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This study describes the validation and field application of new tailor

Abstract-The inhalation of fine particles (PM 2.5 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) has been associated with health problems. Incense burning is an important indoor source of these pollutants. This research aims to measure PM 2.5 and NO 2 emitted from incense burning in shrines on special occasions and during normal periods to assess the indoor air quality changes. PM 2.5 samples were collected on Teflon filters using a mini volume air sampler set up inside the shrines, while NO 2 samples were collected by tube type passive samplers, set up both indoors and outdoors. When special events were compared with normal occasions, the mean PM 2.5 concentrations obtained from 8 and 24 hrs were significantly different (p<0.05). Moreover, their concentrations were significantly higher on Chinese New Year than on other special occasions. In the case of NO 2 , the concentrations were not different among a variety of special occasions, but were higher than the values measured during the normal periods. Moreover, NO 2 concentrations were not found to be significantly different when the indoor and the outdoor values were compared. The values of PM 2.5 and NO 2 concentrations at both shrines were highest during the Chinese New Year. The main reason for this was clearly the number of visitors, which was related with the amount of incense being burned. Concentrations of NO 2 and PM 2.5 were well correlated (r = 0.580 -0.779) in every occasion. It can be concluded that the amount of incense being burned played a significant role in pollutant emissions and the indoor air quality.Index Terms-PM 2.5 , nitrogen dioxide, incense burning, indoor air quality.

Exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) poses a danger to the health of many children all over the world especially children that attend schools in the vicinities of traffic roads and industries. This research study aims to assess the impacts of NO2 exposure on the health of the students. NO2 samples were collected by tube-type passive samplers. Moreover, the investigation of indoor NO2 exposure of students was associated with physical human health by using multiple logistic regressions. The results revealed that the indoor and outdoor NO2 concentrations in elementary schools were 9.0 ± 4.4 to 16.7 ± 2.7 μg/m3 and 8.2 ± 2.1 to 17.7 ± 6.7 μg/m3, respectively. However, indoor and outdoor values of NO2 were lower than the WHO standard of 40 μg/m3. Non-carcinogenic risk assessments of NO2 were carried out to help assess the health risks of students. It was found that the HQ of all those who studied in schools was less than 1, indicating no health risks. However, NO2 in classrooms can cause eye irritation (p-value = 0.007), pink eye/ allergic conjunctivitis (p-value = 0.012), runny nose (p-value = 0.020), sore throat (p-value = 0.038), wheeze (p-value = 0.022) and cough (p-value = 0.035). Therefore, children who spend time in classrooms close to heavy traffic and petrochemical plants might find themselves exposed to increased health risks.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a hazardous gas and an air pollutant that is released from a variety of sources, including fossil fuel mining and burning, automobile emissions and other sources. The inhalation of NO2 has been linked to the exact causes of a variety of health issues, including respiratory disorders and a variety of other maladies. The largest source of NO2 exposure is through traffic density emissions. The concentrations of ambient NO2 in Rayong province’s urban, industrial and background areas were measured during rainy, winter and summer seasons. Samples of NO2 were collected with the use of passive samplers during September 2017 to April 2018. The result of the analysis revealed that NO2 concentration of urban area, industrial area and background area were 13.9 - 43.0, 10.4 - 34.0 and 5.8 - 35.2 µg/m3, respectively. It is to be noted that NO2 concentrations in urban and industrial areas were significantly higher than those in background areas (p < 0.05). The dominant source is located nearby high traffic density and industrial establishments. However, the NO2 values obtained from seasonal variations were not significantly different (p > 0.05). A weak correlation was observed between NO2 concentrations and total precipitation (r = −0.237). The low wind speed has no effect on NO2 dispersion. As a result of the geographical and seasonal variation of NO2 concentrations, it was determined that local activities such as traffic density had a much greater impact on NO2 levels than meteorological factors. The hazard quotient (HQ) values from NO2 exposure in Rayong province were less than 1, indicating that the risk was negligible. The inhalation of NO2 by residents who live near the roadside and highway, on the other hand, may endanger their health. HIGHLIGHTS NO2 concentrations in Rayong province related to traffic density and industrial establishments The ambient NO2 levels in urban and industrial areas were approximately 1.4 times higher than those in background areas (p < 0.05) Residents of Rayong province who live near the roadside and highway road may put their health at risk due to NO2 inhalation GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT