Air pollution eases in North, but increases in Bangkok

The measurement of PM2.5 levels as reported by the Pollution Control Department and international air-quality monitoring website aqicn.org on Saturday revealed that pollution in the Northern region had decreased overall. Most areas had PM2.5 levels lower than the safe limit, with the exception of Tak’s Mae Sot district, which had a daily average PM2.5 level of 52.77 micrograms.
Many areas such as Nan were reported to have good air quality on Saturday. It was the first improvement in air quality in the North in recent weeks.
The Climate Change Data Centre at Chiang Mai University informed that the smog situation in Chiang Mai was improving, as people in the city could now see Doi Suthep Mountain. In previous days, the smog had reduced visibility and covered the mountain in a dense cloud.
However, the air quality in Bangkok was worse, with all monitoring stations in the capital showing a slow increase in PM2.5 levels. Visibility from high-rise buildings was also reduced.
The highest PM2.5 daily average in Bangkok was in Thon Buri district, where the level rose from 31.57 micrograms on Friday to 46.76 micrograms on Saturday afternoon. The level was still below Thailand’s safe standard, but considered harmful according to the World Health Organisation’s recommendedPM2.5 level of 25 micrograms.