Renew British Passport: Appointment Blocked

[Buchholz]

Study shows smog up North has worsened

Serious levels of dust particles, carcinogenic compounds detected

The amount of carcinogenic chemical compounds in the air has been growing in provinces in the North in recent years. Studies by Chiang Mai University's Research Institute for Health Sciences reveal that air pollution has got more serious outside city zones.

"We have conducted urine tests among children aged between 11 and 15 years old to check their exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs]," Dr Tippawan Prapamontol said yesterday. Tippawan heads a research project on air pollution and health being conducted by the institute, which has received funds from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).

She said the amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter with a diameter not exceeding 10 microns (PM1) has risen by 2.8 times when compared with five years ago.

Findings outside towns had an even higher level of PAHs - up "by about 3.5 times".

Tippawan said the survey covered 968 subjects, the biggest sample size for tests about exposure to PAHs. The NRCT has provided Bt10 million for the three-year study. In the first year, it covered just Lamphun and Chiang Mai. But in later years, it covered Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Lampang too.

Tippawan said her institute was planning to manufacture mobile devices that could monitor the amount of dust particles in real-time for all districts so they could deal with the haze problem better.

"We are working on a prototype. We think each device should cost no more than Bt100,000," she said.

Chiang Mai University assistant president Paisit Panichkul urged all sectors in the country to help fight the smog problem in the North.

When the problem was serious, some flights had to be cancelled due to poor visibility and locals' health suffered, along with tourism.

In Phayao, the amount of PM10 particulate matter has already soared beyond the safe limit of 120 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

As of yesterday, the amount stood at 133 micrograms per cubic metre. The Air Quality Index (AQI) also soared to 106 above the standard level of 100.

In Chiang Mai, the air quality index also soared to 106, over the standard level too.

-- The Nation 2011-03-09

[mrclough]

You really don't need a degree to know this!

[Tywais]

Topic running in the News Clippings now.

//Closed//