Worsening air pollution in eight northern Thai provinces

Airborne PM2.5 dust reached the health-threatening Red level in eight northern provinces Thursday morning, with Mae Hong Son being the hardest hit.

According to real time satellite-derived air pollution data via the “Check Foon” application, PM2.5 readings in the eight northern provinces are: 211.9 microns (µg/m³) in Mae Hong Son, 132.3µg/m³ in Chiang Mai, 111.5µg/m³ in Lamphun, 102.7µg/m³ in Chiang Rai, 92µg/m³ in Tak, 84.5µg/m³ in Phayao, 83.2µg/m³ in Lampang and 77.3µg/m³ in Nan.

PM2.5 levels in 25 other provinces also exceed the 37.5µg/m³ safety threshold or Orange level, but air quality in Bangkok today is described as good to very good.

Meanwhile, a resident of Chiang Mai said in her Facebook post today that she wonders why her air purifiers, which were sent for cleaning about a month ago, often show Red level readings. So, she decided to open one and…