The impact of short-term exposure to black carbon air pollution on asthma exacerbations in Thai children: a time-stratified case-crossover nationwide study from 2015 to 2022

Short-term exposure to black carbon significantly increases the risk of hospitalizations from pediatric asthma exacerbation in Thailand, especially among children under 15 years of age and particularly on the day of exposure. These findings underscore the urgent need for effective air quality interventions, such as cleaner fuel technologies, stricter policies on industrial and agricultural emissions, and enhanced public health measures to mitigate black carbon pollution. Future investigations should integrate personal-level exposures, assess interactions with other pollutants, and evaluate the outcomes of interventions to reduce the respiratory health burden in this vulnerable population.