Air quality in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao, Bang Khen, Chatuchak, Lat Pla Khao, Bang Khun Thian and Bueng Kum areas today (Wednesday) is described as unhealthy to very unhealthy by the Department of Pollution Control.

The AQI (air quality index) at 10am showed a reading of 235 in along the Kanchanapisek Road in Bang Khun Thian district, with the level of PM2.5 dust being measured at 125 microns, followed by a 212 AQI reading in Khlong Kum sub-district in Bueng Kum district, where PM2.5 was measured at 102 microns.

An AQI reading from 201-300 is regarded as very unhealthy.

According to the Air4Thai website, PM2.5 has exceeded the safety level since March 2^nd in most of Bangkok, but this is expected to improve tomorrow due to the southerly wind, which will help scatter the dust particles in the atmosphere.

PM2.5 levels around the country today are:

• North 65-137 microns
• Northeast 48-170 microns
• Central and west 50-98 microns
• East 59-86 microns
• Bangkok and suburbs 55-131 microns
• South 17-33 microns

Safety level in Thailand is 50 microns.

Due to the seriousness of the forest fire and haze problem, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has already closed 43 national parks and 22 wildlife sanctuaries until April or until the situation has improved.

The closure of the woodlands is to facilitate the fighting of the raging fires and to prevent villagers from foraging.