Air pollution hit disastrous levels of PM2.5 smog of higher than 700 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) in some areas of Chiang Mai, Thailand on 30 Mar 2019 Saturday.
Citizens in the North have been advised to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities.
A lecturer at Kasetsart University, Witsanu Attavanich, said that such deadly levels of PM2.5 pollution in the air over 500 micrograms, is far beyond the capacity of the local authorities to cope with the situation.
“Such a disastrous level of PM2.5 is probably the highest level ever recorded in Thailand,” Witsanu said.
“No need to consider the level of threat from such dangerously hazardous air pollution on our health, as breathing in only 100 micrograms of PM2.5 is considered to be very harmful to the health of healthy persons.”
Below is a screen capture from aqicn.org as of this posting.
Professor Kwanchai Suparatpinyo, Chiang Mai University’s Research Institute for Health Sciences director said that the current situation was critical.
Professor Kwanchai Suparatpinyo cited the worsening haze from the many forest fires that ravaged Chiang Mai and the northern region while the trans-border smoke from neighbouring countries were also a factor.
Professor Kwanchai Suparatpinyo urges people to stay indoors and refrain from all outdoor activity, especially small children, elderly persons and pregnant women as well as those with chronic ailments such as allergies and heart disease.
