Thailand: Tourist haven ranks as world's most polluted city

• The city's high pollution levels are attributed to farmers burning crops, forest fires, and exhaust fumes.
• A warning issued this month indicates that at least 10 million people required treatment for pollution-related health problems last year.
• The city's location between hills traps the toxic smog, worsening the situation.

Hazy smog enveloped the Thai tourist hotspot Chiang Mai on Friday, leaving residents and visitors to the usually picturesque northern city wheezing in the toxic air. Early Friday, the country's second-largest city claimed the top spot on air monitoring website IQAir’s table of the world’s most polluted cities.

Levels of PM2.5 pollutants — cancer-causing micro particles small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs — reached a classification of “very unhealthy” and exceeded more than 35 times the World Health Organization’s annual guideline.

“It’s very high. All I have is this mask which is the same one I used for Covid,” 62-year-old orange seller Kamol told the private news agency.

Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was recently released early from a jail sentence for graft and abuse of power after 15 years in self-exile, paid a visit to the market on Friday. He donned a face mask while posing for photos with well-wishers.

Thaksin's hometown of Chiang Mai frequently experiences high levels of pollution during the early months of the year. This is attributed to farmers burning crops to clear land, along with forest fires and exhaust fumes exacerbating the problem.

The rising awareness of the health implications has spurred some action from the government. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s cabinet approved a Clean Air Act to address the issue in January.

Later on Friday, the premier is scheduled to visit and is expected to meet with organizations addressing forest fires on Saturday.

However, Chiang Mai residents, such as orange seller Kamol, who sighed and shook his head when asked, reported receiving no assistance.

“I need to get my health checked every year, especially for respiratory diseases,” he said.

This month, a government agency issued a warning, stating that more official action was necessary. They reported that at least 10 million people required treatment for pollution-related health problems last year.

“The pollution is always high, especially this time of year,” said 50-year-old Sariya while shopping for groceries in Chiang Mai.

“There is nothing we can do about it since it’s always high.”

Sariya, who only provided one name, also highlighted that the city’s location — nestled between hills, trapping the toxic smog — worsened the situation.

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