Thailand Faces Worsening Air Pollution: PM2.5 Levels Alarmingly High

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Thaipost

 

Thailand continues to struggle with critical air pollution, as PM2.5 levels exceed safety standards in 61 provinces. According to the Pollution Control Department, stagnant air and atmospheric conditions akin to a lid are trapping pollutants, worsening air quality particularly in Bangkok and the northern regions.

 

As of March 24, the 24-hour average concentration of PM2.5 particles ranged from 15 to a staggering 132.8 µg/m³ across affected areas, far surpassing the safe standard of 37.5 µg/m³. Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Chiang Mai, and many other provinces are witnessing dangerous pollution levels that pose significant health risks.

 

Northern Thailand is particularly affected, recording levels up to 132.8 µg/m³, while northeastern areas report figures between 50.2 and 130.1 µg/m³. Central and eastern regions aren't spared either, with readings reaching up to 115.0 µg/m³. In contrast, the south maintains air quality within safe limits.

 

 

 

Forecasts from March 25 to March 31 indicate an upward trend in PM2.5 levels, with specific increases anticipated in 17 northern provinces and parts of the northeastern and eastern regions. Bangkok's air quality is also expected to worsen.

 

The situation has prompted calls for reduced outdoor activities and the use of protective gear, especially for those with existing health issues. Residents in severely affected areas are advised to minimise outdoor exposure and consult healthcare professionals if symptoms arise.

 

Criticism has been levied against government responses, with allegations of ineffective measures and data manipulation. For real-time updates, residents can rely on Air4Thai.com and airbkk.com, or their respective applications, to stay informed about current air quality conditions. The persistent pollution highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies and effective governance to tackle this environmental crisis, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-25

 

 

[lordgrinz]

Yup, the government will get right on that, not.

 

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

For real-time updates, residents can rely on Air4Thai.com and airbkk.com, or their respective applications, to stay informed about current air quality conditions.

 

Or www.iqair.com , which I trust more than anything the government in Thailand puts out.

[blaze master]

Remember as well thai have their own safe pm levels. Which if I remember correctly are double the who standard.

 

What a bunch of total losers.  

[Tropicalevo]

Quote

Thailand Faces Worsening Air Pollution: PM2.5 Levels Alarmingly High

 

Nothing alarming.

Happens every year now.

[lordgrinz]

8 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Remember as well thai have their own safe pm levels. Which if I remember correctly are double the who standard.

 

What a bunch of total losers.  

 

It used to be double, I think it used to be 50 parts per million before, now something like 37.5 parts million, I think everyone else in the world uses 25.

[MalcolmB]

16 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Remember as well thai have their own safe pm levels. Which if I remember correctly are double the who standard.

What a bunch of total losers.  

Thais are a lot tougher than western snowflakes

[DonniePeverley]

Dare a lying TikTok 'influencer' to do a video to say 'move to Thailand' again on my feed. 

[Patong2021]

16 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Thais are a lot tougher than western snowflakes

Until they succumb to their lung disease. The carnage is rather grim.

 

In 2023 The Bangkok Post carried are depressing report during the smog crisis of January. Just for that event,  More than 31,000 people in Bangkok and 1.4 million nationwide have developed respiratory diseases due to haze pollution since Jan 1, according to the Public Health Ministry.
 https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2525291/air-pollution-triggers-respiratory-diseases. 

Data from public hospitals and the BMA's Medical Service Department showed there are 31,695 patients in Bangkok, and 1,449,716 patients nationwide, who have developed symptoms caused by air pollution.  "Of them, 2,252 people were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 8,692 people with eczema, 8,309 with stroke, 4,800 with conjunctivitis or pink eye, 1,770 with pneumonia, 1,107 with bronchitis, 1,830 with pharyngitis, 672 with nasal cryotherapy, 129 with asthma, 114 with influenza, 89 with ischaemic heart disease and 1,877 with lung cancer," Dr Pathomporn said.

 

Add a few more million victims since 2023 and we can see just how dire the crisis is.

[blaze master]

26 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Thais are a lot tougher than western snowflakes

 

You mean when they do gang beatings ? Then ya I guess I can see your point. 

 

But in the real world as @Patong2021 has pointed out lung disease is and will be a huge huge issue in thailand.

 

So those tougher than might not even make it to adulthood.

 

Nails. 

[blaze master]

38 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

It used to be double, I think it used to be 50 parts per million before, now something like 37.5 parts million, I think everyone else in the world uses 25.

 

Didnt know. Thanks for update. 

[JoePai]

Stopping some of the fires might help...

 

 

[hotsun]

3 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Stopping some of the fires might help...

 

 

Im pretty convinced that even if thailand chose to stop burning, the neighboring countries burning will still leave a permanent haze over thailand

[GarryP]

3 minutes ago, hotsun said:

Im pretty convinced that even if thailand chose to stop burning, the neighboring countries burning will still leave a permanent haze over thailand

Exactly. While a lot of burning is still taking place in the NE of Thailand, it is much less than it used to be. However, across the border in Laos, burning continues at crazy levels and the wind is bringing it over to Thailand. Things won't improve much until Thailand and surrounding countries get together to take serious action against burning, which isn't going to happen in my lifetime.    

[watchcat]

13 hours ago, blaze master said:

Remember as well thai have their own safe pm levels. Which if I remember correctly are double the who standard.

 

What a bunch of total losers.  

 

 

Face saving people. The air is not as bad as it looks on the charts.

[Hardcastle P]

14 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

It used to be double, I think it used to be 50 parts per million before, now something like 37.5 parts million, I think everyone else in the world uses 25.

Just to correct you WHO safe limit is 5 

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, watchcat said:

Face saving people. The air is not as bad as it looks on the charts.

 

Yup, just like the Uyghurs fiasco, everyone is just misunderstanding.

[Photoguy21]

We all forget when we talk about air pollution is that the hospitals are making money from it. As essential as hospitals are lets not forget they are essentially a business and high air pollution makes them good money.

[Metapod]

it's the same every year.

 

do nothing, air gets bad, talk a lot, rain season comes, everyone forgets about it, then burning starts, and air gets bad again.

 

it goes round and round and round. 

[MART]

When is the worst season for air pollution in Thailand?

[lordgrinz]

Just now, MART said:

When is the worst season for air pollution in Thailand?

 

From January to December.

[connda]

Come to beautiful Thailand!  This time of year Thailand have beautiful air like Smokey Mountain in Ten-naa-sii.  People in US go to see Great Smokey Mountain.  Love mak mak.  Now US people who love Smokey Mountain can come to Chiang Mai.  Many many smoke.  US tourist love mak mak for sure!!! ❤️

US Smokey Mountain


Northern Thailand Smokey Mountain  👍 
Much more smokey to enjoy.  US tourist love for sure ♥️

 

Thailand Smokey Mountain better than US Smokey Mountain.  Breath..."wheeze..."
Wonderful!  Enjoy stay in Northern Thailand beautiful Smokey Mountain "cough cough cough"

[UWEB]

15 hours ago, blaze master said:

Remember as well thai have their own safe pm levels. Which if I remember correctly are double the who standard.

 

What a bunch of total losers.  

WHO Standard is 5 microgram or max 15 microgram per 24 hours. Thailand is using 37.5 microgram threshold what makes it 7.5 times or 750% higher than WHO recommendation. 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health

[connda]

1 hour ago, Photoguy21 said:

We all forget when we talk about air pollution is that the hospitals are making money from it. As essential as hospitals are lets not forget they are essentially a business and high air pollution makes them good money.

Government hospitals which treat the vast majority of Thais don't "make money" from this.  It is a huge suck on hospital resources that is avoidable.

[connda]

38 minutes ago, MART said:

When is the worst season for air pollution in Thailand?

Now. 

[blaze master]

14 minutes ago, UWEB said:

WHO Standard is 5 microgram or max 15 microgram per 24 hours. Thailand is using 37.5 microgram threshold what makes it 7.5 times or 750% higher than WHO recommendation. 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health

 

Oh man fhats even worse. Thanks.

[lordgrinz]

6 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Oh man fhats even worse. Thanks.

 

Yup, retirees might want to rethink moving here if they have breathing problems.

[blaze master]

9 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Yup, retirees might want to rethink moving here if they have breathing problems.

 

It boggles the mind the neglect shown for the most basic of things. A little melody to make it all go away...

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b0cAWgTPiwM&pp=ygUVaSBjYW4gc2VlIGNsZWFybHkgbm93

 

 

[KireB]

1 hour ago, MART said:

When is the worst season for air pollution in Thailand?

Between April and March

[realfunster]

The burning obviously doesn’t help but I do recall that during COVID with massively reduced commuting in Bangkok and with many people working at home the air quality that year was significantly better…

 

There’s even a Wiki page for it now :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Bangkok_smog

[Photoguy21]

On 3/26/2025 at 1:51 PM, connda said:

Government hospitals which treat the vast majority of Thais don't "make money" from this.  It is a huge suck on hospital resources that is avoidable.

It isn't the Thai's making money that I was referring to if you mean the patients.