Toxic smog in Thailand: alarming levels in 57 provinces

Bangkok and 57 of Thailand's 76 provinces were covered in a cloud of PM2.5 at dangerous levels on Monday, January 26.

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported at 8 am that red PM2.5 levels ranged between 75.2 and 93.8 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) of air in Bangkok and 15 provinces.

The safety threshold set by the government for PM2.5 is 37.5 µg/m³ in Thailand.

Reminder: the Thai safety threshold is more than twice the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, which sets the limit at 15 µg/m³ over 24 hours.

Bangkok and 15 provinces put on red alert for PM2.5

The highest level, 93.8 µg/m³, was recorded in the northeastern province of Nong Khai, followed by high levels in Bangkok and neighboring provinces:

93.7 in Samut Songkhram, 91.2 in Samut Sakhon, 86.7 in Pathum Thani, 85.4 in Nonthaburi, and 85.3 in Bangkok.

The other provinces covered with red levels of ultrafine dust, in descending order, were:

Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Lop Buri, Phetchaburi, Samut Prakan, Ang Thong, Chachoengsao, and Suphan Buri.

42 provinces affected by air pollution harmful to health

Orange levels (starting to harm health) of PM2.5 were recorded in 42 provinces, ranging from 38.5 to 73.4 µg/m³.

By region, it was:

North Region: Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Phichit.

Northeast Region (Isan): Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kalasin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Chaiyaphum, Roi Et, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Phetchabun, Buri Ram, Mukdahan, Sakon Nakhon, Bueng Kan, Yasothon, Loei.

Central Region: Sing Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Nakhon Sawan, Kanchanaburi.

East Region: Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat.

South Region: Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla, Narathiwat, Trang, Phatthalung.

Moderate air quality in ten Thai provinces

Ten provinces recorded moderate air quality, with PM2.5 levels between 25.8 and 37.2 µg/m³.

In descending order, these are Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Phanom, Sukhothai, Phrae, Nan, Lampang, Phayao, Satun, Phangnga and Surat Thani.

Where the air remains breathable in Thailand

Seven provinces recorded good air quality, with PM2.5 levels between 16.6 and 22.8 µg/m³, namely, in descending order:

Lamphun, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son.

Two southern provinces, Ranong and Chumphon, recorded very good air quality with PM2.5 levels of only 11.4 and 10.6 µg/m³ respectively.

See also:

Air pollution in Thailand: the Page urgency of a law facing the PM2.5 crisis

Thailand: new hope to combat air pollution

Lung cancer rates increase in Thailand due to air pollution

Source: Bangkok Post