File photo for reference only

 

Air pollution across Thailand intensifies as open-field burning of farm waste persists, marking the onset of another smog-heavy winter. Despite public warnings, the practice remains prevalent due to its cost-effectiveness and convenience for farmers. The capital, Bangkok, is experiencing rising PM2.5 levels, signaling deteriorating air quality in the months ahead.

 

The recurring air pollution crisis is closely tied to Thailand's cool season. Over the past decade, seasonal winds have consistently transported a mix of dust and fine particulate matter from surrounding regions into Thailand's airspace. As the winds weaken early in the year, pollutants become trapped in low-lying areas, leading to a range of respiratory health issues for millions.

 

Authorities acknowledge that the problem of open-field burning is widespread and solutions have thus far been inadequate. They emphasize that effective resolution will require broader regional collaboration beyond current measures, which have failed to curb the scale of pollution.

 

Bangkok's latest air quality measurements reveal a mixed picture. As of November 9, 2025, the city's average PM2.5 level was 20.7 µg/m³, which remains below the national safety threshold. However, districts such as Prawet and Lat Krabang recorded higher PM2.5 levels, reaching 35.5 µg/m³ and 35.1 µg/m³, respectively. Eastern Bangkok reported the highest concentrations, classified as moderate, while other areas maintained "good" quality levels.

 

Despite the relatively favorable current conditions, officials caution that PM2.5 will likely increase during the cool season. The combination of continued farm burning and stagnant winter air presents a significant risk for developing hazardous smog conditions. Health experts recommend that residents, especially those with pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions, regularly check air quality updates, limit time outdoors, and use protective masks as needed.

 

Looking forward, with no signs of reduced crop burning, Thailand faces the prospect of another challenging winter. Cooperation on a regional scale and innovative solutions are critical to reversing the persistent pollution trend.

 

Key Takeaways

• Open-field burning of farm waste significantly worsens air pollution.
• Bangkok's PM2.5 levels vary across districts but currently remain mostly below safety limits.
• Authorities emphasize the need for regional cooperation to address pollution.

 

Related Stories:

Bangkok Acts to Manage Haze with New Pollution Controls

Bangkok Enforces Stricter Diesel Smoke Limit from 1 November

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-11-10

 

 

They just don't care    😡

Typical Thais  All talk NO action 

As long as Thailand doesn't have a force that really enforce laws, keep the attitude of mai pen rai, everybody can do as they like... This article is about crop burning, but they will keep on doing it unless there are severe punishments. Same is for the driving without helmets, in the mourning period loud music playing, and many many more examples.. Thai people know there is no enforcement and so they don't care. The RTP not doing their job, the people who know no real fines or punishments will be given, the attitude of it is no responsibility of mine, even for selling vapers or alcohol to minors, parents allowing the kids to drive motorcycles, the netizens don't care about the laws, as they know there are no consequences.... Change that and things will be better for everybody

Groundhog Day 2025

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Air pollution across Thailand intensifies as open-field burning of farm waste persists, marking the onset of another smog-heavy winter. Despite public warnings, the practice remains prevalent due to its cost-effectiveness and convenience for farmers

Cease with the warnings and start jailing people and sacking inept governors.

14 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Typical Thais  All talk NO action 

Got it in one...

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

As long as Thailand doesn't have a force that really enforce laws, keep the attitude of mai pen rai, everybody can do as they like... This article is about crop burning, but they will keep on doing it unless there are severe punishments. Same is for the driving without helmets, in the mourning period loud music playing, and many many more examples.. Thai people know there is no enforcement and so they don't care. The RTP not doing their job, the people who know no real fines or punishments will be given, the attitude of it is no responsibility of mine, even for selling vapers or alcohol to minors, parents allowing the kids to drive motorcycles, the netizens don't care about the laws, as they know there are no consequences.... Change that and things will be better for everybody

This is the East not the West....

It's long past time for this country to care about air pollution. Put smog controls on cars. Put additives in fuel. 

 

And for god's sakes, penalize people for burning their garbage! There needs to be a concentrated effort, especially in Pattaya, to stop this practice. I'm tired of our family having to take in this pollution.

Fine the farm smokers, then they will put it in a corner and compost the waste. In sugar cane fields the best method is to harvest green,  the harvester skins off the leaves and it is sold dry as a garden weed free soil cover, keeping the soil moist. Much better than burning & suffocating 20 million people & their kids

at least they got the cause correct this year
stop subsidising sugar cane farming and problem solved

This article is tarnishing Thailand's image. One lawsuit coming up.

15 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Typical Thais  All talk NO action 

Unless it's ten onto one !

Here we go, year 15 of the annual air circus.

10 hours ago, KireB said:

Groundhog Day 2025

2024,2023,2022,2021,2020 .........

What noone above or in the OP mentions is the possibility of POSITIVE action to help poor peasant farmers change their ways ... So how about a scheme to PAY farmers to otherwise dispose of their post-crop waste?

 

No cooperation no pay.

 

That would change things, and without ineffective police intervention.

15 hours ago, JoePai said:

They just don't care    😡

Agreed whether it's smoke or noise pollution also driving, Me me me.

There is a problem which can be resolved by paying the farmers a decent living wage.

Burning sugar cane to remove the foliage or burning the residue after rice harvesting is done because, in the case of sugar cane, it saves labour costs and in the case of rice residue, it saves the cost of ploughing.

Taking legal action against these low paid farmers is entirely the wrong attitude. They don't have money for paying fines and locking them up is entirely non-productive.

There is a saying:

You need a solicitor only a few times in your life.

You need a doctor quite a few times in your life.

You need a farmer three times every day and yet the farmer is by far the lowest paid.

The government should make sure the farmers are paid sufficiently to keep pollution to a minimum.

 

Give a farmer the choice between feeding his family and clean air for the people in Bangkok and he's only ever choosing one option. 

 

Give an agricultural conglomerate the choice between higher profits and and spending the equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars implementing a system that only sources sugar cane from fields where burning is not used, and they're only choosing one option. 

 

Give your average Thai of any age in any city the choice between food prices doubling or having clean air, they're only choosing one option. 

 

Give a politician the choice between votes, power and money or clean air, and they will only choose one option. 

 

This is why, year on year, nothing changes and nothing ever will.

I really miss wearing a mask

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Despite the relatively favorable current conditions, officials caution that PM2.5 will likely increase during the cool season.

 

Ho hum, Same story EVERY year 😷

Cause of  Thai pollution "cost-effectiveness and convenience" .  Rather than spend money on cleaning up the pollution, Thai government perfers to wate money on immigration and other goverment institutions who make life difficult for foreigners and ordinary Thais alike. 

What happened to the big fines that were to be handed out to farmers who do this 

the local police all know who is doing this

sadly Thais don’t care

If Thailand's air pollution problem during the high season gets more international news attention it could seriously affect the tourist industry.  If tourist money stops coming in that might make the sleepy government heads wake up as well as those whose livelihood is directly related to the tourism industry.

And the Black snow season hasnt really started yet they should be charged less for burnt cane but they wont

Instead of buying submarines they could buy tractors.  For the price of 3 submarines they could have 30,000 tractors.  3 for every Tambon. Rent them to the farmers for a small fee and the problem is solved, plus they get a return on investment.  Most of the Gulf of Thailand is too shallow to submerge a submarine. 

37 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

There is a problem which can be resolved by paying the farmers a decent living wage.

 

 

If you pay them they'll still burn and pocket the cash. 

 

You'd have to ban the burning or face serious jail time and then pay them for the additional work required to not burn.

How I miss coughing spitting up snot, eyes watering endlessly. Sleeping under an air purifier. Good old days in Thailand

One way Thailand would act on this matter effectively is if Governments around the World notify their citizens about the dangers of traveling to Thailand during this period.

 

Hit them in the pocket where it hurts! They crave tourism and make billions but in the interest of people’s health they should be forewarned! 

It’s a general belief that we all die one day, somehow and somewhere, but we can act / behave in ways that makes our exit less drawn out, expensive and less suffering for us and whoever we leave behind.

 

I attach a copy of an recent example of a Government’s Travel Advice.

But I guess Politicians do deals that we’re not aware of, hence it will never happen in my lifetime!