Dangerous pollution spreads to Northeastern region

[webfact]

Dangerous pollution spreads to Northeastern region

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation

 

 

Air pollution from a high level of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) has continued to intensify. The problem is no longer limited to the Northern region, but also to the Northeast.

 

Tak’s Mae Sot district was found to have the most severe air pollution problem from PM2.5 in Thailand. The PM2.5 peak level as of Tuesday morning, measured by the Pollution Control Department (PCD), was as high as 211.21 milligrams per cubic metre of air, while the PM2.5 daily average level was at 133.41 milligrams.

 

Lampang was the second most hazardous area, as the PM2.5 level reached as high as 189 milligrams in the morning and the daily average was 133.5 milligrams.

 

The PM2.5 level at Khon Kaen in the Northeast rose up to 132.17 milligrams on Tuesday morning and had a daily average at 90.2 milligrams.

 

Chiang Mai and Nan also suffered from harmful levels of PM2.5, as PCD’s data revealed daily averages of 96.34 and 49.1 milligrams respectively.

 

Thailand’s safe standard for daily-average PM2.5 is 50 milligrams, while the World Health Organisation’s recommended level is just 25 milligrams.

 

According to medical experts, long-term exposure to PM2.5 can cause many fatal diseases such as lung cancer, stroke and heart disease, and lead to premature death.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30340310

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-06

[webfact]

Air quality worsens but data lacking in Northeast areas

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

 

AIR POLLUTION from particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) continues to ravage the North and Northeast but no accurate measurements are available, as many provinces do not have PM2.5 monitoring stations.
 

As seasonal haze intensifies in the North from the accumulation of fine particulate matter in the air, a PM2.5 monitoring device in Khon Kaen yesterday indicated that air pollution was also occurring in the Northeast. However, the extent across the region is unknown as only Khon Kaen has a monitoring station.

 

According to Pollution Control Department (PCD) PM2.5 data, Khon Kaen had the worst PM2.5 daily average level outside the North region yesterday afternoon, with measurements at 82.46 milligrams per cubic metre of air and a peak of 132.17mg in the morning.

 

The situation in Khon Kaen was slightly better than in Chiang Mai, which had a daily average of 95.72mg and a peak of 112.39mg. The areas with the most serious situations were Tak’s Mae Sot district and Lampang’s Mae Moh district, which had daily averages of 127.05mg and 117.1mg respectively.

 

Thailand’s safe standard for daily averages is 50mg, while the World Health Organisation’s recommended level is just 25mg.

 

Although the PCD does not have other PM2.5 measuring devices in the Northeast, two other air quality monitoring stations in the region, in Nakhon Ratchasima and Loei, indicated that PM10 levels were relatively high and continuing to increase in recent days, which implied that PM2.5 levels were also high.

 

 

Air Quality and Noise Management Division director Thalearngsak Petchsuwan said he had just become aware of the air pollution problem in Khon Kaen and admitted that the department still did not have enough PM2.5 monitoring stations.

 

“I do not expect Khon Kaen to also has the same problem with high PM2.5 levels, because the Northeast normally has relatively good air quality and no smog problems,” Thalearngsak said.

 

“We are planning to install more PM2.5 monitoring devices in the future and according to the PCD’s plan, Thailand will have 63 PM2.5 monitoring stations in 23 provinces by 2020.”

 

Currently, the PCD has 26 air quality monitoring stations that can measure PM2.5 in 18 of Thailand’s 77 provinces. Most of them are in the Bangkok Metropolitan area and Central region.

 

Thalearngsak said the department still used PM10 as the main indicator to measure air quality and did not include PM2.5 in the national Air Quality Index (AQI), but after new stations were opened by 2020, the PCD would begin to include PM2.5 in the national AQI.

 

He said the PCD could not install PM2.5 monitoring stations in all provinces because the cost of installation and maintenance was expensive at Bt1 million per station.

 

However, Sanphet Chunithipaisan, a researcher with the Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University, has pioneered a pilot project to install local PM2.5 monitoring devices in Nan, with 95 tambons already having real-time monitoring devices.

Sanphet said his research team had developed small sensor sets to measure the amount of particulate matter in the air, which could assess the levels of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 for a cost of only Bt30,000.

 

“People in Nan can get real-time, accurate air quality updates for their localities all the time using our portals on Twitter and Line,” he said.

 

“From our air quality records, we found that even in Nan, the PM2.5 levels varied from place to place, so we can conclude that a few PM2.5 stations in each region are not enough to accurately monitor the air quality situation.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30340346

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-07

[trainman34014]

Whatever Data there is will be twisted to suit 'Authorities' requirements; much easier than fixing the problem !

[alant]

41 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

Whatever Data there is will be twisted to suit 'Authorities' requirements; much easier than fixing the problem !

Only when making international headlines is there any form of reaction from the authorities who make a hurried phone call to the "ministry of miss-information" who report how well Thailand's beach smoking policies reduce secondary smoking and the Thailand is the hub of clean air in ASEAN.

The TAT budget for promotion of tourism in the polluted areas is frozen until rainy season and the media is monitored to ensure no scurrilous reports of county folk falling ill due to inhaling the smoke particles reach the public.

[peperobi]

On the cigarette pack is wrote "smoking can kill you" must be on the brochure of Thailand too. I stop a long time ago to smoke the air pollution I can't stop...

[spidermike007]

There is a very simple solution to this problem. If the authorities were interested in solutions. The burning has to stop. There are alternatives, to this 19th century technique of burning after the sugar cane harvest. Either the government starts to encourage farmers to switch to more environmentally friendly crops, or they start to penalize farmers for burning. This heinous burning, is leading to a tremendous degree of environmental degradation, and alot of lung disease. So here is what I propose-

 

1. Fine the farmers 5,000 baht for a first offense, and give them a stern warning, that burning is now prohibited, and the second fine will be very harsh.

2. For a second offense, fine the farmer 100,000 baht, and warn them that if the burning continues, their land will be confiscated.

3. On the 3rd offense, confiscate their land. Period. No questions. No legal proceeding or appeals on the part of the farmers. Allow others to come in and purchase the land at a fair price, with the caveat that sugar is prohibited as a crop to be grown on that land. 

 

The news would travel faster than the toxic smoke, and farmers would change their ways overnight, and move into the 21st century. 

[eliotness]

We live just north of the Cambodian border. Went to the temple on top of the "mountain" this morning. Visibity was very poor. At first I thought it was a heavy morning mist, but not improved by 9:30.  As there is a lot of sugar grown near us and black snow is a frequent problem, I guess the mist was really smoke .  Just waiting for some rain to come to clear the air as it looks very unheathy.

[ostyan]

Again, no one is interested in solving the problem, just because it is a hard job and also in every action, there is a danger you lose your face. If you do nothing at all but administrate everything, you can be the best worker. Why would someone risk this with work?

[whaleboneman]

2 hours ago, peperobi said:

On the cigarette pack is wrote "smoking can kill you" must be on the brochure of Thailand too. I stop a long time ago to smoke the air pollution I can't stop...

try duct tape

[whaleboneman]

2 hours ago, peperobi said:

On the cigarette pack is wrote "smoking can kill you" must be on the brochure of Thailand too. I stop a long time ago to smoke the air pollution I can't stop...

try duct tape

[marko kok prong]

Did the Pm tell the farmers they can burn all they want this year,i am sure i read this.

[SoilSpoil]

 

Lampang is on fire the last 2 days.

[sawadee1947]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The burning has to stop. There are alternatives, to this 19th century technique of burning after the sugar cane harvest

Unfortunately that is not the point.

1. Most of pollution comes from Burma.

2. Burning is prohibited in Thailand up to 20. April.

A solution is possible only by ASEAN states together.

[SoilSpoil]

Just now, sawadee1947 said:

Unfortunately that is not the point.

1. Most of pollution comes from Burma.

2. Burning is prohibited in Thailand up to 20. April.

A solution is possible only by ASEAN states together.

 

The NASA fire maps will tell you that a lot of burning is done in Thailand at the moment, except for some provinces such as Chiang Rai. Buts its very easy to blame the Burmese. 

[sawadee1947]

13 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

 

The NASA fire maps will tell you that a lot of burning is done in Thailand at the moment, except for some provinces such as Chiang Rai. Buts its very easy to blame the Burmese. 

Well, in all these provinces near to Burma (from North to South) there is a imminent pollution problem caused by burning. In other areas fires are not unusual (same in California, Australia, Portugal, Corsica aso) caused by different incidents. Of course there are not enough fire fighters around. Therefore ASEAN solution!

[sawadee1947]

1 hour ago, marko kok prong said:

Did the Pm tell the farmers they can burn all they want this year,i am sure i read this.

Nooo, he did not, Up to 20.April it's forbidden!

[trainman34014]

1 hour ago, sawadee1947 said:

Unfortunately that is not the point.

1. Most of pollution comes from Burma.

2. Burning is prohibited in Thailand up to 20. April.

A solution is possible only by ASEAN states together.

What rubbish !     Drive around Chiang Mai Province with your eyes open and you will find plenty of fires burning on Farms and around Private Property.  Majority of the pollution in Thailand is self inflicted whilst they pull the usual Thai trick of blaming other people and other countries !

[sawadee1947]

8 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

What rubbish !     Drive around Chiang Mai Province with your eyes open and you will find plenty of fires burning on Farms and around Private Property.  Majority of the pollution in Thailand is self inflicted whilst they pull the usual Thai trick of blaming other people and other countries !

Absolute nonsense!

Of course the smog comes from Burma. Check out the wind direction.

Concerning fires.....up to 20. April it's forbidden to burn. However there are not so many fire brigades and people who will call them.

Do you homework before writing such BS

[uffe123]

The Thai government will have a health crisis on their hand in 5 to 10 years when 75% of the population will be in hospitals if they can build them fast enough to take care of the dying population. read that they add 500k cars a year to the roads its only going to get worse. If you came here for a long retirement, it might just be cut short. I'am leaving in May after 20 years, good luck to all who is staying. At one time it was a great place to retire but not any more.

[spidermike007]

4 hours ago, sawadee1947 said:

Unfortunately that is not the point.

1. Most of pollution comes from Burma.

2. Burning is prohibited in Thailand up to 20. April.

A solution is possible only by ASEAN states together.

While some or most of the pollution comes from Burma, I have personally witnessed burning here in Thailand on many occasions. The amount of smoke is tremendous. Look at this chart, and then in a scientific manner, please try to convince me that the pollution that is plaguing the Khon Kaen area, and causing a massive amount of lung disease, and respiratory issues, is being caused by Burma. 

 

Regardless of what they are doing in Burma, the Thai people could dramatically improve their quality of life, by stopping the practice of burning. No amount of pressure from ASEAN is going to make any difference. Thailand has already broken dozens of promises they made, when signing multiple ASEAN charters. It means nothing to this government, nor any other administrations. Prohibited does not mean a thing, unless it is enforced. The officials here are so weak, they rarely enforce any laws. And the burning continues. 

[sawadee1947]

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

personally witnessed burning

in these days? I doubt it. But if so did you call the fire brigade? Did you go to the police with phone video as proof?

[spidermike007]

8 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

in these days? I doubt it. But if so did you call the fire brigade? Did you go to the police with phone video as proof?

Funny man. Up in the Chaiyaphum area, and also the Kanchanaburi area, it is an exception to find a sugar cane grower who does NOT BURN. We are talking about thousands of growers who burn. So, calling the police as a solution is inane, ineffective, and naive, sorry to say. But, at least they would have a good laugh. 

[sawadee1947]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

in these days?

but you did not answer. Up to 20.April it's forbidden. So why you did not call the fire brigade? Or ask someone who speaks Thai (LOL)

[farmerjo]

Even though there's lots of sugar burning around here at the moment it's burning quite well.

The National park doing fire breaks on the other hand is terrible compared to the sugar. 

[Jonmarleesco]

On 3/6/2018 at 3:13 PM, webfact said:

Thailand’s safe standard for daily-average PM2.5 is 50 milligrams, while the World Health Organisation’s recommended level is just 25 milligrams.

What a bunch of useless morons. No thought of taking effective action. I wonder which of them is Nero, and which is the fiddler ...

[Jonmarleesco]

On 3/7/2018 at 9:13 AM, spidermike007 said:

There is a very simple solution to this problem. If the authorities were interested in solutions. The burning has to stop. There are alternatives, to this 19th century technique of burning after the sugar cane harvest. Either the government starts to encourage farmers to switch to more environmentally friendly crops, or they start to penalize farmers for burning. This heinous burning, is leading to a tremendous degree of environmental degradation, and alot of lung disease. So here is what I propose-

 

1. Fine the farmers 5,000 baht for a first offense, and give them a stern warning, that burning is now prohibited, and the second fine will be very harsh.

2. For a second offense, fine the farmer 100,000 baht, and warn them that if the burning continues, their land will be confiscated.

3. On the 3rd offense, confiscate their land. Period. No questions. No legal proceeding or appeals on the part of the farmers. Allow others to come in and purchase the land at a fair price, with the caveat that sugar is prohibited as a crop to be grown on that land. 

 

The news would travel faster than the toxic smoke, and farmers would change their ways overnight, and move into the 21st century. 

Indeed. But ... TiT. The government, itself, has yet to move into the 21st century - or the 26th.

[Jonmarleesco]

On 3/7/2018 at 12:28 PM, sawadee1947 said:

Nooo, he did not, Up to 20.April it's forbidden!

Many things are forbidden. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop them.

[sawadee1947]

On 3/7/2018 at 9:13 AM, spidermike007 said:

There is a very simple solution to this problem. If the authorities were interested in solutions. The burning has to stop. There are alternatives, to this 19th century technique of burning after the sugar cane harvest. Either the government starts to encourage farmers to switch to more environmentally friendly crops, or they start to penalize farmers for burning. This heinous burning, is leading to a tremendous degree of environmental degradation, and alot of lung disease. So here is what I propose-

 

1. Fine the farmers 5,000 baht for a first offense, and give them a stern warning, that burning is now prohibited, and the second fine will be very harsh.

2. For a second offense, fine the farmer 100,000 baht, and warn them that if the burning continues, their land will be confiscated.

3. On the 3rd offense, confiscate their land. Period. No questions. No legal proceeding or appeals on the part of the farmers. Allow others to come in and purchase the land at a fair price, with the caveat that sugar is prohibited as a crop to be grown on that land. 

 

The news would travel faster than the toxic smoke, and farmers would change their ways overnight, and move into the 21st century. 

Really good idea......however, who would listen? Prayut and cronies have more important things to do. Filling pockets....each other?