HM the King worries about smog in the north

"His Majesty might dispatch a team for cloud seeding to induce artificial rain to clear up the smog," said Amnart Decha, groundskeeper for Phu Phing Palace, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile the air pollution in Chiang Mai, Lampang and Lamphun has improved since rain fell on Monday.

The authorities are continuing to monitor the air quality and have prohibited outdoor burnings.

Lampang meteorological station chief Thiwa Phanmaisri said yesterday that the rainfall on Monday evening had caused the smog that blanketed the area to ease and the air quality was now back to normal.

He said recent reports from the automatic airquality detection stations in Muang and Mae Mo districts found 8090 micrograms per cubic metres of dust particles in the air - compared to the standard level of 120 micrograms per cubic metre.

Lamphun natural resource and environment chief, Worapoj Phongsamai said the air quality in Lamphun and Chiang Mai had improved yesterday.

The amount of PM10 (particulate matter smaller than 10 microns) detected was under 120 micrograms per cubic metre. A station at Chiang Mai City Hall had 81.1, in downtown Chiang Mai it was 86.2, and a station at Phu Phing Ratchaniwet Palace measured 119.6 micrograms per cubic metre.