PHOTO: The Nation
Concern grows as the air air pollution problem within the North and North-east regions of Thailand threatens to affect the well being of the public.
Phrae (northern Thailand) was the worst affected area in Thailand on Monday morning with the PM2.5 reaching 102 micrograms per cubic metre and the Air Quality Index (AQI) level of 212, whereas PM10 hit 132 micrograms.
The Climate Change Data Centre has attributed the rise of PM2.5 over the previous few days to the burning of a number of managed fires in the North to forestall future forest fires. Thailand has 149 fire ‘hotspots’ from February 4-10, making it second only to Cambodia with 159, whereas Vietnam had 61 and Myanmar 18. Guilt-free of the fires, unofficially, are from the burning off of cane and rice plantations in readiness for new crops.
Lampang’s Mae Mo district, Chiang Mai’s Saraphi and Hot district, Lamphun and Phrae’s Long and Rong Kwang districts have all been categorised as “affecting health” because of the excessive levels of air pollution.
Local residents are being advised to remain indoors when potential, with those who are more vulnerable (due to age, pregnancy or continual ailments) to be further cautious..