Air quality in Aranyaprathet

Is Aranyaprathet subject to higher levels of air pollution?

Aranyaprathet is located in Sa Kaeo province in the eastern region of Thailand, with close proximity towards Cambodia. Regarding the level of air pollution present, Aranyaprathet presented with a US AQI reading of 26 in mid-October of 2021, a reading that placed Aranyaprathet into the 'good' air quality rating bracket, which is color-coded as green and requires a US AQI reading of 0 to 50 to be classified as such. This is one of the most optimal air quality ratings that can be achieved, indicating that Aranyaprathet had a good level of air cleanliness at the time in which this reading was taken, free from larger amounts of smoke, haze and hazardous clouds of particulate matter that may permeate the air during other times of the year. As will be displayed later in the article, there were distinct months of the year in which the air pollution levels were significantly higher and others in which the air quality maintained a much better standard. This is largely due to the prominent slash and burn farming methods that are utilized in Thailand, with vast swathes of farm or forest land being set ablaze to both return nutrients to the soil in preparation for crop plantation, as well as clear out space for greater areas of farmland. Whilst this practice has been made illegal, it continues largely unabated due to the difficulty of enforcing it, particularly when it is conducted under the cover of darkness at night, as well as in harder-to-reach areas outside of major cities or in the provinces. Clouds of smoke containing all manner of particle pollution and chemical compounds can make their way many miles to settle over towns and cities great distances away, causing their pollution readings to spike rapidly, which has a large number of knock-on effects for the health of the citizens as well as environmental concerns. With the US AQI reading displayed above, one can see that Aranyaprathet was still within a good range of air quality in mid-October, although this is typically when the pollution levels will start to rise steadily, usually peaking in the earlier months of the following year. In closing, Aranyaprathet has many months of the year in which the air quality is vastly improved, however, there are also times in which the air pollution level can take a turn for the worst, and it is during such times that preventative measures should be employed to safeguard one’s health from the devastating effects that excess pollution exposure can bring. The wearing of fine particle filtering masks as well as avoiding outdoor activity can aid greatly in reducing damage, and keeping up to date with air forecast readings via this page or the AirVisual app can also help individuals to make informed decisions and take action accordingly.

What causes bouts of higher air pollution in Aranyaprathet?

Besides the aforementioned causes such as open burn sites, or the burning of vast farmland, Aranyaprathet also has other ambient sources of air pollution present, in a similar fashion to the other cities present throughout Thailand and indeed many of its neighboring countries. These include emissions from cars, motorbikes, as well as heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks, lorries and buses, which often give out far greater amounts of air pollution due to their larger size, as well as running on diesel fuel most of the time. Vehicles can also present an issue when they are particularly aged or past their best years, causing the motors to leak higher quantities of noxious oil vapor, as well as larger amounts of chemical compounds and particles, which is normal amongst all vehicular emissions but far more prominent in aged and defunct motors. Furthermore, vehicles can give off many tons of microscopic rubber particles into the air, with the gradual wear and tear of tire treads causing this to occur, with these particles either lingering in the air and eventually inhaled, or landing in bodies of water or other areas where damage to ecosystems may occur. Other prominent sources of air pollution include emissions from factories and power plants, as well as construction sites and any other area that utilizes fossil fuels, or disturbs large amounts of earth (with construction sites often leaking large quantities of microscopic sand or concrete dust particles into the air if proper cleaning protocols are not followed).

What health problems may happen when exposure to pollution occurs in Aranyaprathet?

Health risks associated with breathing polluted air in Aranyaprathet 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. 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.

What is the air more dangerous to breathe in Aranyaprathet?

Observing the previous year’s PM2.5 readings, it can be seen that Aranyaprathet had its highest pollution levels in January and February, with both months coming in within the 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' bracket, with respective readings of 42.7 μg/m³ and 41.6 μg/m³, readings that would place many of the inhabitants of Aranyaprathet at greater risk of adverse respiratory issues.

When does the air have lower pollution readings in Aranyaprathet?

In contrast to the above mentioned PM2.5 readings, much like many other cities and towns in Thailand, the months of June through to September had the cleanest air quality readings, coming in with figures that fell within the World Health Organization's (WHO's) target goal of 10 μg/m³ or less for the best or most optimal level of air cleanliness. June was the cleanest month out of the entire year with its reading of 6 μg/m³, indicating that the air was significantly freer from smog, smoke and noxious fumes from cars and other polluting sources.