| Summary: | Chiang Mai has been one of the most polluted cities globally, exceeding the PM<sub>2.5</sub> quality standards for decades and facing hazardous air pollution on an annual basis. As ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> strongly affects human health, this study aims to investigate the hotspots of PM<sub>2.5</sub> and health impact areas due to exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub> by illustrating a spatial distribution via a Chiang Mai health risk map. The association between PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration and human health impact were assessed using Pearson’s correlation, focused on the peak period from January to April 2021 in Chiang Mai. The primary data on PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration were collected using low-cost sensors. The health impact is based on the number of hospital admissions in all incidences of diseases due to PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure following the ICD-10. The results showed that the highest polluted and health-risk areas were located in the center of Chiang Mai, especially in the Mueang district. PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration was highly correlated with the incidence of dermatitis (R = 0.84), conjunctivitis (R = 0.81), stroke (R = 0.74), and lung cancer (R = 0.73). Thus, the increased PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration resulted in heightened hospital admissions. The results provide insightful information for policymakers and local public health organizations regarding priority areas in resource management.
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