Thread: Concerns Over PM2.5 Dust in North & Northeast Provinces

The Pollution Control Department said yesterday that concentrations of PM2.5 dust have risen across 18 provinces in the North and Northeast, as farmers begin to set fire to their agricultural waste to prepare for next season’s crops.


The department said that higher-than-average levels of the harmful, ultra-fine pollutants were reported in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Phrae, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Tak, Phetchabun, Saraburi, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, Roi Et, Chaiyaphum, Ubon Ratchathani and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces.


One of the major contributors to the increasing dust pollution, the department said, is open burning by farmers who are preparing their land for planting.


The other major source of PM2.5 pollutants, it said, is sugar cane plantations, as many growers choose to burn the leaves off the plant before harvesting the sugar-bearing stalks in order to save time and money.


The average level of PM2.5 dust in the North hovered between 35-85 microgrammes per cubic metre (μg/m³) on Tuesday, according to data released by the Centre for Air Pollution Mitigation.


In the Northeast, the levels ranged between 40-99μg/m³ on Tuesday, while in the West the range hovered between 13-59μg/m³.


In the East and South, PM2.5 levels were quite low, ranging between 14-40μg/m³ and 5-20μg/m³, respectively. In Bangkok and its immediate vicinity, the levels were recorded at between 15-43μg/m³.


The Pollution Control Department considers PM2.5 readings below 50μg/m³ as “safe”. However, their standard is twice as high as what the World Health Organization considers as safe.


In Nakhon Ratchasima, the drop in air quality was noticeable in many districts. An air quality monitoring station in tambon Nai Mueang in Mueang district returned a PM2.5 reading of 71μg/m³ on Tuesday.


To stop the air quality from dropping further, Nakhon Ratchasima governor, Wichian Chantaranothai on Tuesday has asked farmers to halt all open burning activities, saying those who violate the order may face jail time and fines.


Concerns Over PM2.5 Dust in North & Northeast Provinces | Chiang Mai One

Originally Posted by misskit

To stop the air quality from dropping further, Nakhon Ratchasima governor, Wichian Chantaranothai on Tuesday has asked farmers to halt all open burning activities, saying those who violate the order may face jail time and fines.


Concerns Over PM2.5 Dust in North & Northeast Provinces | Chiang Mai One

That's okay then. K. Wichian has told them to stop. Problem solved.

For a minute there I thought someone had bumped a thread from

2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
etc. etc. etc.

Funny one HB. Amazing this makes news. It will be news when we start reading of arrests and big fines. Until then it's just silly.

Have they started blaming Myanmar yet?

Microbes can travel in wildfire smoke......


https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.2507

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

For a minute there I thought someone had bumped a thread from

2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
etc. etc. etc.

Another year, another thousand fires..... This photo from the Samoeng Road west of Chiang Mai. Image stolen from a FaceBook post today.

^^ TL, once you upload, double click and select full size.

Well that ain't crop fields, bloody idiots are burning forest

Originally Posted by thailazer

Another year, another thousand fires..... This photo from the Samoeng Road west of Chiang Mai. Image stolen from a FaceBook post today.

Not convinced that's a recent pic?

We live out there and haven't seen anything like that (yet).

Originally Posted by misskit

Roi Et

There it is as of now. Same shit every year. Nice to breath when walking about in 35C weather. Pic laying down.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Not convinced that's a recent pic?

We live out there and haven't seen anything like that (yet).

It was recent Ant. Have friends that live out that way and I guess it was a big one.

Recent Samoeng mountain forest fire now "90% under control." - Chiang Mai CityNews