Thailand's Chiang Mai, a Popular "One-Month Stay" Destination, Faces World's Worst Air Pollution

Impact of Drought and Wildfires

The air quality in Chiang Mai, a popular city in Thailand known for its affordable cost of living and diverse food options, has deteriorated to the worst level ever recorded. Chiang Mai, located in northern Thailand, is known domestically as a prime destination for "one-month living" due to its warm weather and high safety standards.

According to the Bangkok Post on the 13th, Chiang Mai was ranked as the city with the most polluted air in the world for two consecutive days, from the 11th to the 12th, based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) from the air quality analysis company IQAir.

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Chiang Mai's AQI recorded 212 on the morning of the previous day (the 12th), which falls under the "Very Unhealthy" category. The concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was measured at 161.3 μg/m³. The AQI is divided into six levels: Good (0?50), Moderate (51?100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101?150), Unhealthy (151?200), Very Unhealthy (201?300), and Hazardous (301?500).

This severe air pollution is attributed to the dry season, along with factors such as wildfires and the burning of fields. Typically, Thailand's air quality is poor from November to February, which is the dry season.

The authorities have advised children, the elderly, and pregnant women to stay indoors as much as possible. They also recommend wearing N95 masks if going outside is unavoidable. Currently, the authorities are attempting artificial rainfall to extinguish wildfires and alleviate air pollution.

Aliya Maun, a Thai activist from the global environmental organization Greenpeace, said in an interview with a media outlet, "The situation is frightening and probably the worst I have ever seen." She added, "We used to be able to see the mountains in Chiang Mai, but now we cannot. In Bangkok, high-rise buildings are shrouded in smog."

The air pollution situation in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is also severe. The Ministry of Health reported that since the beginning of this year, 1,449,716 respiratory disease patients have been recorded in Thailand due to air pollution, of which 31,695 are residents of Bangkok.

Meanwhile, as the concentration of fine particulate matter rises in Bangkok and other areas, major companies have been advised to implement remote work. Additionally, if PM2.5 levels reach hazardous levels, Bangkok plans to request government agencies to allow 100% of their employees to work from home and to issue school closures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.