Northern Thailand grapples with severe global air contamination

[snoop1130]

 

The hazardous red-coded levels of PM2.5 shrouded most northern provinces of Thailand today, with Chiang Mai earning the unenviable title of the city with the most severe air contamination globally.

 

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) disclosed today, April 4, at 8am that 14 provinces were grappling with red (highly detrimental) levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and below in diameter (PM2.5). The levels ranged between 75.9 and 173.6 microgrammes per cubic metre of air over the previous 24 hours, exceeding the safe threshold of 37.5µg/m³.

 

The highest level, 173.6, was recorded in Mae Hong Son, followed closely by 153.1 in Chiang Mai, 152.2 in Chiang Rai, 140.8 in Lamphun, 138.6 in Phayao, 128.9 in Lampang, 125.5 in Nan, 118.9 in Phrae, 105.8 in Uttaradit, 103.4 in Tak, 101.4 in Sukhothai, and 88.1 in Kamphaeng Phet. These provinces are all located in northern Thailand.

 

Furthermore, two upper Northeast provinces also experienced red levels of PM2.5 – recording 85.9 in Loei and 75.9 in Bueng Kan.

 

GISTDA also observed orange (initially unsafe) levels of PM2.5 in an additional 20 provinces, primarily in the Northeast. These levels fluctuated between 39.2 and 74.6µg/m³.

 

The provinces affected, in descending order, were Nakhon Phanom, Phitsanulok, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Phetchabun, Kalasin, Nong Khai, Khon Kaen, Mukdahan, Chaiyaphum, Maha Sarakham, Phichit, Amnat Charoen, Roi Et, Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani, Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, and Nakhon Sawan.

 

Meanwhile, provinces in the lower central plain, the lower northeast, and the south reported moderate and good air quality. Samut Prakan boasted the best air quality with a PM2.5 reading of 10.6µg/m³, with Bangkok trailing at 11.5µg/m³.

 

According to the Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, Chiang Mai is the major city with the highest air pollution globally today. Jakarta, Hanoi, and Hangzhou were also listed as severely impacted cities, reported Bangkok Post.

 

GISTDA’s map vividly illustrates the red levels of PM2.5 engulfing the north on Monday morning.

 

By Mitch Connor

Caption: Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-01

 

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[rexpotter]

nice

[stoner]

sigh. the picture is so sad on so many levels. the same picture was in the BP and said he was a fireman. 

 

i'll stop there. 

[connda]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

The highest level, 173.6, was recorded in Mae Hong Son, followed closely by 153.1 in Chiang Mai, 152.2 in Chiang Rai, 140.8 in Lamphun, 138.6 in Phayao, 128.9 in Lampang, 125.5 in Nan, 118.9 in Phrae, 105.8 in Uttaradit, 103.4 in Tak, 101.4 in Sukhothai, and 88.1 in Kamphaeng Phet. These provinces are all located in northern Thailand.

There are low-balling the figures.  Like pick a time when the AQI isn't 250 to 350 and the maps are lit up in reds and purples. 

[rexpotter]

12 minutes ago, connda said:

There are low-balling the figures.  Like pick a time when the AQI isn't 250 to 350 and the maps are lit up in reds and purples. 

I think most of the measuring stations are rarely maintained nor cleaned to start with. CMU seems to have the best quality meters, but they seem to shut down after 500. One of them east of the main city has been stuck on 38 for years. Its unlivable for 6 month's a year and only getting worse. My favorite horrible comment is 'Its not that bad today .we have two air purifiers running', Was a nice place when I first visited in 1999, but not for me now.

[MrPancake]

"Enjoying your retirement in Thailand, miss?"

"Ooooh! It's wonderful, hun ! Just wonderful..."

 

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The hazardous red-coded levels of PM2.5 shrouded most northern provinces of Thailand today, with Chiang Mai earning the unenviable title of the city with the most severe air contamination globally.

Go Thailand... same every year.

[MRtommyR]

13 hours ago, connda said:

There are low-balling the figures.  Like pick a time when the AQI isn't 250 to 350 and the maps are lit up in reds and purples. 

I think they are quoting the PM2.5 concentration which is different to AQI

[sammieuk1]

On the bright side they are number one, that unfortunately really means number two 🤔

[connda]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Go Thailand... same every year.

No, not quite the same.  This year the globalist billionaire elite class is pushing via their media networks that Thai air quality will clear right up if all of the commoners stop eating meat. 

[JCauto]

Holy crap - they know the air pollution levels in two days time!

Quick, give us the lottery numbers!

[PETERTHEEATER]

So now, it's 'global air' and not 'local'. .....🤔

[Hervey Bay]

The Thai psyche will never change. Thais do whatever they want, and nobody, even the police, can change their behaviour.

Edited April 2 by Hervey Bay

[rudi49jr]

9 hours ago, connda said:

No, not quite the same.  This year the globalist billionaire elite class is pushing via their media networks that Thai air quality will clear right up if all of the commoners stop eating meat. 

Jeez dude, way to drag in a totally unrelated topic, i.e. that idiotic conspiracy theory that the globalist billionaire elite would want the commoners to stop eating meat. 
No doubt there is a globalist billionaire elite, but they have absolutely no interest in people eating less meat. The vast majority of millionaires and billionaires is only interested in one thing: mo’ money, mo’ money, mo’ money. They actually profit from people continuing to eat meat, and would profit even more if people would start eating even more meat.

But anyone with half a brain can see that eating less meat would be a lot better for the environment and the planet as a whole.

[rudi49jr]

4 hours ago, Hervey Bay said:

The Thai psyche will never change. Thais do whatever they want, and nobody, even the police, can change their behaviour.

Maybe if the police started doing their job, and start hunting down the arsonists and handing down 10,000 baht (or 20,000 baht) fines. And increasing fines for repeat offenders.

I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon (or ever), but if it did, I’m sure lots of people would start thinking twice before starting a fire.

[connda]

21 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

So now, it's 'global air' and not 'local'. .....🤔

Year in, year out, by this time during the annual "burn season" every country other than Thailand is blamed for Chiang Mai's and Northern Thailand's bad air.
Meanwhile as we drove up our mountain valley yesterday, the mountains are burning on both sides of the road and on into the distance.  Obviously fires set by Burmese, Cambodians, Indonesians, and Chinese arsonists, no doubt. 

Edited April 3 by connda