Coal-fired power plants ‘partly to blame for Bangkok pollution’

[webfact]

Coal-fired power plants ‘partly to blame for Bangkok pollution’

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

 

Eastern industrial estate linked to air quality as PM2.5 levels exceed safe levels.

 

BANGKOK’S SERIOUS air pollution was partly generated from coal-fired power plants in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Zone, Greenpeace has revealed.

 

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) and Greenpeace yesterday warned people in Bangkok and other major cities about the surge in particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or smaller (PM2.5) to dangerous levels.

 

 

Greenpeace Southeast Asia director Tara Buakamsri said city traffic and drifting air pollution from the industrial zone in the East were responsible for the harmful PM2.5 levels in the capital.

 

Tara cited calculation results from the Atmospheric Chemistry Modelling Team at Harvard University, which showed that air pollution from coal-fired power plants operated by BLCP Power Limited and GHECO-One Co Ltd in Rayong’s Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate had affected air quality in nearby tourist destinations such as Pattaya and Koh Samet.

 

The impacts had also reached as far as Bangkok.

 

 

He said the Harvard research showed that PM2.5 generated from both the coal-fired power plants in the East contributed to 40 per cent of the annual PM2.5 level in Pattaya and Koh Samet and made up 20 per cent of the annual PM2.5 level in Bangkok.

 

“If we consider the wind direction, we can see that from February to September, the wind blows towards the Southwest, carrying air pollution from the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Zone to Bangkok,” he said.

 

“Therefore, air pollution in the capital is not solely generated by traffic within the city, but also from the coal-fired power plants far away.”

 

The BLCP and GHECO-One coal-fired power plants both use imported high-quality bituminous coal as fuel for electricity generation. They have the capacity to generate 1,434 megawatts and 660MW respectively.

 

The air pollution in Bangkok and many provinces in the upper part of the country has jumped to critical levels since Wednesday, as the PM2.5 level has risen beyond safe limits.

 

The PCD revealed that all air-quality monitoring stations in Bangkok had measured the PM2.5 as rising beyond Thailand’s safe level of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air. It advised those at high risk, such as patients with heart disease and respiratory disease, to wear a facemask or avoid outdoor activities.

 

According to the air quality data of the PCD, the highest PM2.5 in Bangkok was recorded in Wang Thonglang district – an unhealthy 148.86 milligrams – while many provinces such as Samut Prakan (129 milligrams), Prachinburi (126.58 milligrams), and Saraburi (125.62 milligrams) were also suffering from very high levels of PM2.5.

 

 

The Meteorological Department predicted that the cold and misty weather in Bangkok would continue until Sunday. Due to this weather pattern, officials predicted that air pollution would remain a serious problem in Bangkok until at least this coming weekend.

 

Disease Control Department director-general Dr Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai said that despite the situation there were no reports of increased sickness due to air pollution. 

 

He advised people to protect themselves by breathing through a wet handkerchief and to avoid working and exercising outdoors.

 

Suwannachai also urged people to regularly check updates from the authorities about the pollution situation and how to keep themselves healthy.

 

Chariya Senpong, Greenpeace coordinator on energy and climate change, cautioned that ordinary face masks could not filter PM2.5 and suggested that people use face masks that meet the KN95 standard or above to protect themselves from the very fine particulate matter prevalent in the air.

 

Chariya also emphasised that air pollution contributed to more than 50,000 premature deaths every year and that authorities should take more action to protect people from deadly air pollution.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338354

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-09

[mok199]

just add it to thailands ''bucket list''...

[Wiggy]

“If we consider the wind direction, we can see that from February to September, the wind blows towards the Southwest, carrying air pollution from the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Zone to Bangkok,” he said.

Blimey, he doesn't even know the direction to Bangkok from the Eastern Seaboard. He needs to look at a map. For pollution to come from there to Bangkok it would need to be heading more north west (or even NNW). But in meteorological terms it would be a south easterly wind (or even SSE) as wind direction is measured by where it's coming from. Besides, I've never noticed it being this bad before. Have all these power plants popped up in the last year?

[Graemej100]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He advised people to protect themselves by breathing through a wet handkerchief and to avoid working and exercising outdoors.

........and carry a bucket of water with you to keep the handkerchief wet. (Wonderful advice. I can't believe this)

[sammieuk1]

On the bright side its like the alps in Chiang Mai.

[wakeupplease]

Na you have it wrong again, just like Vaporizing and Asbestos

[NextStationBangkok]

Until some European countries warn their Tourists, Thailand will not care a damn about it.

[zappalot]

It was always very bad in DEC/JAN/FEB. Last year we had some days exceeding 220 ppm...

 

Right now:

 

Bangkok AQI: Bangkok Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI).

157

Unhealthy

Edited February 9, 2018 by zappalot

[jmacken306]

I live in Aomyai, November through February we get the cold air from the NORTH (Russia) and the smoke and ash from a garbage company 1km away, the smoke stack is maybe 10 stories high. Our apartment has no window glass in the room and we get the ash and smoke. The stacks need scrubbers and need to be much higher. I could go on comparing this with the USA, but I won't, that would be where I'm from! I do have to say Thailand has the lead on LPG NPG CNG for their Taxis and truck, way ahead of the USA

[Destiny1990]

Well atleast this is also going to affect the health of the people who are keeping these coal fire plants open.som na na.

[aussie11950]

I hope someone take legal action against the government for the position produced. 

[wvavin]

Good! Let them have a taste of their own medicine.

[Cabradelmar]

Thailand needs to buy some of that clean coal Trump is selling ???

[Coastrider]

I thought it was the burning of all the bodies from Thailand's road deaths

 

[jmccarty]

1 hour ago, Wiggy said:

“If we consider the wind direction, we can see that from February to September, the wind blows towards the Southwest, carrying air pollution from the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Zone to Bangkok,” he said.

Blimey, he doesn't even know the direction to Bangkok from the Eastern Seaboard. He needs to look at a map. For pollution to come from there to Bangkok it would need to be heading more north west (or even NNW). But in meteorological terms it would be a south easterly wind (or even SSE) as wind direction is measured by where it's coming from. Besides, I've never noticed it being this bad before. Have all these power plants popped up in the last year?

They can all burn oil, natural gas or coal to suit whatever is cheapest, or most available on the market.  Fossil Fuel Power Plants.

[VocalNeal]

^ Are they coal? I thought they were mostly gas from Myanmar?

 

Yes one can change but they are not multi-fuel with a switch. 

[Hans Rayong]

Stockholm 6 

Bangkok 157

[akampa]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He advised people to protect themselves by breathing through a wet handkerchief and to avoid working and exercising outdoors.

Really what about the people selling food, mending shoes and and  and outside ! fool

[marquis22]

26 minutes ago, Coastrider said:

I thought it was the burning of all the bodies from Thailand's road deaths

 

You better not ride that bike here then   :-)

[VocalNeal]

While it is not local does Greenpeace Southeast Asia director realize that the energy consumed by Bitcion mining is equal to the electrical output of most African countries. 

Then of course the solution to the problem is for everyone to drive an electric car? Where on earth do these numpties think all the electricity will come from. Solar won't cut it. 

[LALes]

The wind blows FROM the SW from March to September and the air is much, much cleaner.

I don't know where this Greenpeace guy is coming from.  I never heard anyone use the coal

excuse before and the wind rarely blows from the Rayong/Maptaput area up towards BKK.

That would be a NW wind-something I've never seen here.  Get a grip, dude.

[peperobi]

Amazing Thailand!!! Amazing Bangkok!!!

[VocalNeal]

It is more fake news from Greenpeace who's employees are probably on a media issuing quota?  

 

Thailand according to Wikipedia has 4 coal fired power stations. None of which are anywhere near the  "Eastern Seaboard Industrial Zone"

 

Social media users and eco warriors will not check this fact. Wikipedia 

[speckio]

Looks like Presidents trump attempt sto revive the coal industry is working... IN THAILAND! 

[Brunolem]

If only the sun was shining in Thailand!

 

Then they could enjoy the benefits of solar panels...

[anon537687643]

It is more fake news from Greenpeace who's employees are probably on a media issuing quota?  
 
Thailand according to Wikipedia has 4 coal fired power stations. None of which are anywhere near the  "Eastern Seaboard Industrial Zone"
 
Social media users and eco warriors will not check this fact. Wikipedia 

Nothing fake about burning fossil fuels and the pollution effects ! Another who sucked in by the Psycho in the WH


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[tryasimight]

25 minutes ago, markaoffy said:

Nothing fake about burning fossil fuels and the pollution effects ! Another who sucked in by the Psycho in the WH


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

You... Shut Em all down and build a dozen clean energy nukes!!!!! 

[tryasimight]

Never ceases to amaze with some of the posters on here. 

If you live here and are complaining..... You know what your options are... 

If you don't live here,  please don't get so concerned about something that does not affect you - it gets extremely tiresome reading the OH so predictable whining - all the time. 

[RPCVguy]

Wind direction, regional interactive data is available in near real time via a graphical database updated using GEOS-5 satellite data. 
Current wind direction is from the south.

https://earth.nullschool.net/#2018/02/09/0300Z/particulates/surface/level/overlay=pm2.5/orthographic=-264.78,16.03,1823/loc=100.496,13.703

Edited February 9, 2018 by RPCVguy

[thaiguzzi]

Remind me why I live in the countryside with no neighbors and why I don't like living in large cities......