Bangkok air pollution warning, children asked to stay indoors

By Amy Sawitta Lefevre

 

The skyline is seen through morning air pollution in Bangkok, Thailand February 8, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Residents in Bangkok, one of the world's top tourist destinations, were warned on Thursday the city's air quality had hit dangerous levels just days after the country's pollution control agency appealed to residents to wear face masks.

 

Air pollution in the Thai capital has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks with residents complaining of smog and respiratory problems. Some schools were closed on Thursday or kept children indoors.

 

Air Quality Index (AQI) formulas usually include up to six main pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ground level ozone.

 

The Pollution Control Department reported PM2.5 dust in the Bangkok Metropolitan at midday on Thursday and at midday it was measured at 72-95 micrograms per m3, with the likelihood that it would increase.

 

That compares with a World Health Organization (WHO)guideline of an annual average of no more than 10 micrograms. PM 2.5 is a mixture of liquid droplets and solid particles that can include dust, dirt, soot and smoke.

 

"We've warned at-risk groups including sick people ... the elderly and children. We've warned that they must not conduct activities outdoors," Suwanna Tiansuwan, deputy director general of the Pollution Control Department, said.

 

Tiansuwan said the lack of wind in recent days had allowed pollution to accumulate in the air.

 

The department reported the Air Quality Index (AQI) in central Bangkok area had reached an unhealthy level of 135 AQI by early afternoon.

 

The Air4Thai mobile phone application, which shows Pollution Control Department readings, does not factor in PM 2.5 or fine particulate matter that pose the greatest risk to human health.

 

Data from the American AirVisual smartphone application showed a 154 AQI reading for Bangkok.

 

"We've received information from my daughter's school that they are monitoring pollution levels and will be keeping the children indoors until it improves," Joanna Lorgrailers, 32, a mother of two who lives in Bangkok, told Reuters.

 

Some international schools in the city have installed their own air pollution measuring devices, said parents, and are in touch with other international schools in cities with high air pollution levels to discuss ways to limit childrens' exposure.

 

Suwanna said her department was preparing to provide PM 2.5 or fine particulate matter measurements on its mobile application.

 

(Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Michael Perry & Simon Cameron-Moore)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-2-8

And after all those centuries, you didn't see it coming???? 

I was in Bangkok this morning and was surprised and dismayed at how bad the smog was. I was very happy to get out of the city by Noon as it really did not look healthy at all.

I would definitely recommend wearing a mask, or better yet, stay out of Bangkok.

The two apps mentioned in the news article, Air4Thai and AirVisual, can be downloaded and installed here for Android devices:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kathistudio.air4thaimobile&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.airvisual&hl=en

 

AirVisual displays the data with a two-hour delay for Thailand. Screenshots of the two apps with the same timestamp:

 

  

Removed an off-topic post.

For particulate matter, the WHO has the following guidelines:

 

PM2.5:  10 μg/m³ annual mean
               25 μg/m³ 24-hour mean

PM10:   20 μg/m³ annual mean
               50 μg/m³ 24-hour mean

 

Source: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2006/WHO_SDE_PHE_OEH_06.02_eng.pdf (page 9)

I search Bangkok post for this info multiple ways and get nothing!

21 minutes ago, yooper said:

I search Bangkok post for this info multiple ways and get nothing!

I found this however, with a google search...

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1409582/bangkoks-air-pollution-level-remains-high

 

so much for the search function on the Post homepage...

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

keeping the children indoors until it improves

Great, now they can help their families at home while the parents fire up tons of charcoal at one of the hundreds of thousand hawker stalls day and night.

No need to worry…everything is under control.

 

Apparently many Chinese visitors have been complaining about the “thinness” of Bangkok air. This has made them feel unhappy.

 

So Uncle's nephews and nieces over at TAT have taken swift action in creating a warm, familiar, comfortable welcome for Chinese New Year visitors.

 

Response has been enthusiastic and arrivals are up by 163%.

 

 

I am enjoying the clean air of Hua Hin, and this is why I try not to stay too long in Bangkok, Beijing, or

Shianghai,or other large Asian cities.

Geezer

And   not  so long ago I  recall  many defending  the   quality  of  the  air  in BKK  ! lol.

 

On 2/8/2018 at 5:34 PM, snoop1130 said:

Tiansuwan said the lack of wind in recent days had allowed pollution to accumulate in the air.

Perhaps the government could hold a few mobile meetings around the city; that should improve the wind level. Better yet, perhaps they could have a word with China, which is addressing its own pollution situation rather more competently than LoS.

I was in Bangkok this morning and was surprised and dismayed at how bad the smog was. I was very happy to get out of the city by Noon as it really did not look healthy at all.
I would definitely recommend wearing a mask, or better yet, stay out of Bangkok.

Not easy when you live, work and school your kids here!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

On 08/02/2018 at 7:34 PM, Maestro said:

The two apps mentioned in the news article, Air4Thai and AirVisual, can be downloaded and installed here for Android devices:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kathistudio.air4thaimobile&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.airvisual&hl=en

 

AirVisual displays the data with a two-hour delay for Thailand. Screenshots of the two apps with the same timestamp:

 

  

Used to have the Air4Thai app on the phone, deleted it as being pretty much a COMPLETE waste of space.  The crap air quality could be in the red zone on pretty much every other meaningful measurement site but on this app (which seems to be designed more around convincing folks that the lousy air they are breathing is actually healthy rather than realistically indicating just how bad it really is) would be in the green with a stupid smiley face!!!  Interesting take on how they use the green colour (normally an 'all is well' sign) for only 'Moderate' too.