An open invitation to smeg to gloat

[benbaaa]

The air quality in Chiang Mai is shit today, and it's probably going to get worse.



From http://aqmthai.com/

That last indicator (PM10) shows fine particles in the air - basically soot particles upto 10 micrometres in diameter.

Thailand says the safe level is 120.

In the UK, the scale is:
low 0 - 49
moderate 50-74
high 75-99
very high >99

[Marmite the Dog]

Basically, it's the central corridor, but I thought Phrae was OK, but according to that graph it's as shit as Chiang Mai. Glad I live in Udon.

[misskit]

It is awful today. I have never had my eyes burn like they did this morning when I went to the market. Like fire!

I'm staying inside and praying for rain.

[BenBenBaa]

Sounds lovely, I'll be there in a couple of weeks...

[FailSafe]

I've been considering Chiang Mai as a possible retirement spot someday, but the air-quality issue for several months per year is the number one drawback.

[DrAndy]

yes, don't come here, it is horrid

[FailSafe]

Originally Posted by DrAndy

yes, don't come here, it is horrid

So it's actually not that bad? I like Chiang Mai a lot, but I've heard many negative reports about the air quality during certain months of the year- is it over-blown?

As a resident, your actual knowledge of the situation is way more valuable than a sarcastic comment.

[DrAndy]

some days it is nasty, like today, it makes your eyes water when you go out and your throat sore

I cycled over to the zoo yesterday, just a few km, and one of my eyes was quite red

beach time!

[FailSafe]

^

My wife has some minor respiratory issues, and I'm worried that she might not be able to handle poor air quality for extended periods of time- I really need to get up there and check it out for myself.

So the 'burning period' is from when to when (generally)?

[benbaaa]

Around now for a month or two.

This is advice from the UK government on air quality.

Daily Air Quality Index - Defra, UK



low 0 - 49
moderate 50-74
high 75-99
very high >99

Obviously, very high in the UK = normal in Thailand, so make adjustments accordingly.

[DrAndy]

Originally Posted by FailSafe

My wife has some minor respiratory issues, and I'm worried that she might not be able to handle poor air quality for extended periods of time

yes, my kid gets Bronchitis and even Pneumonia from common colds then exacerbated by the poor air

in hospital at this very moment

[DrAndy]

Originally Posted by FailSafe

So the 'burning period' is from when to when (generally)?

I am not sure the pollution is due to burning at the moment; the situation of CM is a bit like Mexico city in that it is in a "bowl" of mountains, so if you get a stable pressure system sitting on top of it, the air just gets trapped along with the build up of pollution

[FailSafe]

It just baffles me, really, as every time I've been there the place has been just stunning- the air quality was great, no haze in the air- as I said, I'll need to do some proper reconnaissance in a couple of years.

Sorry to hear about your kid- that sucks.

[DrAndy]

it only happens this time of the year though

she is getting better, so thanks

[larvidchr]

^^^^ Sorry to hear that Andy hope it's not to bad for your kids, what do you do to minimise the problems, do you have your children wear those masks?, make them stay indoors more on bad days?

Tried to look at the link from benbaa, but could not get much from it since I cant read Thai and determine the location of the measurements.

Any information about good websites publishing air-quality warnings for the whole Chiang Mai area (maybe with English place names) would be appreciated.

[DrAndy]

Originally Posted by larvidchr

what do you do to minimise the problems

not much you can do, except hope it doesn't happen again

staying indoors is too boring for her, and she loves school

[david44]

Red clappers going like the clappers and few more Iranian curry exhausts will waf it all

[harrybarracuda]

All of these photos are from March in recent years.







And here's one from July.



You get the idea.

[harrybarracuda]

Here's an even better (and more current) one.

[alwarner]

Originally Posted by DrAndy

yes, my kid gets Bronchitis and even Pneumonia from common colds then exacerbated by the poor air

in hospital at this very moment

Hope the youngun gets better soon. Terrible seeing you kids sick...and not too nice for them either.

All the best.

[Little Chuchok]

Originally Posted by DrAndy

yes, my kid gets Bronchitis and even Pneumonia from common colds then exacerbated by the poor air

in hospital at this very moment

That's no good Andy.Hope the little one gets better soon.

[DrAndy]

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Here's an even better (and more current) one.

I just looked up and can't see any of those red dots

mind you, it is a bit hazy

[robuzo]

I spent February and March 1991 in Chiang Mai. It was surprisingly hot and dry (first time in Thailand), but never smoky downtown. Did I just get lucky that year, or did this now regular phenomenon (like the annual flooding) start a bit later?

[benbaaa]

Originally Posted by larvidchr

Tried to look at the link from benbaa, but could not get much from it since I cant read Thai and determine the location of the measurements.

I don't read Thai either (except for a few letters), but on that website, downtown Chiang Mai has the ID code 35t, so look for that in the left hand column. If you use Google Chrome, it will do a half-arsed "translation" of some bits of the page, too.

[harrybarracuda]

Still shit according to my info: