Ultra-fine dust pollution reached unsafe levels in Bangkok and 36 provinces including one designated red (seriously harmful) on Thursday morning.
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported at 7am that PM2.5 levels ranged from 37.6 to 78.7 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) in the affected areas. The safe threshold for PM2.5 set by the Thai government is 37.5µg/m³.
Samut Sakhon province, southwest of Bangkok, recorded the highest concentration at 78.7µg/m³, which is a seriously harmful level.
Other areas experiencing thick and harmful smog included Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chanthaburi, Sukhothai and Nong Bua Lam Phu.
Very good air quality was detected in six provinces, mostly in the South, with PM2.5 levels between 10.2 and 13.7µg/m³. The provinces included Krabi, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket, Mae Hong Son and Satun.
Other provinces experienced either good or moderate air quality.
