Phuket air quality takes a hit

PHUKET: Air quality monitoring centres using data from Thailand’s Pollution Control Department (PCD) have reported unhealthy levels of PM2.5 particulates across Phuket yesterday and today (Jan 31-Feb 1),

The Air Pollution Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) reported a red ‘Unhealthy’ PM2.5 reading of 151 for the south side of Phuket Town at 10am today.

A warning of ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ PM2.5 reading of 122 was reported for the north side of Phuket Town at the same time.

A similar warning of ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ was reported for the Nai Harn area late yesterday afternoon.

At 11am today, air quality in Chalong marked a PM2.5 reading 134, also spurring an ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ warning.

The readings posted are based on data provided by the Division of Air Quality Data of the Air Quality and Noise Management Bureau, which operates under Thailand’s Pollution Control Department.

Warnings for ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ are marked with the advice, “Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.”

Similar readings and warnings have been issued by the Switzerland-based air-quality monitoring centre ‘IQ Air’, which also cites that its reports are based on data from the Pollution Control Department.

The Environment and Pollution Control Office 15 has yet to recognise an deterioration in air quality across Phuket in the past few days.

The PCD has previously repeatedly dismissed reports from outside agencies regarding Phuket’s air quality.

A Phuket-based environmental officer, who specifically asked not to be named, told The Phuket News in 2021, “Do not believe what is seen on the visual website from somewhere else [sic] about Thailand’s air quality.

“For the right information we advise all people, both Thai and foreigners in Thailand, to download the app Air4Thai, which is operated under the Pollution Control Department of Thailand,” the officer said.

However, The Phuket News can confirm a light haze across the island over the past few days, corroborated by people across the island.

The Air4Thai app was launched by the PCD in 2019 following reports by independent air-quality monitoring agencies gaining traction. The agency never said it was to counter reports from outside sources, but the information presented by the app is directly controlled by the PCD.

Air4Thai today gives a “Green” reading for Phuket’s air quality, but does mark an increase in PM2.5 readings in recent days.

Meanwhile, the Phuket PCD office in recent days has also stepped up its announcements for people to avoid any burn-offs.

The good news is that all agencies forecast the air to clear tonight.

Why not living in Singapore and come twice a year to Phuket for 5 days of holiday ,if everything is so perfect in Singapore Mr.K ? That would save you all the problems you encounter here and your life would be so much happier !

@JohnC, "CNN Air Quality Update" shows you S'pore air quality is excellent. When Singapore sometimes suffer smog, than is that from Sumatra Indonesia or Borneo ( Kalimantan). Burn-offs by farmers, destroying of tropical forest. @Prab, just seen a beautiful CNN photo of smoggy sunrise in Bangkok.

@JohnC, How different people are. I lived/work in S'pore many years myself too, were happy years, nothing boring. Still go twice a year with a 5 day holiday. Branded good shopping there is cheaper than on Phuket. Public transport very convinient.Taxis, always meter, no dual pricing. No scamming.Fantastic parks, Zoo, Botanical garden, expositions, concert facilities, famous food courts.

International safety limit PM2.5 is 25 ug per cubic metre. Thailand setting is much higher, as it knows it never make it to 25 reading. Due to continues burn-offs everywhere and exhaust fumes of traffic. Specially in Chiang Mai province ( infamous) and Great Bangkok area.

@kurt. If Singapore is so great why aren't you living there? I'll tell you why, because it is boring. I lived there many years ago and ended up hated it, far too sterile to enjoy life and I saw much more 'haze' there than ever was here.

Singapore has spatial planning, wide one way direction roads, MRT, busses, taxis you can flag down anywhere. All engine driven transport has compulsary exhaust filters. All this Phuket has not. Look at 50% island traffic that must pass small Chalong Circle, a circle suitable for a small village. A ridiculous situation. That is the difference between crowded clean S'pore and growded Phuket.

Enormous PM2.5 pollution Chalong Circle area is not surprising seen all tourist busses, vans, trucks, producing black fuming smoke . 2 Covid years with parked busses passed, no adjusting/renewing exhaust systems. How would you call that? Pity RTP officers who there only look for helmets of foreigners, and not realize the pollution issues that damage their own health for life.

PN, please, call it smog, not haze. Well, Phuket is over crowded. No wonder. And why public should download a pollution app? They can only undergo the air pollution. Note: Thai PM2.5 accepted reading is twice as high as international accepted! House holds in Chalong burn-off waste and plastics early evenings. Can smell it. No Thai cares.. And no environment authority ever steps in.

Phuket air quality takes a hit

Phuket air quality takes a hit

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