Chiang Mai Air Pollution Hits PM 2.5
There is a call for ‘state of emergency’ as air pollution in Chiang Mai hits PM 2.5. Residents in the northern Thailand are advised to stay inside air conditioned buildings and avoid all outdoor activities in Chiang Mai.
What is PM 2.5?
PM 2.5 is particulate matter fine enough to enter a person’s bloodstream through the lungs – beyond 700 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) of air.
According to The Nation Thailand, Witsanu Attavanich, a lecturer at Kasetsart University, said any level over 500 is hazardous and far beyond the capacity of local authorities to cope. The central government needs to step in now and declare a state of emergency, he said.
“Such a disastrous level of PM2.5 is probably the highest level ever recorded in Thailand,” Witsanu said.
“No need to consider the level of threat from such dangerously hazardous air pollution on our health, as breathing in only 100 micrograms of PM2.5 is considered to be very harmful even for healthy people.”
In January, all schools in Bangkok were temporarily shut down when the PM2.5 level was around 70 to 120 micrograms. But, so far, except for the creation of “safe zones” in Chiang Mai city centre, no such emergency procedure has been ordered by the Chiang Mai Provincial Authority.
Professor Kwanchai Suparatpinyo of Chiang Mai University’s Research Institute for Health Sciences said the situation was critical. He cited the many forest fires that ravaged Chiang Mai and the northern region as well smog from neighbouring countries as the causes.
He urged residents, especially small children, elderly persons and pregnant women as well as those with chronic ailments such as allergies and heart disease, to stay indoors and refrain from all outdoor activity.
If you are planning to visit Northern Thailand especially Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the upcoming days, do prepare a proper mask and do aware of this Chiang Mai Air Pollution PM 2.5 is happening right now.
Our friends in Thailand already planning to promote Chiang Mai after this PM 2.5 issue so you might see us in Northern Thailand soon. We are forever ‘Friends of Thailand’.
