BANGKOK, THAILAND – Hazardous smog blanketed Bangkok and most of Thailand as fine dust levels rose far above national safety limits.
Dangerous fine dust across Bangkok and 49 provinces
Concentrations of PM2.5 – ultrafine particles that penetrate deep into the lungs – were in the critical range in many areas on Tuesday morning. According to the space agency Gistda, readings ranged from 37.6 to 86.4 micrograms per cubic metre of air. The Thai limit of 37.5 µg/m³ was therefore clearly exceeded in almost all affected locations, with the capital region particularly hard hit.
“The situation is serious, especially for risk groups such as children and asthma patients.”
said an environmental expert.
Four provinces at red alert
The highest readings of the day were recorded in Samut Sakhon, where PM2.5 climbed to a dangerous 86.4 µg/m³, more than twice the national limit. Also in the red, or seriously harmful, zone were Nong Khai with 78.6, Samut Songkhram with 76.2 and Nakhon Pathom with 76.2. In these provinces people were strongly advised to avoid being outdoors and to wear protective masks.
Two-thirds of the country breathing unhealthy air
The list of provinces with unhealthy air was described as alarmingly long. Besides Bangkok, affected areas included Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya and Chon Buri. In total, 50 of Thailand’s 76 provinces were caught in the smog crisis, meaning roughly two-thirds of the country was breathing dangerous air.
Traffic, industry and burning behind the haze
The causes of the pollution were described as diverse. Officials cited vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, open burning of waste and unfavourable weather conditions as key drivers of the high PM2.5 levels. Stable high-pressure weather prevented the smog from dispersing and kept the haze trapped over large parts of the country.
Islands of clean air in Mae Hong Son and Phuket
Only two remote provinces reported clearly positive readings. In Mae Hong Son in the north and on the resort island of Phuket in the south, air quality was rated excellent. PM2.5 levels there stood at a harmless 9.3 and 14 µg/m³ respectively, far below the national limit and far from the main industrial and traffic centres.
Health advice and limited protection
Authorities urged residents to monitor current air quality levels closely. They advised that high‑risk groups should stay at home as much as possible on days like these. Where going outside was unavoidable, only FFP2 masks were said to offer effective protection against the ultrafine particles.
No quick improvement expected
Experts saw little chance of short-term relief as long as the stable weather pattern persisted. In the longer term, environmental organisations called for stricter laws and consistent enforcement to tackle the country’s systemic and far‑reaching air pollution problem. Until far‑reaching measures take effect, people were told that their only real option was to protect themselves as well as possible from the toxic haze.