Masks and water hoses out as Bangkok breathes foul air for a fourth straight day

[webfact]

Masks and water hoses out as Bangkok breathes foul air for a fourth straight day

By The Nation

 

 

RESIDENTS OF Bangkok and vicinity continued to inhale unhealthy levels of air pollution yesterday, the fourth consecutive day the area was shrouded in a smog of airborne particulates.
 

Particulates measuring 2.5 microns (PM2.5) or less were recorded in at least 20 roadside locales beyond the safety limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre. Sixteen other places also have levels dangerous to health. The worst-affected area – assigned a “red code” – on Sunday morning was Tambon Pak Nam in Muang Samut Prakan, with a reading of 93 micrograms per cubic metres.

 

Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon earned an orange code with 90 micrograms, while the readings were 73 along Bangkok’s Soi Lat Phrao, 95 in Wang Thong Lang district and 72 on Paholyothin Road in Chatuchak. 

 

In a bid to lessen the smog, city workers on Sunday sprayed water along the roads in Lumpini Park. To increase humidity, Bangkok Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang ordered the use of high-pressure hoses that can shoot water 30 metres into the air, the first time they’ve been used. BMA deputy permanent secretary Wiparat Chaiyanukit was at the park cheering on the mission.

 

Absence of wind added to the high accumulation of dust particles, according to the Pollution Control Department (PCD). It warned that the air quality was unlikely to improve on Monday and urged people to stay indoors or wear an N95-rated facemask if they go out. Cars and trucks that belch black exhaust smoke should not be operated, and outdoor fires are discouraged.

 

 The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has ordered strict controls on outdoor burning and has officials advising crematorium operators about proper practices. PCD director-general Pralong Damrongthai said the PM2.5 level was unsafe in Phayathai, Din Daeng, Lat Phrao, Min Buri, Bang Khun Thien and Rama II Road. Residents there should take protective measures because the particulates – one-tenth the size of a human hair – enter the lungs and irritate the respiratory system, he said. 

 

Anyone already in poor health would be more easily affected by PM2.5, Pralong noted. The particulates come mainly from diesel engines and the worn combustion systems of older vehicles, from burn-offs of cropland and from factories. 

 

The PCD is working with the city, traffic police, the Department of Land Transport, Ministry of Transport and Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry. 

 

Traffic police are tagging vehicles issuing black exhaust with a sticker and ordering them off the road, Pralong said. The authorities could also bar large vehicles from inner Bangkok if the air pollution remains bad much longer, he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30361011

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-24

 

[mok199]

locals can ''breathe a breath of fresh air '' as Prayut has voiced his concern....its only Christmas

[ezzra]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Traffic police are tagging vehicles issuing black exhaust with a sticker and ordering them off the road, Pralong said. The authorities could also bar large vehicles from inner Bangkok if the air pollution remains bad much longer, he said.

Look no further than the ten of thousands of busses and trucks belching black diesel fumes in every corner of the metropolitan allowed to do so with impunity and complete disregard to people's health... 

[Tarteso]

“Cars and trucks that belch black exhaust smoke SHOULD not be operated”

 

Why can not be Imperative?

 

 

And the smog season, coming...????

 

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

RESIDENTS OF Bangkok and vicinity continued to inhale unhealthy levels of air pollution yesterday, the fourth consecutive day

humans seem to be developing a talent of sorts for killing themselves, quasi voluntarily

[Youlike]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Cars and trucks that belch black exhaust smoke should not be operated,

So there are no buses today in Bangkok?

[CGW]

Here's a wild idea:- check exhaust emissions? trucks, buses,cars & motorbikes, if they are over the limit compound them ???? 

Not going to happen? ???? for sure no, no area large enough to store the "offenders"! ????

[jaiyen]

It won't be long before Bangkok administration informs us that there is a drought !  What a waste of good water !  A pathetic solution to a much bigger problem that they have no idea how to address.

[ColinChapman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Particulates measuring 2.5 microns (PM2.5) or less were recorded in at least 20 roadside locales beyond the safety limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre

Everything I've read says the safe limits are an average of not more than 25 micrograms per cubic metre in any 24 hour period and a yearly average of not more than 10. Where does their figure of 50 come from? 

[Happy Grumpy]

Flatten it and start again with Western planners.

[giddyup]

So there is only pollution from the ground up to 30 metres high?

[jkcjag]

...yes, up to 30 metre high, and only in Wiparat Chaiyanukit in park. Their stupidity and ignorance is beyond comprehension...I just would not know where to start in trying to explain anything to such people.

[JimmyJ]

"Traffic police are tagging vehicles issuing black exhaust with a sticker and ordering them off the road, Pralong said."

 

"And cannot be used on the roads until they pass an exhaust emission test."

Yes, of course I made this one up.

[IAMHERE]

" and has officials advising crematorium operators "

This can not be good for tourism ,  probably.  

[kwak250]

Not sure about forth day straight Bangkok has been like this for many years.

[Happyfarangguy]

Expats don’t like it? I’m sure there’s a village missing their idiot where the air is just dandy. 

[superal]

I recently witnessed an old van having the annual mechanical test . They stuck the gas probe in to the exhaust and revved up the engine which filled the area with black diesel smoke . No problem , it passed the test .   Bangkok , the most traffic congested and polluted city in the world ? Who in their right mind would live there ? 

[Phuketshrew]

1 hour ago, ColinChapman said:

Everything I've read says the safe limits are an average of not more than 25 micrograms per cubic metre in any 24 hour period and a yearly average of not more than 10. Where does their figure of 50 come from?

I seem to remember during debate about the haze problem in the north that Thailand sets its limits at twice the rest of the world. Amazing Thailand, a truly unique experience.

[spidermike007]

If they are truly concerned about the health of the average person, which I doubt, all they have to do is start to curtail the sales of diesel vehicles here. A friend of mine, who was recently shopping for both a BMW and a new truck, told me on his visits to the showrooms, he was shocked at the small number of gas vehicles available. Most were diesel. In this day and age? Really? How do you take the environment seriously, then sell millions of diesel vehicles? Why is Thailand consistently behind the environmental curve, when it comes to areas like this?

 

The Volkswagen scandal showed that many diesel cars were producing higher levels of nitrogen oxides, NOx, on the road, than in laboratory tests. NOx is a significant contributor to pollution in cities and can cause respiratory diseases, making diesel cars a target of clean air campaigners such as Greenpeace. 

 

Diesel car sales made up 32.4% of the total car market in 2018, compared with 43.5% in March 2017. Thailand is more than likely not figured into these numbers. 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-43655703

 

 

There are now calls for the Government to introduce a scrappage scheme to encourage drivers to buy low emissions or EVs by trading in their older vehicles for financial incentive. 

“Governments have missed several opportunities to encourage drivers to switch to electric vehicles, starting way back in 2001 when there was a misconceived drive to get people to opt for diesels. “Now that it’s clear diesel is dying a slow death, the time is right for the government to take the initiative and offer up scrappage benefits to those who are prepared to ditch their diesels and switch to electric cars.

 

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/901834/diesel-car-sales-UK-petrol-decline

[kingstonkid]

The problem is that people will drive to work no matter what.  The only way to limit people driving to work or driving in BKK is to limit the availability of parking.  In Toronto, people continued to drive and still do but those that work in Toronto and rive pay through the nose.  First, their insurance goes through the roof and if they are not insured for driving to work and have an accident then their insurance can be voided.  Also, parking prices are so high that it discourages the person that is going shopping in their car.

Next is to increase the size of the BTS and MRt trains to provide a real replacement.

Taxis should be allowed to raise their meter rate but only if every year they pass an emissions test at BMA registered locations. (yes I know that there will be people getting the sticker with brown envelopes) it is a start.

I notice that some companies hire buses to transport their employees why can we not do that in place of some of the vans and have buses transport people to drop off points.

Drop off pick up could be MBK, Asoke and different points in BKK.

[Youlike]

3 hours ago, CGW said:

Here's a wild idea:- check exhaust emissions? trucks, buses,cars & motorbikes, if they are over the limit compound them ???? 

Not going to happen? ???? for sure no, no area large enough to store the "offenders"! ????

And don't forget the vessels at the river...

[Youlike]

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If they are truly concerned about the health of the average person, which I doubt, all they have to do is start to curtail the sales of diesel vehicles here. A friend of mine, who was recently shopping for both a BMW and a new truck, told me on his visits to the showrooms, he was shocked at the small number of gas vehicles available. Most were diesel. In this day and age? Really? How do you take the environment seriously, then sell millions of diesel vehicles? Why is Thailand consistently behind the environmental curve, when it comes to areas like this?

 

The Volkswagen scandal showed that many diesel cars were producing higher levels of nitrogen oxides, NOx, on the road, than in laboratory tests. NOx is a significant contributor to pollution in cities and can cause respiratory diseases, making diesel cars a target of clean air campaigners such as Greenpeace. 

 

Diesel car sales made up 32.4% of the total car market in 2018, compared with 43.5% in March 2017. Thailand is more than likely not figured into these numbers. 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-43655703

 

 

There are now calls for the Government to introduce a scrappage scheme to encourage drivers to buy low emissions or EVs by trading in their older vehicles for financial incentive. 

“Governments have missed several opportunities to encourage drivers to switch to electric vehicles, starting way back in 2001 when there was a misconceived drive to get people to opt for diesels. “Now that it’s clear diesel is dying a slow death, the time is right for the government to take the initiative and offer up scrappage benefits to those who are prepared to ditch their diesels and switch to electric cars.

 

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/901834/diesel-car-sales-UK-petrol-decline

In Thailand the SUV's with ancient diesel motor (which sound like a tractor) are called 'sportscars' and very popular among the bangkokians...

[HHTel]

1 hour ago, ColinChapman said:

Everything I've read says the safe limits are an average of not more than 25 micrograms per cubic metre in any 24 hour period and a yearly average of not more than 10. Where does their figure of 50 come from? 

Thai maths at it's best..... TIT

[TMNH]

How about Thailand following the lead of Singapore (even though Thailand is years behind even the thought to of such) .Singapore despises vehicles on the road for obvious reasons, therefore their mass transportation is stellar. "IF" someone desires to purchase a car, they have to enter a lottery of limited allowances to purchase a vehicle. Very limited- essentially, good luck if you want to buy a car and drive there. The lottery (if you're lucky) only allows you the ability to purchase a vehicle and I assure you that supply and demand reflects car prices "if" you are so lucky to be a lucky lottery winner.

 

End result of this policy? Less cars meaning less pollution....traffic woes? See Thailand and any other country re: congestion. Singapore is the premier model for addressing congestion and pollution while delivering public transportation for its citizens.  And BTW, have you seen their airport? That in itself is a holy s..t.

[toofarnorth]

5 hours ago, ezzra said:

Look no further than the ten of thousands of busses and trucks belching black diesel fumes in every corner of the metropolitan allowed to do so with impunity and complete disregard to people's health...

Absolutely right , where are their certificates of road worthiness, if they don't have one or the vehicle has one and still smoke go back to the ones who passed it and gave it a certificate and shut them down.  I live way up north and beautiful sky today and trees can be seen on the mountain tops but still buses and trucks in town belching smoke . Take them off the roads 'til fixed .

[Happyfarangguy]

Expats don’t like it? Perhaps they should prance back to whatever paradise they fled from, I’m sure they’ll be welcomed with open arms and fresh air. 

[Speedhump]

3 hours ago, CGW said:

Here's a wild idea:- check exhaust emissions? trucks, buses,cars & motorbikes, if they are over the limit compound them ???? 

Not going to happen? ???? for sure no, no area large enough to store the "offenders"! ????

Already supposed to be done in the yearly vehicle safety test. 

[Speedhump]

20 minutes ago, TMNH said:

How about Thailand following the lead of Singapore (even though Thailand is years behind even the thought to of such) .Singapore despises vehicles on the road for obvious reasons, therefore their mass transportation is stellar. "IF" someone desires to purchase a car, they have to enter a lottery of limited allowances to purchase a vehicle. Very limited- essentially, good luck if you want to buy a car and drive there. The lottery (if you're lucky) only allows you the ability to purchase a vehicle and I assure you that supply and demand reflects car prices "if" you are so lucky to be a lucky lottery winner.

 

End result of this policy? Less cars meaning less pollution....traffic woes? See Thailand and any other country re: congestion. Singapore is the premier model for addressing congestion and pollution while delivering public transportation for its citizens.  And BTW, have you seen their airport? That in itself is a holy s..t.

Never happen. Anyway I prefer crazy Thailand to sterile Singapore. I just steer clear of shitty Bangkok. 

[guest879]

4 hours ago, CGW said:

Here's a wild idea:- check exhaust emissions? trucks, buses,cars & motorbikes, if they are over the limit compound them ???? 

Not going to happen? ???? for sure no, no area large enough to store the "offenders"! ????

any vehicles with high exhaust emissions will just underhand 100thb or so and get passed so it is pointless to even try.

 

[CGW]

Just now, guest879 said:

any vehicles with high exhaust emissions will just underhand 100thb or so and get passed so it is pointless to even try.

Sadly have to agree ???? The police here are really not very good at any kind of law enforcement! ???? maybe one day they will give it a try?

Living in hope ????