Air pollution eases in North, but increases in Bangkok

[rooster59]

Air pollution eases in North, but increases in Bangkok

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation

 

 

Smog has receded in the North, but the level of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) has increased in the Bangkok metropolitan area, where it is lingering around the safe limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

 

The measurement of PM2.5 levels as reported by the Pollution Control Department and international air-quality monitoring website aqicn.org on Saturday revealed that pollution in the Northern region had decreased overall. Most areas had PM2.5 levels lower than the safe limit, with the exception of Tak’s Mae Sot district, which had a daily average PM2.5 level of 52.77 micrograms.

 

Many areas such as Nan were reported to have good air quality on Saturday. It was the first improvement in air quality in the North in recent weeks.

 

The Climate Change Data Centre at Chiang Mai University informed that the smog situation in Chiang Mai was improving, as people in the city could now see Doi Suthep Mountain. In previous days, the smog had reduced visibility and covered the mountain in a dense cloud.

 

However, the air quality in Bangkok was worse, with all monitoring stations in the capital showing a slow increase in PM2.5 levels. Visibility from high-rise buildings was also reduced.

 

The highest PM2.5 daily average in Bangkok was in Thon Buri district, where the level rose from 31.57 micrograms on Friday to 46.76 micrograms on Saturday afternoon. The level was still below Thailand’s safe standard, but considered harmful according to the World Health Organisation’s recommendedPM2.5 level of 25 micrograms.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30340653

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-10

[lopburi3]

The 1900 AQI for PM2.5 in Bangkok is 119 ( Unhealthy
for Sensitive Groups) and has not been lower than 65 in the last 48 hours.  Thailand uses the PM10 readings for domestic reporting of AQI.

http://aqicn.org/city/bangkok/

[JOC]

31 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Smog has receded in the North, but the level of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) has increased in the Bangkok metropolitan area, where it is lingering around the safe limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

 

Note that the safe limit of 50 is Thailand's very own......internationally it is 25......

[wolfmuc]

It's bad.

Not only in Bangkok.

Sometimes in Chiang Mai, in Mae Sot, In Lampang,

Sometimes somewhere in China.

Have a look at the Berkeley Earth Map. Attached.

We/They/Who  are pushing the responsibilty from one country to another.

Like little children.

Where are there/their/our leaders?

 

 

 

Edited March 10, 2018 by wolfmuc
double posting

[ZeVonderBearz]

Huh? I could not see the mountains today. The pollution is still bad and unhealthy in CM. Fake news. 

[wolfmuc]

2 minutes ago, ZeVonderBearz said:

Huh? I could not see the mountains today. The pollution is still bad and unhealthy in CM. Fake news. 

Just a short answer.

https://www.airvisual.com/thailand/chiang-mai/mae-rim

[spidermike007]

Thailand has suffered for decades, due to the burning of the crops, especially sugar cane, from December to March each year. Regardless of the fires they start in forests, it is minuscule, compared to the damage to the air and the environment caused by the burning of the cane, in particular. Granted, there are other issues, such as the burning being done in Burma, regional forest fires, etc. But those are out of the control of the government. The burning of cane is not. Something could be done to remedy this centuries old technique, which devastates the environment, and must stop.

 

Sugarcane burning emissions have a negative impact on public health in areas downwind of the fields. Research evaluating the impact of sugarcane burning on public health has consistently shown a direct or indirect effect on two domains: cancer and respiratory disease. The effects were noticeably pronounced in children and the elderly. First, sugar field burning contributes to particulate matter pollution. Particle pollution — especially fine particles — contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, including: premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing.

 

Source: https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution

 

http://stopsugarburning.org/the-problem/

 

The effects of cane burning in northern thailand- difficult to find any studies on the effects of cane burning in Thailand, as the authorities are so fabulously indifferent to their peoples health. Here is one from Florida-

 

Records show that sugar cane burning in Glades, Hendry and Palm Beach counties emits over 2,800 tons of hazardous air pollutants per year. The burning accounts for 86 percent of Palm Beach County’s emissions of formaldehyde, a probable carcinogen, and 69 percent of emissions of toxic acenaphthylene, a pollutant linked to genetic mutations and cancer.

Sugar growers burn fields to remove excess leaves around cane stalks before harvesting. In some parts of Brazil and Australia, sugar growers have shifted to a greener approach; they cut away the leafy parts of sugar cane and use it to mulch fields. Sugar growers could also use the leafy cuttings as biofuel in processing plants that (unlike the open fields) have pollution control equipment.

 

 

https://earthjustice.org/cases/2015/curbing-pollution-from-burning-sugar-cane-fields-in-florida

 

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. Though burning may be against the law, I do not see anyone enforcing that law, as is typical with the police and the government. 

Edited March 11, 2018 by spidermike007

[CLW]

It's bad.
Not only in Bangkok.
Sometimes in Chiang Mai, in Mae Sot, In Lampang,
Sometimes somewhere in China.
Have a look at the Berkeley Earth Map. Attached.
We/They/Who  are pushing the responsibilty from one country to another.
Like little children.
Where are there/their/our leaders?
 
 
 

The two northwestern hotspots are of natural origin from dust of the desert.
However south of Beijing comes from massive industrial areas.

[CLW]

Thailand has suffered for decades, due to the burning of the crops, especially sugar cane, from December to March each year. Regardless of the fires they start in forests, it is minuscule, compared to the damage to the air and the environment caused by the burning of the cane, in particular. Granted, there are other issues, such as the burning being done in Burma, regional forest fires, etc. But those are out of the control of the government. The burning of cane is not. Something could be done to remedy this centuries old technique, which devastates the environment, and must stop.

 

Sugarcane burning emissions have a negative impact on public health in areas downwind of the fields. Research evaluating the impact of sugarcane burning on public health has consistently shown a direct or indirect effect on two domains: cancer and respiratory disease. The effects were noticeably pronounced in children and the elderly. First, sugar field burning contributes to particulate matter pollution. Particle pollution — especially fine particles — contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, including: premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing.

 

Source: https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution

 

http://stopsugarburning.org/the-problem/

 

The effects of cane burning in northern thailand- difficult to find any studies on the effects of cane burning in Thailand, as the authorities are so fabulously indifferent to their peoples health. Here is one from Florida-

 

Records show that sugar cane burning in Glades, Hendry and Palm Beach counties emits over 2,800 tons of hazardous air pollutants per year. The burning accounts for 86 percent of Palm Beach County’s emissions of formaldehyde, a probable carcinogen, and 69 percent of emissions of toxic acenaphthylene, a pollutant linked to genetic mutations and cancer.

Sugar growers burn fields to remove excess leaves around cane stalks before harvesting. In some parts of Brazil and Australia, sugar growers have shifted to a greener approach; they cut away the leafy parts of sugar cane and use it to mulch fields. Sugar growers could also use the leafy cuttings as biofuel in processing plants that (unlike the open fields) have pollution control equipment.

 

[/url]

 

https://earthjustice.org/cases/2015/curbing-pollution-from-burning-sugar-cane-fields-in-florida

 

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. Though burning may be against the law, I do not see anyone enforcing that law, as is typical with the police and the government. 

Problem is law enforcement.
At home farmers who burn their fields against the law had to pay for the eventual deployment of fire brigade plus a hefty fine.
Stopped all in between a few years.
However the topic here in Thailand is a bit different.
Cane is burnt to ease the harvest and keep the cut cane longer fresh.
At home it was straw residue after wheat harvest.
Maybe the Thai government should come up with some aid for sugarcane harvesters which eliminate two problems at once.
Stop of burning and the shortage of cutting labor.

[eliotness]

After days of thick haze here, the rain came for 2 days and cleared the air for a few hours.  The next day the "black snow" appeared and has been getting worse over the following 2 days. I've also noticed many rice paddies are being burnt before the real rain comes.

[DrTuner]

Spidermike is right as usual. I give about 0.001% chance of the recommendations ever happening and about 99.999% chance of the burning continuing.

[MaxYakov]

The AQI in Bangkok has been pretty good until today (http://aqicn.org/city/thailand/bangkok/chulalongkorn-hospital/)

 

[Thian]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

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

When the others come in they should be able to grow sugarcane but without the burning and causing smoke of course.

If they use a better way to produce sugarcane i thinkn they should be allowed to do so....

 

 

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, Thian said:

When the others come in they should be able to grow sugarcane but without the burning and causing smoke of course.

If they use a better way to produce sugarcane i thinkn they should be allowed to do so....

 

 

Of course. Without the burning it is a very useful and fairly profitable crop. The burning is all about laziness and sloth. And the fastest and easiest way to accomplish their objective, with zero concern whatsoever, for their fellow man, the local area, or the environment. Hence, the need for stiff punishment!