Unsafe Air Detected in 16 Provinces Across Thailand

Ultrafine dust levels exceeding safety limits were found in 16 of Thailand’s 77 provinces on Sunday morning, primarily in the North and Northeast. Meanwhile, air quality in the South, Bangkok, and Samut Prakan remained good.

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported at 10 a.m. that PM2.5 levels in these 16 provinces reached the orange level, which indicates potential health impacts. No provinces were classified at the hazardous red level. The safe PM2.5 threshold is 37.5 micrograms per cubic meter over 24 hours.

PM2.5 concentrations in the affected provinces ranged between 37.8 and 43.7µg/m³. These provinces included Amnat Charoen, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phichit, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Sukhothai, Surin, and Tak.

In contrast, 11 provinces—mostly in the South—recorded good air quality with PM2.5 levels ranging from 20.5 to 24.9µg/m³. These provinces were Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani, Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Trang, Satun, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Krabi, and Ranong.

Fifty other provinces showed moderate air quality, with PM2.5 levels between 25.8 and 37.4µg/m³. This group included Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Mae Hong Son, Phuket, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Surat Thani.

On Thursday, 58 provinces had reported unsafe air quality.