Haze forces 64,000 into hospitals in the North
SMOG IN THE North has already caused 64,108 people to be hospitalised, while more patients are expected as a result of the air pollution.
Dr Suraphan Sangsawang, acting director of the Regional Health Promotion Centre 10 Chiang Mai, said reports from 90 hospitals in the area showed that the number of patients with coronary artery and respiratory diseases had increased dramatically as the region’s haze worsened last week.
Suraphan said Chiang Mai had the highest number of patients at 17,359, followed by Chiang Rai at 11,779 and Lampang at 10,228.
The volume of particulate matter with a maximum diameter of 10 microns (PM10) rose yesterday above the safe level of 120 micrograms per cubic metre in many Northern provinces. According to the Pollution Control Department, the three districts with the highest PM10 levels were Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai (276 micrograms), Lampang’s Mae Mo (213 micrograms) and Payao’s Mueng (188 micrograms).
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