Airborne particulate matter from biomass burning in Thailand: Recent issues, challenges, and options
Phuchiwan Suriyawong,
Santi Chuetor,
Hisam Samae,
Suthida Piriyakarnsakul,
Muhammad Amin,
Masami Furuuchi,
Mitsuhiko Hata,
Muanfun Inerb,
Worradorn Phairuang
Affiliations
Phuchiwan Suriyawong
Research Unit for Energy, Economic, And Ecological Management (3E), Science and Technology Research Institute, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
Santi Chuetor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, 10800 Thailand
Hisam Samae
Research Unit for Energy, Economic, And Ecological Management (3E), Science and Technology Research Institute, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
Suthida Piriyakarnsakul
Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council, Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Muhammad Amin
Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192 Japan; Faculty of Engineering, Maritim University of Raja Ali Haji, Tanjung Pinang, Kepulauan Riau 29115, Indonesia
Masami Furuuchi
Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192 Japan; Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand
Mitsuhiko Hata
Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192 Japan
Muanfun Inerb
Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand
Worradorn Phairuang
Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192 Japan; Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand; Corresponding author. Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192 Japan.
Many of the current atmospheric environmental problems facing Thailand are linked to air pollution that is largely derived from biomass burning. Different parts of Thailand have distinctive sources of biomass emissions that affect air quality. The main contributors to atmospheric particulate matter (PM), especially the PM2.5 fraction in Thailand, were highlighted in a recent study of PM derived from biomass burning. This review is divided into six sections. Section one is an introduction to biomass burning in Thailand. Section two covers issues related to biomass burning for each of the four main regions in Thailand, including Northern, Northeastern, Central, and Southern Thailand. In northern Thailand, forest fires and the burning of crop residues have contributed to air quality in the past decade. The northeast region is mainly affected by the burning of agricultural residues. However, the main contributor to PM in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region is motor vehicles and crop burning. In Southern Thailand, the impact of agoindustries, biomass combustion, and possible agricultural residue burning are the primary sources, and cross-border pollution is also important. The third section concerns the effect of biomass burning on human health. Finally, perspectives, new challenges, and policy recommendations are made concerning improving air quality in Thailand, e.g., forest fuel management and biomass utilization. The overall conclusions point to issues that will have a long-term impact on achieving a blue sky over Thailand through the development of coherent policies and the management of air pollution and sharing this knowledge with a broader audience.
