In the News
March 20, 2019
This month, the Air Quality Life Index report by the University of Chicago revealed that, on average, Bangkokians’ live spans will be reduced by 2.4 years, while people in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai will face reductions of 3.6 and 3.9 years, respectively.
It found that prolonged exposure to ultrafine particles called PM2.5 will result in life expectancy of Thais to decrease by more than two years on average compared to those living in areas that meet World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standards. This was based on an analysis of conditions in 2016. The researchers, however, worry that things may have worsened since then.
The report also cited that growth in the industrial sector and increased vehicle emissions had resulted in a 23-percent increase in Bangkok’s air pollution since 1998, when it took 1.7 years off the lives of people living in the city at the time. It also found that 87 percent of the population lived in areas where pollution exceeded WHO guidelines. Even under more-forgiving Thai government standards, three out of four people breathe “unhealthy” air.