Haze poses health threat in Thai North

NORTHERN THAILAND, March 20 (TNA) - The Pollution Control Department, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, reports that air pollution, caused by haze, in the Upper Thai North has posed a serious health threat to two provinces so far. The department said on Monday that the particulate matter of 10 microns (PM10) has reached harmful levels in Mae Moh District of Lampang Province and the provincial seat of Mae Hong Son Province. According to the department's report, the particulate matter of 10 microns (PM10) was measured at 124 micrograms per cubic meter in Lampang's Mae Moh District and 175 micrograms per cubic meter in Mae Hong Son's Muang District on Monday morning, both of which exceeded the safe standard level of 120 micrograms per cubic meter. The department also acknowledged although small dust particles have not exceeded the safe standard level in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Provinces, two top popular tourist destinations in the Upper Thai North, but it started to pose a health threat to people in affected areas. In Chiang Mai, haze blanketed the provincial seat, as visibility had dropped to only 200 meters on Monday morning, prompting locals to wear face masks and some have started to complain about eye and nose irritation. The heavy smog also blocked the view of Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, an iconic pagoda of Chiang Mai, even though the level of small dust particles were measured at 96 micrograms per cubic meter, below the safe standard benchmark of 120 micrograms per cubic meter. In Chiang Rai’s provincial seat, water trucks were spraying to keep down dust, as public health officials handed out face masks to locals and tourists. Local authorities have, again, asked for cooperation from people to refrain from outdoor burning. (TNA)