If you’ve ever been to Thailand, particularly during the dry season from January to April, you may have noticed a dense smog covering the cities and countryside.
Not only is it an unpleasant sight, but it’s also a significant health hazard to the millions of people who live and breathe in the polluted air.
According to IQAir, a Swiss company that monitors air quality worldwide, Thailand ranked 57th out of 131 countries for its average annual PM2.5 concentration in 2022. PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter that’s less than 2.5 microns in diameter and can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as cancer and premature death.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the annual average PM2.5 level should not exceed 10 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), but Thailand’s average was 64 μg/m3 in 2022, which is more than six times higher than the WHO guideline.
Air pollution also affects tourism, agriculture, biodiversity, and climate change. For instance, poor visibility due to the haze can discourage tourists from…
