Unsafe dust pollution covers Thailand

Thick dust obscures visibility in Bangkok on Monday.
Visibility is obscured by heavy particles on Monday in Bangkok.

On Monday night, fine dust levels were deemed illegal in all of Bangkok and 66 of the 76 provinces, with Sing Buri being the worst affected.

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency ( Gistda ) reported at 9am that particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter ( PM2.5 ) reached harmful ( red ) levels in five provinces.

The highest, 85.6 microgrammes per cubic metre of air over 24 hours, was recorded in Sing Buri province, followed by 83.9µg/m ³ in Nakhon Phanom, 81.5µg/m ³ in Chai Nat, 80µg/m ³ in Nong Bua Lam Phu and 79.6µg/m ³ in Nakhon Pathom.

The government-set healthy level is 37.5µg/m³.

Moderate and healthy amounts of PM2.5 were reported in Chiang Rai at 37.4µg/m³, Phuket 34.8, Chiang Mai 34, Ranong 29.2, Rayong 28.4, Mae Hong Son 27 and Nakhon Si Thammarat 26.3.

The weather was rated excellent in Chumphon with 24.5, Surat Thani 22.7, Phangnga 21.5 and Krabi had the best weather quality of 19.9µg/m³.

The other provinces registered PM2.5 amounts that started to affect heath, the peach levels from 37.6 to 74.1µg/m³.

Uncomfortable levels, both orange and red, of PM2.5 blanketed all 50 towns of Bangkok. Dark levels were recorded in these 34 towns:

Bangkok Yai had the highest level of 102.3µg/m³, followed by Thon Buri ( 100.9 ), Khlong San (97.1 ), &nbsp, Bang Kho Laem ( 94.0), &nbsp, Bangkok Noi (91.8 ), &nbsp, Bang Rak (91.8 ), &nbsp, Sathon (90.6), &nbsp, Din Daeng, (90.3 ), &nbsp, Samphanthawong (90.2 ), &nbsp, Phasicharoen (88.6), Pathumwan (88.1 ), Phra Nakhon (87.7 ), Pomprap Satruphai (87.2 ), &nbsp, Huay Khwang (86.7 ), &nbsp, Chom Thong (86.4), &nbsp, Rat Burana ( 85.8 ), &nbsp, Phra Khanong ( 85.6), &nbsp, Khlong Toey ( 85.3 ), &nbsp, Ratchathewi ( 85.2 ), &nbsp, Wathana ( 84.5 ), &nbsp, Chatuchak ( 82.5 ), &nbsp, Bang Sue ( 81.6 ) &nbsp, Bang Phlad ( 81.4), Laksi ( 81.3 ), Yannawa ( 80.1 ), &nbsp, Lat Phrao (79.9 ), Taling Chan (79.7 ), &nbsp, Wang Thonglang (79.7 ), &nbsp, Bang Khae (79.1 ), Nong Khaem ( 78.6), Suan Luang ( 76.6), Don Muang ( 76.1 ), Dusit ( 76.0) and Bang Bon ( 75.8 ).

Different regions of the money were rated peach with&nbsp, PM2.5 amounts ranging from 61.7 to 74.9µg/m³.