On December 13, Thailand observed a moderate improvement in air quality, marking a decline in hazardous ultrafine dust (PM2.5) levels across the nation, with 33 out of 77 provinces reporting concerning levels—a decrease from the previous count of 47 provinces.
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) revealed that five provinces in the Central Plain region recorded red-alert PM2.5 levels, a decrease from the previous 15 provinces. Samut Sakhon reported the highest pollution at 95.2 micrograms per cubic meter, surpassing the government’s safety threshold of 37.5 ÎĽg/mÂł.
Within the Central Plain, 28 provinces registered orange-level PM2.5 concentrations, signaling potential health risks, ranging from 37.7 to 71.9 ÎĽg/mÂł. Among these were Nakhon Ratchasima, Phichit, and Sa Kaeo. In contrast, 44 provinces, notably in the North, South, and Northeast regions, reported safer PM2.5 levels. Yasothon in the Northeast reported the lowest concentration at 9.0 ÎĽg/mÂł.
Pansak Thiramongkol, the director for air and noise quality management at the Pollution Control Department, attributed the heightened PM2.5 levels in the Central Plain to the common agricultural practice of burning harvest waste in paddy fields, carried out in preparation for the next crop cycle.
