Today, February 23, 2023, Pattaya air pollution is very high. According to IQair it is 120 US AQI, ventusky has it as "very unhealthy" at 93 micrograms per cubic meter. See attachment

 

PattayaAir23FEB2023.docx

It's been bad for the last week. When I checked a few hours ago, it was over 160, only a bit better than Chiang Mai which was at the time ranked third-worst in the world, behind only Lahore and Delhi.

Not only Pattaya, but all the east coast.

It's been bad for a while and it's unlikely to change.  Bad air quality is something you have to live with in most parts of Thailand and a lot of Asia.

I gave up exercising on the beach here. Feels horrible in the eyes, mouth and lungs. I got myself a good gym membership instead.

It's the worst I've experienced, I've got a cough and a friend has and I've noticed many others have, probably due to the pollution. Was going to buy an air purifier yesterday but not in stock for 15+ days

Loaded up at the pharmacy on throat spray.

Depends on the wind strength and direction and rain. No rain and gentle wind from the N drives pollution from crop burning in the N towards Pattaya. Rain and wind from the S over the sea drives pollution away. Particularly bad this year as can be seen by smoke drifting across route 7 from the hills to the N of Pattaya. Don't understand why anybody would want to burn hillsides like this although I read that Thais do this either to clear land for planting or drive out animals for the pot.

I see the fine film of dirt/grit on cars left outside. Its been so bad lately that I see and feel it on the bottom of the swimming pool. 

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

It's the worst I've experienced, I've got a cough and a friend has and I've noticed many others have, probably due to the pollution. Was going to buy an air purifier yesterday but not in stock for 15+ days

I have 2 air purifiers for the condo. A Hatari and a Mi (see https://www.mi.com/th/product/xiaomi-smart-air-purifier-4/). I saw the Hatari's at Homepro, Pattaya Klang, a few days ago, (see https://www.homepro.co.th/p/1153621). The Hatari has been running all day, windows and doors are closed, inside it is down to 12-17 AQI.

 

The mi does a better faster job than the Hatari.

2 hours ago, chilly07 said:

Depends on the wind strength and direction and rain. No rain and gentle wind from the N drives pollution from crop burning in the N towards Pattaya. Rain and wind from the S over the sea drives pollution away. Particularly bad this year as can be seen by smoke drifting across route 7 from the hills to the N of Pattaya. Don't understand why anybody would want to burn hillsides like this although I read that Thais do this either to clear land for planting or drive out animals for the pot.

https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs;@97.8,15.0,5z

Using a good N-95 mask when you go outside can make a huge difference. It eliminated my cough. 

4 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

It's the worst I've experienced, I've got a cough and a friend has and I've noticed many others have, probably due to the pollution. Was going to buy an air purifier yesterday but not in stock for 15+ days

Same here & I know of at least 3 other guys who have a bad chesty cough as well. 

 

 

Oh dear, chose the right time to arrive ? I’ll bring my masks and hope back’ In Jomtien it’s a bit better . 

I left because of the pollution, and health problems associated with this.

living with masks? Lockdown inside with air purifiers? 
really?????????????‍♂️
sounds like a great place to retire!

????????‍♂️????????‍♂️

It's been like this for at least a week

This air is out to get you 

The Thai Prime Minister was in Scotland  some time ago attending a Global warming meeting where he promised to do something about this  bad air  in Thailand .....just wondering when he's going to start, or was that trip to stock up the whisky cabinet

I bought an air filter online it seems to make a big difference feeling better when in my room.

3M Filtrete installation on room air conditioner:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka8aMHpddUw

 

Increase the effectiveness by installing weather stripping and bottom door seals on leaky doors.

According to IQair, at 12:50 today, Friday 24 February, it is 155 US AQI - unhealthy.

18 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

According to IQair, at 12:50 today, Friday 24 February, it is 155 US AQI - unhealthy.

Currently I see a 177 on the Dark Side, and 167 in Banglamung. That would put the Dark Side in the #2 rank of major cities in the world.

The dreadful air pollution in Pattaya and all over Thailand isn't really news any more, is it?

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I bought an air filter online it seems to make a big difference feeling better when in my room.

A lot of people are suffering in their head, or at least suffering more than they should. I wasn't aware of this air quality problem until I signed in here for first time in weeks, and hadn't noticed a problem with the air quality. I mainly avoid outdoors in the day when it's hot and do most of my travels at night. Now that I know about it, my breathing is laboured as I am now aware of the problem and focus on it LOL. 

 

I would say the main problem is the Gulf of Thailand has currently become the equivalent of the infamous Doldrums at sea. There's no wind to blow it away.

This is a good time of year to go to Lombok or Malaysia.

50 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

The dreadful air pollution in Pattaya and all over Thailand isn't really news any more, is it?

News this year as it's worse than normal, more people coughing, more people effected than normal

On 2/23/2023 at 2:12 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

It's been bad for a while and it's unlikely to change.  Bad air quality is something you have to live with

and die with.

On 2/23/2023 at 4:15 PM, chilly07 said:

Don't understand why anybody would want to burn hillsides like this

Apparently there's a mushroom that only grows after burning 

Very bad air pollution in Pattaya today, 2 March 2023 at about 3pm. Reading taken in condo, located in central Pattaya, after the door was opened for 5 minutes. US AQI over 200.

42 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

Very bad air pollution in Pattaya today, 2 March 2023 at about 3pm. Reading taken in condo, located in central Pattaya, after the door was opened for 5 minutes. US AQI over 200.

shows the app is inaccurate, 3.40pm