Struggling for a breath of fresh air

It’s November and a cool breeze is blowing. While this should be welcomed as it heralds the cool season, instead it signals that burning season is making a comeback and smoke-laden haze that contains fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is returning. Parts of Thailand are under threat again.

People in many areas are now at risk as poor air quality conditions caused by hazardous haze have started to harm their health.

A news report released this week showed that people in 31 provinces including Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri, Chai Nat and Bangkok are living in a blanket of smoke. The areas had levels of air pollution way above the unhealthy level.

In Bangkok alone, 34 districts had levels of PM 2.5 exceeding the safety standard, according to an air quality report by the Department of Pollution Control (DPC).

This year, experts and authorities warn that the haze…

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