Chiang mai: Chiang Mai remains shrouded in air pollution, ranking number one as the world's most polluted city. Today, many provinces in northern Thailand, especially Chiang Mai, are still heavily covered in toxic smog and continue to hold the title of the world's most polluted city. In some areas, particulate matter levels reached as high as 800 micrograms per cubic meter, posing a clear health risk.
According to Thai News Agency, the sky over Chiang Mai this morning is still covered in a thick white haze of toxic dust, obscuring Doi Suthep, a landmark that often serves as a visual indicator of smog. Several other districts are also experiencing dense smog. Data from the Climate Change Information Center at Chiang Mai University shows that air pollution levels are in the red zone, indicating a dangerous level for health, at up to 100 monitoring stations. This means the entire province is heavily covered in air pollution.
The highest hourly air pollution level was recorded at 10:00 AM at the Ban Thung Khao Phuang Sub-district Health Promotion Hospital in Chiang Dao district, reaching 804 micrograms per cubic meter - 21 times the standard. Despite this, there are still 303 hotspots from burning, a decrease of more than half from yesterday. However, significant burning continues in surrounding areas and neighboring countries. As a result, Chiang Mai remains ranked number one as the world's most polluted city by the IQAir website for several consecutive days, and the impact on the health of Chiang Mai residents is becoming increasingly severe, especially those working outdoors. Some are experiencing eye and nasal irritation, skin rashes, and nosebleeds.
Mae Noi, 67, owner of a more than 50-year-old hardware and agricultural equipment shop at Khuang Sing intersection in Chiang Mai, said she experiences burning eyes, nose, and throat, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and allergic rashes all over her body. Her health has deteriorated, and her children's symptoms are worse, with many starting to have nosebleeds.