Evidence of associations between exposure to ambient air pollution and health outcomes are sparse in the South Asian region due to limited air pollution exposure and quality health data. This study investigated the potential impacts of ambient particulate matter (PM) on respiratory disease hospitalization in Kandy, Sri Lanka for the year 2019. The Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was applied to estimate the short-term effect of ambient PM on respiratory disease hospitalization. As the second analysis, respiratory disease hospitalizations during two distinct air pollution periods were analyzed. Each 10 μg/m³ increase in same-day exposure to PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ was associated with an increased risk of respiratory disease hospitalization by 1.95% (0.25, 3.67) and 1.63% (0.16, 3.12), respectively. The effect of PM_2.5 or PM₁₀ on asthma hospitalizations were 4.67% (1.23, 8.23) and 4.04% (1.06, 7.11), respectively (p < 0.05). The 65+ years age group had a higher risk associated with PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ exposure and hospital admissions for all respiratory diseases on the same day (2.74% and 2.28%, respectively). Compared to the lower ambient air pollution period, higher increased hospital admissions were observed among those aged above 65 years, males, and COPD and pneumonia hospital admissions during the high ambient air pollution period. Active efforts are crucial to improve ambient air quality in this region to reduce the health effects.

The Volume 9 published for IJEPR Journal.

The need to monitor South Asia's air quality stems from its significant negative effects on human and environmental health. Traditional, regulatory-grade air quality monitoring systems have proven costly to operate and very difficult to maintain in most South-Asian countries. Low-cost sensor (LCS) networks have been touted as a viable alternative, but the challenges to sustain them have not been evaluated or thoroughly documented. The acceptance of such monitors, specifically by regulatory agencies, across South-Asian countries is still lacking. Lack of acceptance is due to prevailing myths (especially, in the regulatory circles of South-Asian countries) about their accuracy, precision, consistency, dependability, maintenance, and calibration concerns. The present study fills that knowledge gap through a systematic multi-country empirical analysis while also providing evidence-based solutions to enhance the longevity of LCS across diverse operational environments. Specifically, this study describes strategies and maintenance plans for operating large LCS networks of TSI BlueSky (8143) Sensors across several South-Asian countries, with a focus on problems caused by power outages, power surges, weather conditions, and continued exposure to high amounts of dust and pollution. The article provides further support that incorporating LCS networks into the regulatory framework can facilitate the enforcement of environmental regulations and legislation against polluters. The goal is to develop a more reliable and long-lasting air quality monitoring system that will assist regional environmental regulatory authorities in reducing air pollution-related health hazards and consequent socio-economic disruptions.