People in North upset about smog's impact on their health

But many residents keen to exercise outdoors and foreign visitors still complained about the impact of the smog on their health. 

The level of particulate matter 10 microns in diameter or smaller (PM10) was 120 micrograms per cubic metre at a Doi Saket station, while Tambon Chang Pheuk reported 112 and Tambon Sri Phum reported 117.

Fewer people were exercising at the 700th Anniversary Chiangmai Sports Complex in the morning, Jamroon Khonnil, 73, a regular visitor to the stadium, said. “I also cannot breathe till my lungs are full and I get tired easily because of the smog,” he said, adding that he wears a facemask for self-protection.

Thai national runner Natthaya Thanaronnawat, who has trained in the province for two weeks now, said the smog affected her training too. She has had throat, eye and respiratory track irritation and has had to adjust her schedule to run early in the morning when the weather is more humid. Many foreign visitors complained about the impact of the smog. American tourist Audrey Metzger said it was severe in the morning and at night, so she wore a facemask all the time when going outside as it was unhealthy. 

Young women basketball players from Macau who attended the 7th Asian School Basketball Championships in Chiang Mai – Queenie Lam, Jessica Tong and Cecilia Ian – said the smog caused the weather to be hotter and made people get sick more easily. A youth basketball player from Malaysia, Liow En Xion, said he got eye irritation from the smog and urged officials to properly solve this issue.