group of Thai volunteers. The overall HRQOL findings weresignificantly different in age, income, education, occupation, respiratory symptoms, underlyingdiseases and residential distance. The multivariable analysis indicated that residential distance wasassociated with physical, mental and overall HRQOL after adjusting for age, respiratory symptomsand underlying diseases. Therefore, the local policy makers need to facilitate the reduction in airpollution from stone factories to improve respiratory health and quality of life.
