PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

Thailand's Chiang Rai Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.2 million across 18 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 40.9µg/m³. That's 8.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 679 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Chiang Rai met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 3.52 years longer.

That's 4.1M years of life stolen from 1.2 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Chiang Rai. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Phan
3.7 years lost
2.Wiang Chai
3.7 years lost
3.Khun Tan
3.7 years lost
4.Pa Daet
3.7 years lost
5.Muang Chiang Rai
3.7 years lost
6.Mae Sai
3.7 years lost
7.Mae Lao
3.6 years lost
8.Phaya Mengrai
3.6 years lost
9.Thoeng
3.6 years lost
10.Chiang Saen
3.6 years lost

Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

5.6%

65K

> 35 µg/m³

94.4%

1.1M

Districts

All 18 Districts in Chiang Rai

Complete air quality data for every district in Chiang Rai, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Muang Chiang Rai	206K	42.4	3.7 years
Phan	126K	43.2	3.7 years
Mae Chan	119K	41.1	3.5 years
Thoeng	80K	41.5	3.6 years
Mae Sai	77K	42.3	3.7 years
Mae Suai	75K	36.4	3.1 years
Wiang Pa Pao	65K	34.9	2.9 years
Chiang Khong	64K	41.3	3.6 years
Mae Fa Luang	58K	35.1	2.9 years
Chiang Saen	46K	41.4	3.6 years
Wiang Chai	44K	43.0	3.7 years
Phaya Mengrai	42K	41.7	3.6 years
Khun Tan	33K	42.6	3.7 years
Wieng Kaen	30K	40.2	3.5 years
K. Wieng Chiang	27K	40.4	3.5 years
Pa Daet	25K	42.5	3.7 years
Mae Lao	24K	42.0	3.6 years
K. Doi Luang	22K	39.8	3.4 years

Showing 18 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Chiang Rai is Injurious to Health.