Air Pollution

Air pollution in Bangkok falls to lowest level in 2020

Published

Sunday, April 19, 2020 16:12

Jack Burton

PHOTO: Medium

Bangkok recorded the lowest air quality index in 2020 today, according to aqicn.org.

The website data show that Bangkok air quality index (AQI) had a PM2.5 level of only 53 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) on average. The AQI is a standard that indicates the level of air pollution. 100 AQI is considered ‘moderate’. The suburbs with the lowest PM2.5 levels were Samut Prakan Province, just south of Bangkok.

0-50: good air quality
51-100: moderate quality
101-105: will affect sensitive groups
151-200: slightly harmful to health
201-300: highly harmful
301-500: extremely dangerous

Thailand’s “safe level” of PM2.5 is 50μg/m3, twice that set by the World Health Organisation.

Bangkok’s infamous air pollution has been a perennial issue for years, particularly between January and March. Throughout the year the harmful air quality has exceeded more than 100 AQI a total of 70 days. The Thai capital was ranked ‘third most polluted city in the world’ on January 9, according AirVisual.com.

Haze has been a common problem in North & Central Thailand for more than a decade, largely due to crop field burning before and after harvest. It mainly occurs from January to April, but peaks in March as extremely dry conditions increase the number and severity of forest fires.

SOURCE: Samui Times

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News Categories: Air Pollution Bangkok

Related Topics:2020 air Air pollution AQI Bangkok haze smoke lowest pollution quality smog

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Jack Burton

Jack Burton is an American writer, broadcaster, linguist and journalist who has lived in Asia since 1987. A native of the state of Georgia, he attended the The University of Georgia's Henry Grady School of Journalism, which hands out journalism's prestigious Peabody Awards. His works have appeared in The China Post, The South China Morning Post, The International Herald Tribune and many magazines throughout Asia and the world. He is fluent in Mandarin and has appeared on television and radio for decades in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

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