BMA worried over noise level in city

The Pollution Control Department reports that noise pollution in the Bangkok Metropolitan area is worrying, while air pollution is at acceptable levels.

The Director-General of the Pollution Control Department Mr. Supat Wangwongwatana (สุพัฒน์ หวังวงศ์วัฒนา), said that his agency recently completed a survey of the air quality along 16 roadside areas in the Bangkok Metropolitan area. Mr. Supat said that the quantity of carbon monoxide and lead are within norms, while construction activities are contributing to the level of dust in the city air. Rajaprapop and Sathupradit roads are reported to contain an excess level of dust. Mr. Supat said that the major air pollution sources are public transportation and litter burning.

The director general said that additional surveys into noise pollution conducted over a 24 hour period found the average level of noise to be from 65.6-79.1 decibels. Bangkok officials are expediting plans to reduce vehicle noise and their effects on local residents.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 Febuary 2007

I find that's ratherair pollution which bothers me the most - it might be within norm but each time I go on the major streets I came back home with a splitting headache.

and it's not the heat, I even don't use aircon at my home - but the smell of fumes from buses amd tuk tuks

Wonder when they're gonna ger rid of those old cars and trucks, when will they have standards for these vehicles. All the smoke and litter from those food stalls, dirt all over the place, plastic bags and bottles...such a mess.

Too bad the Bangkok city government won't set an example by getting rid of the buses that spew more than their share of pollution.

Putting new buses out on the roads would be a huge investment. They could do a diesel retrofit for a fraction of what a new bus costs and cut down on particulate matter by large amounts.

Or of course there is always the option of living somewhere less polluted. The easiest way to change world around you is for YOU to find an environment that you like and go there. That's why I cam here.

Sorry if not joining in on the complaints is not popular but come on. Some have you made this your home. You had a choice then and have a choice now. WHy do we so often choose complaint over action...?

simply because employement for farangs is limited and might be more of it in the city of bangkok than in the other parts of the country.

in bangkok there are as well several international schools for those with kids as well as many universities.

bangkok is a huge town with some up to 10 million habitants - will be difficult for many of them to move to the cleaner parts of thailand (in fact Bangkok is still growing all the time).

it's good to have concerns about your own health and wellbeing and those around you - that's how the progress is made

I find that's ratherair pollution which bothers me the most - it might be within norm but each time I go on the major streets I came back home with a splitting headache.

and it's not the heat, I even don't use aircon at my home - but the smell of fumes from buses amd tuk tuks

Sure it is not the noise? I curse the introduction of amplified music to the hands of the masses! Grrrrrr. Yes it has been a less than perfect day.

it's good to have concerns about your own health and wellbeing and those around you - that's how the progress is made

I agree the concerns are well founded, Sir. I simply assert that while you wait around for a global solution, the smart money has already moved on and found an individual solution which in time you will bang down their door to have for yourself at a premium cost. Dear sir, THAT, is actually how progress is made.