The widespread use of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides in agriculture poses significant health risks due to their cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitory effects. However, existing detection methods are often expensive and require specialized facilities, limiting their accessibility. This study developed a cost-effective, portable, and sensitive sensor using personal glucose meter (PGM) technology to detect ChE activity in human blood and pesticide residues in vegetables. A thiocholine-based assay was designed to measure ChE activity via PGM, enabling the assessment of enzyme inhibition caused by pesticide exposure. The optimized PGM-based sensor achieved limits of detection (LODs) of 0.138 ppm for mevinphos and 0.113 ppm for carbofuran in standard solutions, with strong correlations (R > 0.99) between standard and fortified samples, indicating high sensitivity and accuracy. The method demonstrated reliable detection of ChE inhibition at pesticide concentrations as low as 0.05 ppm. The developed sensor offers a portable and efficient tool for point-of-care diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety applications. This approach enhances public health protection by enabling accessible pesticide detection. Future work will focus on expanding detection capabilities, improving specificity and stability, and conducting clinical validation for broader applications.

Background/Objectives: Lung function decline is influenced by metabolic risk factors (e.g., obesity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia) and environmental exposures (e.g., PM2.5), which may jointly contribute to airway inflammation and lung function impairment. This study aimed to investigate these associations in northern Thai adults and identify factors linked to lung function impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in San Pa Thong, Chiang Mai, Thailand, involving 137 adults. Data on metabolic indicators and spirometry were collected. Statistical analyses included Spearman’s correlation, multivariable linear regression, and logistic regression. Results: Higher triglyceride levels and shorter 6-min walk test (6MWT) distances were associated with reduced forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Only 6MWT distance remained a significant factor for lung function impairment in logistic regression (adjusted OR = 0.763, 95% CI: 0.588–0.990, p = 0.042). Conclusions: Combining metabolic and respiratory assessments may improve early detection of lung function impairment in high-risk populations, particularly given the dual burden of metabolic disorders and air pollution in northern Thailand. These findings support the integration of metabolic and respiratory screening in community health programs to enhance preventive strategies.

Background: Subclinical respiratory impairment among non-smokers in regions with haze-affected regions is still under-recognized, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study assessed the prevalence of subclinical respiratory impairment among non-smoking adults and examined its determinants and associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 244 non-smoking adults (18–65 years) from three rural districts underwent standardized spirometry and completed the Thai WHOQOL-BREF-26. Subclinical impairment was defined as an FEV₁/FVC < 0.70 or FVC < 80% predicted in the absence of symptoms. Demographic, occupational, and environmental information was obtained through structured questionnaires. Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests, univariate linear regression, and logistic regression. Results: A total of 37 participants (15.2%) had subclinical respiratory impairment. No demographic, occupational, or environmental factors such as sex, age, BMI category, agricultural work, marital status, and self-reported pollution exposure were found to be independently linked to impaired lung function. There was no correlation between spirometry indices and any WHOQOL-BREF domain. Elderly participants (>50 years) reported a higher level of physical and psychological HRQoL. Those with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) were more likely to have a lower environmental quality of life. Farmers reported a better QoL, while women reported a lower QoL than men. Conclusions: Subclinical respiratory impairment occurs frequently in non-smoking rural adults exposed to haze pollution in Chiang Mai, and isn’t presently assessed by general HRQoL instruments. These findings support early spirometry screening for asymptomatic adults in polluted regions, as well as more stringent air cleanliness strategies to prevent the evolution towards overt respiratory pathology.

Cholinesterase (ChE) is an essential enzyme for nervous system function, and its activity in the blood serves as a biomarker for pesticide exposure, necessitating accessible assessment methods in resource-limited areas. This study focused on developing and validating a micro-electrometric method to rapidly and reliably measure ChE activity in human blood to monitor pesticide exposure. A micro-electrometric method was designed to evaluate ChE activity in whole-blood samples, involving incubation with organophosphate and carbamate pesticides and subsequent pH measurement, and its performance was compared to that of the Ellman method. The optimized method was strongly correlated with the Ellman method (R² = 0.9147), effectively measuring dose-dependent ChE inhibition by mevinphos and carbofuran with stabilization after 10 min, demonstrating a high sensitivity suitable for field applications. The micro-electrometric method is easy, accurate, and inexpensive for measuring ChE activity. It has been proven to work by comparing it to other methods; therefore, it can be used in clinical and research settings with limited resources.

Pesticide contamination in fruits and vegetables remains a critical food safety concern in Northern Thailand, posing risks to environmental and human health. Improving knowledge, attitude, and behavior (KAB) in food safety is essential for reducing pesticide exposure, particularly among migrant workers. This cross-sectional study evaluates food safety knowledge, attitude, behavior, and pesticide exposure among Myanmar migrant workers in Chiang Mai Province. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 137 participants between August and September 2025 in Mueang, Mae Rim, and San Sai districts. Mann–Whitney U test and linear regression were used to explore demographic differences and associated factors of knowledge, attitude, and safety behavior. Most participants demonstrated adequate knowledge (65.7%) and positive attitude (80.3); however, 78.1% reported only moderate safety behavior. Higher knowledge and more favorable attitudes were observed among non-Shan ethnic groups and participants with higher education (p < 0.001). Women and non-farming workers exhibited significantly safer behavior (p < 0.05). Knowledge and attitude were strongly correlated (ρ = 0.556, p < 0.01), but neither was associated with safety behavior. Most participants had cholinesterase activity within the normal reference range (73.0% cellular AChE; 81.0% plasma BChE). Low enzyme activity was observed in 13.9% and 6.6% of participants, respectively. Enzyme activity did not differ significantly by occupation, sex, or ethnicity and was not significantly associated with KAB scores. Linear regression analyses identified ethnicity as significantly associated with knowledge and attitude; whereas, sex and occupation were significantly associated with safety behavior. These findings suggest that individual-level knowledge and attitude may not be sufficient to drive protective behavior among migrant workers, though the cross-sectional study design limits causal inference and generalizability.

Flooding is the most devastating natural disaster in Southeast Asia, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities and posing substantial public health challenges. This PRISMA 2020 systematic review, registered with PROSPERO, aimed to synthesize the determinants influencing community flood resilience among flood-affected communities in Southeast Asia. Five electronic databases and Google Scholar were searched for empirical peer-reviewed studies published between January 2015 and January 2026. Methodological quality was independently assessed using the Kmet standard quality assessment tool, and a convergent integrated synthesis design was applied for the synthesis. Eighteen studies (nine quantitative, six qualitative, and three mixed methods) from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam met acceptable quality thresholds. Seven determinant domains were identified: (1) sociodemographic, (2) flood exposure, (3) socioeconomic, (4) socio-cultural, (5) environmental, (6) physical, and (7) psychological factors. Synthesized evidence revealed that community flood resilience is shaped by dynamic interactions among structural, social, environmental, and psychological determinants that collectively influence resilience capacities. Psychological factors, particularly risk perception and anxiety, served as cross-cutting influences on adaptive behavior, while vulnerability remained concentrated among older adults, women, low-income households, informal settlements, and rural agricultural communities. These findings highlight the importance of integrated and equity-oriented resilience strategies that strengthen community adaptation and improve public health outcomes in the region.