Source-Specific PM2.5 Pollution and Respiratory Health Impacts in an Urban Asian District: A Real-Time Monitoring Study in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Introduction: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a pressing public health challenge in rapidly urbanizing Asian cities. In District 5 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, localized PM2.5 pollution arises from diverse sources such as stationary street food vendors, religious temples, traffic congestion, and fuel stations. Understanding the relative contribution of these sources is critical for designing effective interventions. This study aims to identify and quantify the contributions of specific local PM2.5 sources to respiratory health outcomes among residents in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.

Methods: We conducted a source-specific assessment of PM2.5 exposure and its association with respiratory health outcomes using a real-time sensor network (Airbeam3) deployed at seven sites representative of key emission sources. A total of 184 participants were recruited for the study, including residents living near various PM2.5 sources. Respiratory symptoms were evaluated through a locally adapted American Thoracic Society questionnaire (ATS-DLD-78). Multivariable regression models were used to quantify the impact of specific sources on reported symptoms.

Results: Stationary street-food vendors and traffic congestion were identified as dominant contributors to PM2.5 pollution. Residents living near continuous traffic and stationary street vendor areas experienced significantly higher rates of sputum production. Stationary street-food vendors exhibited the strongest association with adverse outcomes (β = 0.47, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our findings highlighted the urgent need for targeted air pollution control strategies in complex urban environments. Interventions such as cleaner cooking technologies and improved traffic management may significantly reduce PM2.5 exposure and its health burden. This study demonstrates the utility of low-cost, real-time monitoring for guiding public health policies in rapidly developing megacities.