Air quality in Hang Chat

Is it polluted in Hang Chat?

Hang Chat is subject to varying degrees of pollution, with more prominent spikes being seen towards the end of the year as well as the earlier months, as is common in many towns, cities and provinces throughout Thailand. Whilst this phenomenon is most prevalent in the northern regions, due to reasons such as higher instances of slash and burn farming as well as smoke from neighboring countries drifting over the border, it can also affect many other cities throughout the entire country. Observing some of the pollution levels on record in the latter part of 2021, it can be seen that Hang Chat presented with a US AQI figure of 94 at the end of November, with many other days before this also having similar readings, with some even going higher. Whilst this is not as extreme as other more polluted cities in Thailand, it is still enough to cause health issues to inhabitants of Hang Chat, particularly those that fall into the more vulnerable groups demographic, which will be expanded on further at the end of the article. When the above-mentioned US AQI reading of 94 was recorded, the PM2.5 level (particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter, being counted as one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution) was found also to be at 32.6 μg/m³. This is 6.5 times higher than the safe exposure guidelines set out by the World Health Organization (WHO), and as such may certainly present a risk in terms of the number of particles and chemical compounds found in the air at such a time. Other US AQI readings that were taken over November include lows of 33 and 36, both of which would fall into the 'good' air quality rating bracket, which requires a reading of 0 to 50, being one of the best ratings that can be achieved in regards to the US AQI rating, as well as highs of 103 on record midway through November. The average remained between 60 to 80 on the US AQI readings chart, and as such whilst this does not present significant dangers to health, there still may be side effects present from excess pollution exposure and certain individuals may need to take preventative measures to keep their exposure levels to a minimum.

Why is the air polluted in Hang Chat?

Air pollution in Hang Chat comes from a variety of sources, as with many cities’ towns around South East Asia. Much of this would stem from fumes, smoke and clouds of fine particles given off from vehicles, with cars, motorbikes and other small vehicles in use on the roads all contributing towards this air pollution collective. As mentioned above, fires started mainly by farmers may drift from towns or provinces many miles away and cause the pollution levels in Hang Chat to rise by any given amount, depending on the severity of the burning as well as meteorological conditions. Other contributing factors to air pollution in Hang Chat include construction sites, road repairs, as well as smoke given off from industrial sites, power plants and factories.

What pollutants are present in the air in Hang Chat?

Some of the main forms of air pollution that can be found in Hang Chat can be found making up the US AQI aggregation, which includes PM10 and PM2.5, the two main forms of particle pollution. Out of the two, PM2.5 is by far the more hazardous, with its size of 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter making it able to bypass many of the body’s defense systems, penetrating deep into the tissue of the lungs, which can lead to many further health issues or other complications, some of which are discussed in the previous question about ailments caused by pollution exposure in Hang Chat. Other pollutants forming the US AQI figure are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide (which are both commonly seen being released from vehicles, with nitrogen dioxide being found very prominently in the air over areas that see a higher level of traffic, often having a strong correlation between the two). Other pollutants in Hang Chat include carbon monoxide and ozone, or smog as it is more commonly known when found accumulating on ground level. Other pollutants worth noting are ones such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals that can maintain a gaseous state even at lower temperatures and thus making them much easier to breathe. Some examples of VOCs are toluene, xylene, methylene chloride, benzene, styrene and formaldehyde. It is pertinent to be aware that VOCs are among the most common forms of indoor or household pollution, often being emitted from materials such as paints, varnishes, glues, as well as many other household items such as scented candles, aerosols, or other various scented toiletry products.

What are some of the main health problems associated with breathing polluted air in Hang Chat?

Continuous exposure to higher concentrations of pollution in the air in Hang Chat can cause many dangerous or adverse health conditions to occur, being of particular prominence to certain individuals who are part of the sensitive group demographic, also covered later in the article. Despite certain groups being more at risk, it is well-known that even healthy or physically fit adults may find themselves on the receiving end of the negative side-effects caused by polluted air in Hang Chat, particularly if this exposure is of a higher magnitude or takes place over a longer period, a factor that may be very important to note for those that find themselves living near to much more highly polluted areas such as industrial districts or near busy roads, whereby the air quality will be poorer, and hazardous particles more prevalent in the atmosphere for much of the year. A higher number of ailments that can present themselves amongst inhabitants, as a result, would be the standard shorter-term ones such as dry throat and coughs, as well as the accompanying chest pains and mild infections of the respiratory tract. These will typically resolve themselves in a relatively short amount of time when the exposure to air pollution is stopped, or at the very least reduced. As such, they can be classified as more acute health issues amongst possible health problems present in Hang Chat. With continuous air pollution exposure taking place, respiratory aggravation may also develop into more long-term, chronic health problems. The continuous chest infections sustained as well as the accompanying coughing can lead to the scarring of lung tissue, which can result in a significantly (and often permanent) decreased lung capacity. As well as this, the scarring or damage and inflammation to the tissue of the lungs can make one more vulnerable to a whole host of respiratory distress, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presenting itself. This is an umbrella term that refers to a multitude of different lung and respiratory tract conditions, typically resulting in shortness of breath as well as making an individual at greater risk of severe damage from pollution exposure. Some further conditions that fall under the COPD bracket are one such as pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema as well as asthma. Other forms of damage that can happen within the body include increased risk of cancer, heart attacks, strokes and arrhythmias, as well as ischemic heart disease and many other cardiac or pulmonary conditions that can bring about decreased quality of life as well as lower life expectancy in Hang Chat.

Who is most at risk of pollution exposure in Hang Chat?

People who should take extra care to safeguard against excess pollution exposure include those who have compromised immune systems or pre-existing health conditions that may place them in a vulnerable position if caught in areas of higher pollution. This is particularly pertinent to those that have pulmonary or cardiac conditions, which can be heavily aggravated by exposure to certain chemical compounds and other fine particles. Other groups that should take care during times of higher pollution readings are pregnant women, young children and babies, as well as the elderly, all of whom are susceptible to highly negative effects from either acute or long-term exposure.