CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Extreme PM2.5 pollution from ongoing wildfires kept northern Thailand in a chokehold and, according to a lung specialist, was capable of triggering severe inflammation.
Smog alert in Chiang Mai as visibility dropped sharply
The air quality in Chiang Mai remained at crisis level on Saturday, as dense haze blanketed the city and significantly reduced visibility. The pollution was linked to persistent wildfires in northern provinces, which further intensified the smog situation.
Authorities reported that levels in both Chiang Mai and Pai exceeded established safety standards by several times. The continuing fires were described as a key driver of the prolonged period of hazardous air.
Readings at Chiang Mai University far above safety limit
In Muang district, the PM2.5 concentration at Chiang Mai University rose to 360 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). This level stood far above the stated safety threshold of 37.5 µg/m³.
The figures underlined how severely the fine dust burden had surpassed what is considered acceptable for public health. The data pointed to a sustained emergency rather than a short-lived pollution spike.
Wildfires as main driver: dozens of hotspots persist
The critical situation coincided with ongoing wildfires, which continued despite a slight decline in the number of active blazes. A total of 27 hotspots were still registered in the region.
These fire sites were regarded as a central factor behind the consistently high concentration of fine particulate matter. Officials indicated that only a reduction in these hotspots would ease the smog.
Doctor warns: PM2.5 penetrated deep into the lungs
Dr Atikun Limsukon, a specialist in respiratory and intensive care medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University, explained that PM2.5 particles were small enough to reach the deepest parts of the lungs.
“PM2.5 particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs,”
said Dr Atikun Limsukon.
According to him, the particles could also enter the bloodstream, trigger inflammation and worsen existing lung diseases.
“They can get into the blood circulation, cause inflammation and aggravate pre-existing pulmonary conditions,”
said Dr Atikun.
Case study: 19-year-old tourist with severe pneumonia
The physician pointed to a recent case involving a 19-year-old foreign tourist with no prior illnesses who developed severe pneumonia after visiting Pai in Mae Hong Son province and Chiang Mai.
“A 19-year-old foreign tourist without underlying conditions developed severe pneumonia after a stay in Pai and Chiang Mai,”
said Dr Atikun.
He added that the condition of chronically ill patients in the region had in some cases deteriorated quickly during the current smog period.
“Among patients with chronic disease in the area, we have seen conditions worsen in some cases quite rapidly,”
said the specialist.
Pai recorded nation’s highest AQI with 42 days of heavy impact
The Environmental and Pollution Control Office 1 in Chiang Mai reported that PM2.5 values across the northern provinces remained dangerously high. According to the office, Pai logged an air quality index (AQI) of 472, the highest in the country.
The town had experienced 42 consecutive days of heavy impact, underlining the persistence of the crisis. Over the previous 24 hours alone, PM2.5 levels there reached 222.8 µg/m³, far above health-based recommendations.