Chiang Mai enters list of top 10 most polluted cities in the world
Chiang Mai and Bangkok were named the sixth and 14th most polluted cities in the world by IQAir in its latest global index.
The Swiss air-quality technology company released its list of the world’s worst polluted cities and their AQI (air quality index) readings as of 8.30am on Tuesday morning.
The top 10 worst polluted cities and their AQI readings are:
• Dhaka, Bangladesh: 216
• Yangon, Myanmar: 189
• Delhi, India: 179
• Mumbai, India: 176
• Lahore, Pakistan: 172
• Chiang Mai: 172
• Kathmandu, Nepal: 163
• Shenyang, China: 163
• Wuhan, China: 162
• Chengdu, China: 158
Bangkok, meanwhile, came in at 14 with an AQI reading of 153.
Separately, the Pollution Control Department said on Tuesday that the levels of fine dust particles (PM2.5) in the air were very high in 25 provinces, including Greater Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nan, Mae Hong Son etc.
The concentration of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air (μg/m3) was the worst in the North, with readings coming in at between 43 and 129μg/m3. The Northeast came in second with 20-65μg/m3, followed by the Central region and West with 2-57μg/m3, while readings in the East came in at between 24μg/m3 and 49μg/m3. The overall picture in the South was relatively good, with readings of between 17 and 43μg/m3, while in Bangkok the PM2.5 reading in some areas hit as high as 81μg/m3.
Thailand puts the safe level of PM2.5 pollution at 50μg/m3, though the World Health Organisation sets it at 12μg/m3.
The Pollution Control Department, meanwhile, has advised people to be vigilant and spend less time outdoors. It also advises people experiencing health problems due to pollution to see a doctor immediately.
The state of the air in your area can be monitored via the air4thai.com and airbkk.com websites or their mobile phone applications.
