Thick smog smothers North

Unhealthy smog casts its haze over Nan province on Tuesday morning. (photo by Rarinthorn Phetcharoen)

Extremely unsafe levels of fine dust were detected in the northern province of Lampang and nearby provinces this morning, with the worst in Lampang's Mae Mo district, the Pollution Control Department rep;orted.

The levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter (PM2.5) breached the government's safe threshold of 50 milligrammes per cubic metre of air in Lampang, Nan, Phayao and Phrae provinces on Tuesday morning.

The worst level over the previous 24 hours was 189mcg in tambon Ban Dong of Lampang's Mae Mo district. Severe smog also plagued life in other areas of the province: 141mcg in tambon Sob Pat of Mae Mo district, 135mcg in tambon Phra Bat of Muang district, and 118mcg in tambon Mae Mo of Mae Mo district.

In nearby provinces, PM2.5 levels reached 146mcg in tambon Na Chak of Muang district in Phrae, 111mcg in tambon Nai Wiang of Muang district in Nan, 103mcg in tambon Ban Tom of Muang district in Phayao, and 67mcg in tambon Huai Kone of Chalerm Prakiat district in Nan.

The Pollution Control Department also reported PM2.5 levels were once again building up in the greater Bangkok area after a few days of respite, but for now remained below the deemed safe threshold at 16-41mcg as of Tuesday morning.