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MedPharmRes
University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

MedPharmRes

eISSN: 2615-9139

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32895/MPR.25.00026

Article

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

Thuy Thi Truc Phan1, Thu Thi Anh Tran1, Quang Minh Lam1, Tram Thi Hong Huynh1, Loan Thi Hong Bui2, Dang Ngoc Tran1,*
1Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
2General Planning Department, University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
*Corresponding author: Dang Ngoc Tran. E-mail: tranngocdang@ump.edu.vn

© Copyright 2025 MedPharmRes. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

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.

Keywords: PM2.5 pollution; respiratory health; source-specific analysis; stationary street food vendors; traffic congestion; air quality monitoring; low-cost sensors; Ho Chi Minh City; urban air pollution; public health policy