Journalists watch as a firefighting helicopter picks up water to combat forest fires amid heavy air pollution at Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam in the northern Thai province of Chiang Mai on Mar 16, 2024 (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
By Mong Palatino
Apr 15 2024
PM2.5 is a measure of particulate matter and an indicator of severe air pollution. Residents have bemoaned the slow response of the government in dealing with the emergency situation.
Authorities blamed the recurring haze on forest fires and the burning of land for agricultural cultivation in the surrounding areas. The haze was particularly bad this year, enveloping the skies of Chiang Mai and nearby cities with an air quality index of over 200 at some points.
The numerical scores indicate the level of air pollution based on the World Air Quality Index (AQI), and anything above 100 is considered unhealthy — particularly for sensitive groups like those with medical or respiratory issues.
Meanwhile, local stakeholders insisted that there are many factors for the air pollution as they cautioned the public from blaming local farmers who have been practicing agriculture burning for decades without causing damage to the forest.
Officials identified 500 air pollution hotspots in April and over 6,000 hotspots in Thailand’s neighboring countries, Laos and Myanmar. According to news reports, more than 30,000 people in Chiang Mai have received medical treatment at a local hospital for illnesses linked to PM 2.5 air pollution during the first quarter of the year. Despite the disturbing trend, the government hesitated in declaring a state of emergency because of its potential grave impact on local tourism.
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