Air quality in Loei

Is there pollution present in the air in Loei?

Loei is found in the upper northeastern regions of Thailand, within Isan. It has close proximity to Laos, and as a result of being located in the northern portion of the country, is more likely to be subject to higher levels of air pollution that arise as a result of open burning, or slash and burn farming practices, alongside other ambient sources of pollution that come about as a result of anthropogenic and industrial activity, common in many cities and towns throughout Thailand. In early October of 2021, Loei presented with a US AQI reading of 55, a figure that would place it into the 'moderate' air quality rating bracket for the day and time in which it was taken. This is color-coded as yellow (with this same color-coding in use on the various air quality maps, graphs and forecasts found on the IQAir website, for ease of navigation and reference. As the pollution levels rise, the color will darken to match with each new pollution plateau, with red, purple and maroon being the most dangerous pollution coding). To achieve such a rating, a US AQI figure of anywhere between 51 to 100 is required, with US AQI itself being a reading that is aggregated from the various main pollutants found in the air throughout Loei and the rest of the world. Some of main chemical pollutants include carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and the two forms of particulate matter pollution, PM2.5 and PM10. PM2.5 is also used as a valuable measure of air pollution in its own right, due to it being the most dangerous pollutant that can be found in the air, with its size of 2.5 micrometers or less (as well as the large variety of highly dangerous and often carcinogenic or nervous system altering materials it can consist of) giving it the ability to penetrate deep within the tissue of the lungs, bypassing the body’s natural defense systems.

When the above reading of 55 was taken, the PM2.5 level was found to be at 14.1 μg/m³, one time higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO's) exposure recommendation, and itself also in the 'moderate' rating bracket, which when measured in PM2.5 requires its own reading of 12.1 to 35.4 μg/m³ to be classified as such. other US AQI readings that were taken around a similar time include mildly higher figures of 68 and 69, indicating that at this particular time of the year, the air quality is not overtly bad but could be improved upon. With patterns to draw upon from years past, both in Loei and throughout Thailand, air pollution levels will likely continue to rise as the year comes to a close (due to the slash and burn farming practices typically starting around this time of the year), and the early months of the following year being hit the hardest by clouds of haze, smoke and fine particle pollution. These will be discussed in further detail at the end of the article. During bouts of high air pollution, preventative measures such as wearing fine particle filtering masks and avoiding outdoor activity (particularly strenuous ones such as exercise) can aid greatly in reducing negative effects.

What is causing air pollution to occur within Loei?

As mentioned above, one of the more prominent causes of higher levels of air pollution in Loei would stem from the burning of vast swathes of forest areas or farmland. The combustion of organic material can release huge amounts of chemical compounds and hazardous particulate matter into the air, affecting cities and towns many miles away, depending on the weather conditions. Whilst this is the largest contributor to big spikes in PM2.5 or US AQI readings, there are still other sources of ambient air pollution present. These include exhaust fumes from cars and other vehicles (particularly if there are of poor quality, aged or utilize low quality or diesel fuel), as well as emissions from power plants, factories and other similar industrial sites. Road repairs (as well as poorly paved or maintained roads) can contribute to particle pollution, along with construction sites also contributing to this issue, particularly when procedures such as properly covering sand piles or washing away accumulations of concrete or other similar dust is not adhered to.

What are some of the health risks associated with pollution in Loei?

Health risks associated with breathing polluted air in Loei include heightened risk of cancer, heart attacks, arrhythmias, strokes and even premature death, particularly when pollution levels are high or exposure takes place over a long period of time. Other less serious but related issues are ones such as dry coughs, chest pain and infections, as well as other irritation or aggravation of the lungs and the rest of the respiratory tract. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may also present itself, with COPD being an umbrella term that refers to a variety of lung or breathing-related ailments. These include aggravated forms of asthma and bronchitis, as well as pneumonia and emphysema falling under this bracket. People who are most at risk of developing health issues include young children and babies, as well as pregnant mothers, the elderly, or those who have pre-existing health conditions, compromised immune systems or a general sensitive disposition towards certain chemical compounds and other pollutants.

When is the air in Loei at its most polluted?

Observing the air quality data from 2020, it can be seen that Loei followed the above-mentioned pattern, seeing rises in its PM2.5 levels towards the end of the year as well as significantly more elevated numbers in the earlier months. Due to data being missing from the earlier months of the year, the highest pollution level was seen in March, with its reading of 51.4 μg/m³ indicating a dangerous level of pollution present. Other months to be aware of that may have higher levels in the future include January through to May, as well as November and December also having elevated readings.

Does Loei have certain months of the year that are cleaner and less polluted?

Despite having large spikes in the earlier months of the year, Loei also has a period of time in which the air quality is significantly improved. The months of June through to October in 2020 showed respectable levels of air quality, with 4 out of these 5 months coming in within the WHO's target goal of 10 μg/m³ or less, with August and September being tied for cleanest months at 9.3 μg/m³ each.