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Published on March 1, 2008

Dr Pongthep, head of Chiang Mai University (CMU) Community Medicine Depart-ment, urged the Pollution Control Department to review air quality control limits in crowded areas.

He said air pollution in Chiang Mai and Lamphun could lead to problems for the respiratory system, heart, skin and eyes.

Tests are currently under way on the impact of air quality on people's health, with support from the Thailand Research Fund. Running from January 1 to April 3, the research involves Mae Rim, Saraphi, Chiang Mai Muang district and Lamphun Muang district.

Researchers are interviewing people and checking their respiratory system, heart, skin and eyes. Every day 100 people (25 per district) are checked. The information gathered will then be compared with air quality data recorded daily by the Meteorological Department.

At the end of January, researchers concluded that the effects of dust particles, less than 10 microns, were hazardous to respiratory systems. Moreover, many people were found to be suffering from neck pains, difficulty in breathing, red eyes, blurred eyesight, and other indications of poor air quality.

Higher levels of dust affect people who have breathed them in for up to four days later. Meanwhile, carbon monoxide from motor vehicles  is one of the main threats to health in Chiang Mai and Mae Rim district.

"Although the research is still in its first month, we have found that the air quality in Chiang Mai has a very negative affect on people. We have to increase pollution controls more strictly," Dr Pongthep said.

Thailand has lax rules for pollution limits compared to other countries, he said. In Europe, dust particles less than 10 microns must not exceed 65 micrograms per square metre, but the limit in Thailand is 120.

Air control standards in Thailand are appropriate for people in a good health, but there are many who cannot tolerate the recent polluted conditions such as hospital patients, children and senior citizens, he said.

Jirat Prasertsup

Citylife

Chiang Mai