Don't take toxic air problem lightlyIf April is the month of Songkran, surely March is known for its pollution, especially in Northern Thailand, at its peak. With burning season in full swing, air quality readings in cities like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Pai have become rather unsettling -- yet not surprising. Over the past two weeks, Chiang Mai's average daily PM2.5 level has hit 172.6 µg/m³, according to aciqn.org. Just over 11 years after Thailand first started recording PM2.5 numbers, there is still no clear-cut approach about how to reduce bad air in the North. Moreover, forest fires in the region are especially problematic and hard to put out because of the steep terrain, which accelerates spread and slows firefighting efforts.

Source: Bangkok Post March 13, 2021 23:37 UTC