Northern Thailand Chokes in Dangerous Smog

By THE IRRAWADDY

Residents of Thailand’s second largest city, Chiang Mai, have been advised by public health authorities to avoid outdoor exercise and to wear face masks as air pollution reaches dangerous levels.

Forest fires fuelled by a severe drought have contributed to the level of the injurious PM-10 dust particles hitting levels hazardous to health in Chiang Mai and the northern Thai cities of Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Rai and Phayao.

PM-10 levels above 120 micrograms per cubic meter are judged to be harmful to health. On Wednesday, the levels in northern Thailand ranged from 129 in Chiang Mai to 201 in Lampang.

Also contributing to the pollution is smoke from fires set deliberately in their fields by villagers in the belief that the ashes will lead to a higher crop yield and stimulate wild mushroom growth.

The English-language daily Bangkok Post reported that in Lampang alone more than 3,000 people, most of them children and the elderly, had sought treatment for respiratory problems in the first three weeks of February. Local health authorities warned residents here, too, to avoid outside exercise and to wear face masks.

According to the state-run Thai News Agency, Chiang Mai's Forest Fire Control Operation Division chief Surapol Leelavaropas said 111 forest fires had broken out in the region since the beginning of the year.

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported last week that the drought had spread to 19 provinces. Emergency centers had been set up throughout the country.

Somchai Baimoung, director of the Weather Forecast Bureau, warned that northern and northeastern provinces could expect very hot weather in April, with temperatures climbing to 42 degrees Celsius.