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Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Measuring Carbon Content in Airway Macrophages Exposed to Carbon-Containing Particulate Matters
Published on: July 12, 2024
Impact of long-term exposure wildfire smog on respiratory health outcomes
Atcharaporn Ontawong1,2, Surasak Saokaew3,4,5,6,7,8, Busabong Jamroendararasame8,9
1Division of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao, Thailand.
Abstract:
Background: Air pollution is a global problem and also linked to respiratory diseases. Wildfire smog is a major cause of air pollution in the upper northern area of Thailand. Thus, in the current study, we examined whether long-term exposure to wildfire smog induces lung function changes in a population from the upper northern area of Thailand.Methods: The lung function of 115 participants with long-term exposure smog was determined using peak flow meter.Results: Long-term smoke exposure participants decreased FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second)/FVC (forced vital capacity) ratio (56.49 ± 23.88 in males and 56.29 ± 28.23 in females) compared with general Thai population. Moreover, the reduction of FVC, FEV1, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) values also showed in both male and female subjects. These results suggest that long-term smoke exposure induces obstructive lung abnormality. Moreover, itchy/watery nose, cough, phlegm, and chest pain also reported in these subjects.Conclusion: Wildfire smog could be induced respiratory pathway inflammation and easily collapsible respiratory airways.
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