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The Thai leader traveled to the northern city of Chiang Mai earlier this week to personally inspect areas where air quality is extremely poor.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered government agencies to take urgent action to combat air pollution, which has reached dangerous levels.
Recently, pollution levels in and around Chiang Mai have surpbaded those of major cities around the world known for poor air quality.
In recent days, tests have shown that northern Thailand has very high concentrations of airborne particles called PM2.5. PM2.5 particles are small enough to be sucked into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. They can cause respiratory problems and increase the risk of heart disease and even some cancers.
Recently, the Chiang Mai region recorded PM2.5 measurements reaching 480 micrograms. This is six times higher than Thailand's safety limits for air pollution. The experts in air quality consider all levels above 300 "hazardous"In comparison, New Delhi, the capital of India, has recently reached a level of 228, against 161 in Beijing.
Much of the current pollution in Chiang Mai is due to farmers burning crops. Many farmers started fires at this time of the year to clear the land for planting. Agriculture experts say that air pollution is worse this year because of the extremely dry weather.
Stale air has caused many people to walk or work with facial wear masks and at least two universities canceled clbades. The mountains surrounding the city attract a large amount of pollution in the area, which is popular with foreign travelers.
Prime Minister Prayuth said he met with local officials to discuss ways to reduce burning activities within seven days. The measures would cover more than 1,900 places in nine provinces.
"We need to work on a long-term solution with public understanding," said Prayuth. "We need time to change the way we grow and grow. Tens of millions of people could be affected. He said officials distributed nearly two million face masks to people in the affected areas.
His visit came after much criticism of the government's response to air pollution. About 40,000 people signed a online call requesting the replacement of the local governor. Chiang Mai officials have resisted calls for the declaration of emergency, partly because it could frighten visitors.
Earlier this year, Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, also had an air pollution problem. This has led more than 400 schools to close and the governor of Bangkok to declare a zone of "pollution control". This declaration authorized the closure of roads and the limitation of the use of diesel fuel, outdoor burning and certain construction projects.
Since then, the air quality in Bangkok has remained generally at moderate levels.
I am Bryan Lynn.
Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and the Agence France-Presse. George Grow was the publisher.
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Words in this story
hazardous – adj. dangerous
mask – not. covering for the face
online – adj. or related to the Internet or computers
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