Bangkok’s Haze Crisis: PM2.5 Levels Soar Across 57 Provinces in Thailand

Order Cannabis Online

As Bangkok awoke on a Monday morning, the infamous haze hung heavy in the air once more—a reminder that air quality in this bustling metropolis can still take a turn for the worse. Snapping a photo from the bustling streets, it’s clear that the capital was blanketed beneath a murky shroud of PM2.5 dust. But it wasn’t just Bangkok; the haze was an unwelcome visitor across 57 of Thailand’s 76 provinces.

Diving into the morning’s report, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) marked the day with concern. By 7 am, hazardous-to-health levels of PM2.5—fine particulate matter no larger than 2.5 micrometers —pervaded the North, Northeast, Central Plain, and East. In stark contrast, the southern region was basking in blissfully safer air.

The question is: just how bad was it? To say it was significant would be an understatement. The government places the “safe” level of PM2.5 at a cautious 37.5 micrograms per cubic meter over 24 hours. By that measure, Bueng Kan was the poster child for poor air quality, topping the charts with a staggering 146.2µg/m³. Trailing not too far behind were Nong Khai with 131.5, followed by Loei (121.3), Nan (118.1), and Phrae (117.6).

Our tour through this atmospheric minefield of provinces continues: we find Mae Hong Son clocking in at 114.1, Lampang 106.4, and Sing Buri peeking just over the century mark at 105.4. In fact, a total of 16 provinces surpassed that triple-digit mark, leaving a smoky trail from Uttaradit at 104.2 to the closer-to-home stats of Bangkok, at a less alarming but still concerning 99.7.

The list doesn’t end there—42 other provinces met the scarlet standard, veering into dangerous territory between 75.4 to 99.4 micrograms per cubic meter. Cities such as Ayutthaya, the mountainous charms of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and the sprawling stretches of Nakhon Ratchasima all took part in this less-than-healthy air affair. However, to end on a slightly more optimistic note, a quintet of provinces like Amnat Charoen and Prachuap Khiri Khan experienced an orange-level alert, affecting health with readings tapering from 60.6 to 73.1µg/m³.

Spared from the oppressive grey, Krabi stood out with a moderate air quality rating, displaying a sunny disposition even through the yellow haze of 28.5µg/m³. Perhaps most enviable were the 13 southern provinces—those fortunate ones cloaked in the green of good air quality. From the coastal calm of Phuket and Phangnga to the vibrant serenades of Songkhla and Yala, their air quality ranged comfortably between 15.4 to 23.9µg/m³, leaving the rest of the nation longing for clear skies ahead.

For now, the haze lingers, and the dance of a bustling city continues beneath its veiled canopy. But with each gray morning comes the hope of a clearer tomorrow—and perhaps, a breath of fresh air.