Sixty-six of the 76 provinces in Thailand were shrouded with unsafe levels of ultrafine dust pollution on Wednesday morning, with the worst smog blanketing Greater Bangkok, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda).
According to Gistda’s report at 7am, 26 provinces suffered red levels (hazardous to health) of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter (PM2.5) ranging from 77 to 135.1 microgrammes per cubic metre of air over the past 24 hours. The government-set safe level is 37.5µg/m³.
People in Bangkok city faced the highest level of PM2.5 at 135.1µg/m³, with high levels in the five adjacent provinces of Samut Sakhon (130.8), Samut Prakan (128.1), Nonthaburi (122.7), Pathum Thani (114.7) and Nakhon Pathom (112.8) - which comprise Greater Bangkok.
In descending order of PM2.5 levels, 20 other provinces shrouded with red levels were Samut Songkhram, Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Nong Khai, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Prachin Buri, Saraburi, Rayong, Suphan Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Nakhon Nayok, Lop Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Uthai Thani, Chanthaburi, Kalasin and Sa Kaeo.
People in 10 provinces had safe air to breathe. Of them, eight provinces had moderate air quality represented with yellow levels of PM2.5 ranging from 26.9 to 36.2µg/m³.
In descending order, they were Nakhon Si Thammarat, Rayong, Surat Thani, Lamphun, Chiang Rai, Chumphon, Krabi and Amnat Charoen.
Two northern provinces had good air quality represented by green levels of PM2.5 - Chiang Mai (21.3µg/m³) and Mae Hong Son (19.1).
Forty-one other provinces were blanketed with orange levels of PM2.5 (starting to affect health) from 38.8 to 72.2µg/m³. They included Khon Kaen, Phangnga, Phuket, Songkhla, Trang and Ubon Ratchathani.
The Gistda map shows red levels of PM2.5 in Greater Bangkok.
