Professor Dr. Chaicharn Pothirat says that air pollution in northern Thailand is much more serious than the authorities report. For example, the mortality rate per 10 micrograms of small PM10 particles in the air increases by 0,3 percent.
Chaicharn, head of the Respiratory and Allergy Department at Chiang Mai University, wants more attention to the advancing air pollution and the alarming figures. Research into figures in Europe and the United States shows that authorities in developed countries are already issuing warnings and even recommending evacuations when PM10 levels are between 80 and 110 micrograms. On Wednesday, the PM10 level in Chiang Mai was 114,75 micrograms. The Thai Pollution Control Department (PCD) has set the limit at 120 micrograms. And that is irresponsibly high, says the scientist.
For the air quality criteria of the PCD, the amount of particles of 2,5 microns (PM2,5) is used. The limit for PM2,5 amounts in Thailand is 50 micrograms. In Chiang Mai, 103,3 per cubic meter was now measured. According to Chaicharn, developed countries have adopted the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). In that case, the number of PM2.5 particles may not exceed 20 micrograms per day.
“The current policy of the Thai authorities has led people to believe that the air in their area is still good enough to live a normal life,” Chaicharn said, “But if the PM10 level exceeds 50 micrograms , there is already a health risk for the respiratory tract, heart and blood vessels.”
If you think that staying indoors in the case of high levels of air pollution is wiser, you are wrong. A test at Chiang Mai University showed that the air quality inside a building, even in air-conditioned rooms, hardly differs from the outside world when people go in and out again and again. “When people often open and close doors, particulate matter also enters,” says Chaicharn.
Source: Der Farang
Does this mainly apply to the city or also to the wider area of Chiangmai. This question because I am considering settling in the north. Is Chiang Rai better in this regard? Is there experience with that?
In Chiang Rai I found it a little less this year with the pollution, but here too this pollution is normal.
The problem is also the burning of the fields, which are burned not only in Thailand.
This burning also happens in the border area from Myanmar to Thailand, and although it is officially prohibited, the control does not seem to function very well.
Bad air in the city is of course amplified by the heavy traffic, although here too you can't stop the bad air from burning fields.
In addition, you will find in the link below, where you can also enter other cities, an image of the state of air pollution.
http://aqicn.org/city/mueang-chiang-rai/m/
We live in Sankampaeng ourselves and it is not too bad. Is also ologic that you have less pollution outside the city, because there are fewer exhaust gases. Even though our floors are black every day
Hi Bram
Consider going to Fang I have been living in Chiang Mai for 7 years myself, but I regularly go to Fang (150 km) it is usually cooler there, healthier (air) and the soil is still much cheaper. There are also a few Dutch people who have many good experiences there for 15 years
good luck Dick CM
I myself live in the isaan, but lovely people here, it is a disaster for the health.
In Bangkok they have decided not to burn sugar cane anymore, very sensible decision.
What does the Thai do, burn sugar cane.
Of course, the control there is practically nil, the police are there and watching.
Very stupid of course, they do not realize what impact it has on health.
Look, you can still say to a Thai, beware that can kill you, they will do their thing anyway.
Their vision is, I am the Thai, and I do what I do.
I also read here, dear Nicole, outside the city is less pollution, wrong .
Everything is lush here in the isaan, SLS, and that stands for DUST, NOISE and SMELL.
Just look and smell and listen, especially now during this period when they bring in the sugar cane.
And on top of that it's very, very dangerous on the road with all those trucks on the road that
transport the sugar cane.
I was also talking about Chiang Mai and not Isaan. As I live in Chiang mai I can only judge there