Chiang Mai tackles PM2.5 pollution with giant vacuum cleaner

Thailand‘s Disaster Department is testing out a giant vacuum cleaner as a way to tackle the PM2.5 dust pollution problem that plagues the northern city of Chiang Mai every ‘burning season.’

Every year, farmers around Thailand send their forests and fields up in smoke because it’s the cheapest way to prepare to plant new crops causing PM2.5 levels to shoot upward. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of rain at this time of year.

Chiang Mai is especially affected because of the sheer volume of agricultural fires in northern Thailand sending dust floating into the city, which lies in a valley.

Today, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation brought the prototype of a giant vacuum cleaner to the Chiang Mai Civic Centre to test out sucking PM2.5 dust from the air.

The prototype was designed in collaboration with Thailand Science Research and…