Seasonal air pollution is a feature of life for much of Asia, associated with agricultural burning and weather patterns that trap pollutants. The issue has become a political and economic headache for tourist-dependent Thailand, and prompted lawsuits and a legislative push by clean air activists. Despite the efforts, northern Thailand's Chiang Mai tourist destination topped the global rankings for world's most polluted major city for part of Tuesday, according to the IQAir monitor. Dao, a cafe worker who declined to give her family name, has lived through years of seasonal air pollution in Pai but said this year was especially bad. The spike in air pollution comes as clean air activists warn a bill to enshrine the right to breathable air and to tax emitters is in danger of dying in parliament.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 31, 2026 10:36 UTC