Air quality in Si Sawat

Is there air pollution present in Si Sawat?

Pollution levels in Si Sawat have shown spikes in their readings, with this becoming more prominent towards the end of the year. Whilst many months of the year have considerably cleaner air quality, there are others when the pollution levels may start to present health risks to the inhabitants of Si Sawat. Larger buildups of smoke, haze and fine clouds of particles can cause many health issues, which will be covered in further detail later on in the article. To cite some air quality readings on record, in early December of 2021, Si Sawat presented with a US AQI reading of 76, which placed it into the higher end of the 'moderate' air pollution rating bracket for the particular day and time in which it was taken. When this US AQI figure was taken, the PM2.5 level was also recorded at a concentration of 24.1 μg/m³, some 4.8 times over the safe exposure guidelines set out World Health Organization's (WHO's) recommendations. As such, the air quality in Si Sawat may present some health issues, particularly amongst more vulnerable members of the population. Preventative measures are of great importance in helping to reduce the negative side effects caused by pollution exposure, and these include ones such as wearing fine particle filtering masks, avoiding outdoor activity or strenuous exercise in areas of higher pollution. Sealing doors or windows can also aid in reducing the indoor air pollution levels from rising, as well as running air purifiers if they are available. Staying up to date on pollution readings and future forecasts can be maintained either by visiting this page or via the AirVisual app.

What are some of the main causes of polluted air in Si Sawat?

The main causes of air pollution in Si Sawat are those that come from the numerous forms of burning, or combustion taking place across many industries and sources. Firstly, there is the country-wide issue, save for some of the islands or far southern regions of Thailand, of open burn sites or slash and burn farming practices taking place. These can cause pollution levels to spike rapidly as the air becomes permeated with smoke and haze, with secondary pollutants such as ozone, or smog as it is more commonly known, being formed as a result of some of these chemical pollutants being exposed to solar radiation. Whilst this is far more prevalent in the northern cities and provinces of Thailand, it can also affect many other areas throughout the country. With noticeable spikes in air pollution recorded during the end of the year when the burning seasons starts to take place, continuing into the early months of the following year, it becomes prevalently known that this practice takes a heavy toll on the air quality as well as the environment as a whole. However, besides this cause of pollution, many others can contribute to increased US AQI and PM2.5 readings. These include emissions from cars, buses, trucks and lorries, with the larger vehicles often running on diesel fuel. Older vehicles that remain in use throughout Thailand, particularly in areas outside of major cities, can further contribute to pollution levels, due to poor quality and heavily aged engines putting out far more noxious oil vapors and particles than newer or better quality models may do. Other sources of air pollution in Si Sawat include emissions from power plants and factories, both of which can also rely on fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal for their power, along with large amounts of fine particles often being released from construction sites and road repairs, which if poorly maintained can lead to large elevations in the particle pollution count present in the surrounding areas.

What health risks are present during pollution bouts in Si Sawat?

Excessive breathing of polluted air in Si Sawat during certain months can bring about a whole range of health issues, with some being more short-term and less severe, whilst others can have more serious and long-lasting effects, sometimes contributing to an earlier mortality rate. Dry coughs, respiratory infections and irritation to the respiratory tract are common, typically when inhalation of fine particles occurs. This can be lessened by wearing particle filtering masks during bouts of higher air pollution, as well as avoiding outdoor activity. Other health issues include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an umbrella term that includes within it ailments such as pneumonia, bronchitis, aggravated forms of asthma (which can be caused, as well as triggered off by exposure to fine dust particles and certain chemical irritants) and emphysema, all of which can decrease an individual’s capacity to take a full breath of air, reduce the quality of living as well as contribute to premature death rates, particularly when such conditions go untreated or exposure to pollution is not well managed in Si Sawat.

What are some other pollutants present in the air in Si Sawat?

The main pollutants that can be found in the atmosphere throughout Si Sawat, as well as neighboring towns and cities, are those that go into making up the US AQI aggregate. This figure is calculated by the volume of these pollutants and their prevalence in the air. Among them are chemical compounds such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide as well as the two main forms of particle pollution, PM2.5 and PM10. Out of both of these materials, PM2.5 is the far more dangerous of the two, being comprised of any material that is 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter (with some examples of materials that go into forming the PM2.5 collectives ranging from extremely dangerous materials such as metals, bacteria and mold spores, nitrates, sulfates and a variety of liquid-vapor droplets, along with ultrafine dust, which can create scarring of the lung tissue when inhaled along with some of them being carcinogenic). Other pollutants detected in the air in Si Sawat are ones such as black carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), both of which are released prominently by the combustion of organic matter as well as fossil fuels. Some samples of VOCs are benzene, which is known to be highly carcinogenic, as well as styrene, methylene chloride, toluene, xylene and formaldehyde. VOCs can additionally make up a large part of indoor air pollution levels, with many household items (particularly toiletries) releasing them regularly into the air. Air fresheners, paints, glue as well as varnishes can all release VOCs, along with other seemingly harmless items such as scented candles.

Who is most at risk of pollution exposure in Si Sawat?

Groups that are more at risk to the ill effects of exposure to smoke, haze or smog in Si Sawat are groups such as the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, or those with pre-existing health conditions. Other people that may need to take extra care include pregnant women, those with hypersensitivity towards chemical pollutants, as well as young children and babies.