Air quality in Maha Sarakham

What is the air quality index of Maha Sarakham?

Maha Sarakham is the capital city of the province of the same name. It is sometimes known by the local people as Sarakham. It is in a predominately rice-growing area and covers both banks of the Chi River. It is 475 kilometres northeast of Bangkok.

At the beginning of 2021, Maha Sarakham was experiencing some “Moderate” quality air with a US AQI reading of 74. This classification is based on figures recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The concentration of PM2.5 was 23.1 µg/m³. With the air quality at this level, it is advisable to close doors and windows to prevent the ingress of dirty air into the home. Those people of a sensitive disposition should postpone all outdoor activities until the air quality improves.

What is the main source of air pollution in Maha Sarakham?

Being in the heart of a predominately agricultural area, the main source of air pollution here comes from the burning of organic waste material such as the organic material which is the residue from the rice harvest. It is well-known to be a source of the PM2.5 pollutant.

Students throughout Thailand decided to demonstrate against this practice in the hope that the government would take notice and take action to reduce it. In Maha Sarakham province, they demonstrated at the City Pillar Shrine.

Is air pollution in Maha Sarakham getting better or worse?

Because the rice harvest is seasonal, air pollution varies throughout the year. Whilst the rice is still growing, the air quality is relatively good.

Rice residue burning is a part of biomass burning which occurs throughout the year and is widely used in Thailand, particularly in the central and northern regions to remove residue, control weeds and release land for the next crop cycle. The remaining ash is thought to be a good fertiliser which is beneficial to the next crop.

This process is a large source of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) which is the principal product of the combustion, carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH₄), nitrogen oxide (N₂O), and nitric oxide (NO_x) and comparatively less sulphur dioxide (SO₂). Owing to human nature, there is very often other garbage thrown into the flames as well. Plastic bottles and other flammable matter such as Styrofoam.

What is the pollution level in Maha Sarakham?

Overall ambient air quality from automatic air quality monitoring stations, in 33 provinces (63 stations), reveals that the percentage of days in 2018 which the 24-hours average exceeded the standard.

The 24-hour average value was in the range of between 3 and 133 µg/m³ (standard value: 50). The annual average value was between 9 and 41 µg/m³. And the countrywide average value was 24 µg/m³ (standard value: 25). Since 2018 the PM2.5 figure has unfortunately been increasing.

The major causes are open organic burning and forest fires, but the situation has improved slightly since 2016. The number of days when particulate matter exceeded the standards has decreased.

What can be done to improve the air quality in Maha Sarakham?

Towards the end of 2020, the Thai government issued a ban on rice straw burning to try to improve air quality. Sometimes the get out of control and spread to nearby scrub and forests.

To prevent air pollution in the country, the ministry is taking action with five measures, including preventing wildfires, improving the road infrastructure, removing dust on roads and roadsides, educating people not to burn garbage, solid waste, grass, rice straw or other agricultural waste, and preparing preventive measures for forest fires.

In other Thai provinces, a campaign has been launched to educate the local farmers as to just how bad burning straw is. Demonstrations are given which show how to correctly use a plough and how soil quality can be improved this way and the implications to the next crop due to better quality soil.

Rice stubble burning not only leads to air pollution, it also deteriorates soil quality and affects the quality of agricultural produce.

As the total annual production of rice increases, Thais must find a sustainable way of disposing of the residue left over after the harvest. At present, it is burned in the open fields where it fell. This is not a good way to dispose of it as it causes a huge amount of air pollution. A survey currently underway is looking at the possibility of using it as a source for energy production in a controlled manner.

Rice straw has a high enough calorific value but is not perfectly suited for commercial use. The most feasible option for energy conversion is co-firing combustion with coal. Analysis shows that while off-site utilisation of rice straw is energetically feasible, the main barriers are currently that it is largely uneconomical.

What are the effects of breathing Maha Sarakham’s poor quality air?

Air pollution may cause irritation of the eyes, throat and lungs if you live in areas with high air pollution you may have suffered from stinging eyes, coughing and tightness in the chest.

Over the past 30 years, studies have shown that air pollution has resulted in a number of serious health problems, including asthma-related respiratory disease or lung function disorders. Diseases related to the heart and blood vessels premature birth or even death. In addition, the latest World Health Organisation has revealed that outside air pollution is a substance that can cause cancer as well.

What does the air quality index mean?

The air quality index of Thailand is divided into five levels and is colour-coded. The air quality index that is considered normal is 100. If higher, it means that air pollution concentration is quite high or very high. The measurement criteria are as follows: 0-50 uses blue to symbolize the air quality is good. And has no effect on health. 51-100 uses green as a symbol, meaning the air quality is moderate and, again, has no effect on health. 101-200 has a yellow as a symbol of air quality and it does have an effect on health. Respiratory disease patients should avoid exercising outside and children and the elderly should not participate in outdoor activities. 201-300 uses orange as a symbol, meaning air quality can have a huge impact on health. More than 300 uses red as a symbol, meaning the air quality is dangerous.