Chiang Rai smog reaches critical level

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The Chiang Rai Public Health Office has handed out more than 500,000 masks for residents to protect themselves from the dangerous smog.

"The problem has reached a critical level," Chiang Rai Governor Thanin Supasaeng said yesterday, adding that many people were suffering from respiratory diseases.

Monitoring devices showed the amount of small dust particles or particulate matter of PM10 in size in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district had soared to 323.4 micrograms per cubic metre of air yesterday, up from 305.6 micrograms a day earlier.

For people's health, each cubic metre of air should contain no more than 120mcg of small dust particles.

Monwipa Sirihorachai, a public health official in Chiang Mai, said the number of patients with smogrelated symptoms had jumped significantly last month since the smog blanketed many provinces in the North, including Chiang Mai. Some of the most common ailments are conjunctivitis, asthma, allergies, skin inflammation, respiratory disorders and bronchitis.

"The number of patients with smogrelated problems has jumped to 92,214 last month from 44,313 in the same period last year," Monwipa said.

She added that pollution was worst between noon and 2.30pm, and urged people to stay indoors during those hours. "If you do need to go out, please wear long sleeves and masks," she suggested.

In Chiang Mai, the amount of small dust particles ranged between 146.81mcg and 168.05mcg per cubic metre of air.

Tak was another province suffering from bad pollution problems, with the amount of PM10 particles standing at around 277.5mcg per cubic metre of air. The amount of PM10 particles in Phayao, Mae Hong Son, Phrae and Lampang was at 250.2mcg, 220.1mcg, 190.9mcg and 182.8mcg respectively.

In Nan, the amount of small dust particles hovered at around 166.1mcg per cubic metre of air and in Lamphun the amount reached 150mcg.

The Pollution Control Department said such a high level of small dust particles in the air was clearly a health threat and urged relevant agencies to enforce strict regulations preventing people from lighting unnecessary fires.

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Edited March 3, 2012 by FarangFarang