{"id":3288,"date":"2023-09-05T10:00:53","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T03:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.th\/blog\/?p=3288"},"modified":"2023-09-07T08:13:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T01:13:21","slug":"respiratory-illness-and-air-pollution-in-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.th\/blog\/respiratory-illness-and-air-pollution-in-thailand\/","title":{"rendered":"Respiratory Illnesses in Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of Thailand\u2019s largest silent killers called air pollution is on a spree again. In just the first three months of 2023, it\u2019s already responsible for over one million respiratory illness patients in hospitals across the country. We suggest you take protective measures before it\u2019s too late.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Individual<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Growing up as an energetic boy adored by <\/span>everyone in his big Thai-Chinese family, <\/span>Dr. Krittai Tanasombatkul<\/span><\/a> has spent his time exercising, eating clean, keeping a consistent and healthy sleep schedule, and has never smoked.<\/span><\/p>\n

His promising future is guaranteed after he received two Master\u2019s degrees and became a university medical lecturer in 2022. With his life mapped out and ready to be spent with those whom he loves, he plans to propose to his partner and settle down in the tranquil northern city of Chiang Mai.<\/span><\/p>\n

The plan, however, was interrupted by a cough.<\/span><\/p>\n

That cough developed into a series of wet and dry coughs that persisted for months. He underwent a chest X-ray just to see that half of his right lung had completely vanished, and at the age of 28, Dr. Krittai was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"black<\/p>\n

Dr. Krittai is one of <\/span>more than 2.4 million Thai people suffering from illnesses related to air pollution in 2023<\/span><\/a>. As Thailand climbs the air quality monitoring company <\/span>IQAir<\/span><\/a>\u2019s rank for the world\u2019s most polluted countries, breathing in Bangkok is <\/span>equivalent to smoking 1,224.77 cigarettes a year<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Chaing Mai has the highest level of air pollution compared to other provinces in the country, <\/span>Pacific Prime Thailand<\/span><\/a> encourages everyone to learn more about Thailand\u2019s overall air quality situation in this article so that they can stay safe despite the hazy environmental outlook.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Thailand<\/p>\n

Thailand\u2019s Invisible Killer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>World Health Organization (WHO)<\/span><\/a> defines air pollution as \u201ccontamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere,\u201d creating <\/span>a mixture of solid particles, droplets, and gas<\/span><\/a> that pollutes the air.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the mixture, pollutants of major health concern for humans are carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and the most detrimental of all: fine particles of 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter called <\/span>particulate matter 2.5 (PM<\/span>2.5<\/span>)<\/span><\/a>, which can enter the body in a blink of an eye.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

PM<\/span>2.5<\/span> is tiny. In fact, it\u2019s even tinier than a strand of human hair, so it can directly translocate into the bloodstream before altering coagulation pathways of the cells and increasing the risks of both short and long-term health problems, including but not limited to:<\/span><\/p>\n