From POSTBAG, 9 March 07

Breathless up North

Your front-page warning on Chiang Mai's air quality index surprises no

one here. This is a crisis problem that occurs at this time each year;

when Doi Suthep disappears from view, it's time to wear a face mask. No

kidding, people ride bikes around with gas masks on (cheap surgical masks

are useless). The air quality index is 157, compared to Bangkok's 100. It

burns your throat, leaves you with a headache and you can feel the

heaviness in your lungs. Some tourist destination this is, try living

here!

Although a long dry season and a windless March do contribute, it is the

rampant habit of burning that is mostly responsible. Even in urban areas,

educated and informed residents seem to habitually burn both their

organic and inorganic trash without care. We suffer this every year;

warnings are made in the media but little is done to educate, enforce or

control this.

Hospitals are full of respiratory cases, doctors point out an abnormally

high number of patients with lung infections caused by the sub-10

particles that penetrate the membranes, but no one counts the cost of

this extremely hazardous situation. I'd advise outsiders to stay away.

ANDREW

Chiang Mai

Personally, I've always found Chiang Mai air quality to be much better than BKK, so the figures in the article are quite suprising

I like it there.

when i go , i just don't breathe while i am there! ;-)

I like Chiang Mai too. The northern Khun Thai are proud of city and make big effort keep the city clean. But, the quality of air is serious problem this time year.

It's hit and miss on air quality here. Some weeks it's good, some it's terrible. But this week is terrible (as usual for this time of year) I'm about 2000 m from Doi Suthep and some days I can't see the temple.

The funny thing is that when I was in BKK last month, I felt no distress about the air. I guess I'm used to industrial pollution, but in Chiang Mai the burning leaves and trash drives me crazy.

Hmmmmmm, never bothered me b4, but good to know!