Greenpeace appeals to Thai PM to tackle air pollution 'crisis'

[webfact]

Greenpeace appeals to Thai PM to tackle air pollution 'crisis'

 

The Bhumibol bridge is seen through air pollution in Bangkok, Thailand February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Environment group Greenpeace on Thursday called on Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to tackle an air pollution "crisis" in Bangkok, weeks after a pollution agency said the city's air quality had hit dangerous levels.

 

Air pollution has been under the spotlight in Bangkok, one of the world's most popular tourist cities, with many residents complaining about smog.

 

Greenpeace said Bangkok suffered the worst air pollution in its history between Jan. 1 and Feb. 21.

 

The Pollution Control Department warned this month that the level of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres, or PM2.5 dust, in the city had hit unhealthy levels and asked children to stay indoors.

 

The skyline is seen through air pollution in Bangkok, Thailand February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

PM2.5 dust, the most dangerous kind, includes pollutants such as nitrates that can penetrate the cardiovascular system.

 

Critics blame Bangkok's worsening air pollution on lax enforcement of vehicle emission standards, poor urban planning and insufficient green spaces.

 

Greenpeace activists presented an hourglass filled with dust from Bangkok and other provinces most affected by severe air pollution to a government representative.

 

"Bangkok cannot continue choking on hazardous air," said Tara Buakamsri, director of Greenpeace in Thailand.

 

"It endangers the lives of people, affects economic productivity and negatively impacts the prestige of one of the most popular cities on earth."

 

The prime minister, who is also the chairman of the National Environment board, should order an improvement in air quality, he said.

 

The PM2.5 level in central Bangkok was at 22.5 micrograms per m3 on Thursday, according to the AirVisual smartphone application.

 

Earlier this month, the pollution department measured PM2.5 dust in Bangkok at 72-95 micrograms per m3.

 

That compares with a World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of an annual average of no more than 10 micrograms.

 

(Reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Robert Birsel)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-22

[Eric Loh]

He already taken action. Just wait for rain. 

[kotsak]

Reply: Green peas? Aroi mak mak..

 

[shady86]

Use 44 and stop people from using cars lol

[webfact]

Army helps wash pollution off streets, calls for long-term solution

By Jitraporn Senawong 
The Nation

 

 

The Royal Thai Army has since mid-February sent soldiers to help agencies tackling Bangkok’s air pollution, which saw a prolonged spike in hazardous PM2.5 emissions – air particles of 2.5 microns or smaller.

 

The army would soon join a discussion for long-term prevention of the problem, said deputy Army spokesperson Colonel Sirichan Ngathong on Thursday.

 

She said the Army Region 1 had on February 16 dispatched soldiers, along with high-pressure water trucks, to join Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) workers in overnight road and sidewalk spraying in the areas with high particulate readings.

 

This helped improve the situation, Sirichan said, adding that soldiers would continue to spray water and clean sidewalks in those areas until the end of February or until the dust situation resolved.

 

Army Commander-in-Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart has expressed concerns that this issue might arise in future years in areas of the city, she said. Chalermchai had urged related agencies to find long-term measures to deal with the health hazard. The Army and agencies would soon discuss possible measures to minimise impacts on people, she added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30339462

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-22

 

[plachon]

I fail to see how spraying water on the pavements will remove PM2.5 particulate matter from the air, but if it gets the boys in green out on the streets and showing how much use they are to society and who runs the show, who am I to complain about the logic of Army Region 1? Perhaps the next step will be, like with the Chao Phraya floods solution, will be to install a line of giant fans heading towards the Gulf of Siam and just blow the smog out to sea.......

[Jonmarleesco]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Critics blame Bangkok's worsening air pollution on lax enforcement of vehicle emission standards, poor urban planning and insufficient green spaces.

Among other causes. 

[Jonmarleesco]

No chance, even with S44. The PM values his popularity too much, especially now he's eyeing an election - eventually.

[sawadee1947]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Army helps wash pollution off streets, calls for long-term solution

By Jitraporn Senawong 
The Nation

 

 

The Royal Thai Army has since mid-February sent soldiers to help agencies tackling Bangkok’s air pollution, which saw a prolonged spike in hazardous PM2.5 emissions – air particles of 2.5 microns or smaller.

 

The army would soon join a discussion for long-term prevention of the problem, said deputy Army spokesperson Colonel Sirichan Ngathong on Thursday.

 

She said the Army Region 1 had on February 16 dispatched soldiers, along with high-pressure water trucks, to join Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) workers in overnight road and sidewalk spraying in the areas with high particulate readings.

 

This helped improve the situation, Sirichan said, adding that soldiers would continue to spray water and clean sidewalks in those areas until the end of February or until the dust situation resolved.

 

Army Commander-in-Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart has expressed concerns that this issue might arise in future years in areas of the city, she said. Chalermchai had urged related agencies to find long-term measures to deal with the health hazard. The Army and agencies would soon discuss possible measures to minimise impacts on people, she added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30339462

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-22

 

How this will go together with plans to build more coal plants?? 

[RichardColeman]

I imagine his response was, "what's in it for me ?"

[newnative]

What a joke.  As usual, a highly visible public display that accomplishes absolutely nothing.  (Not that it has anything to do with better air, but most cities clean their streets routinely and not as a special event.)

[peperobi]

Must be priority 1. but not only in Bangkok, nationwide!

[petermik]

"falling on deaf ears" that is the only conclusion I can forsee........