Bangkokians don face masks as smog situation worsens

By Kunlaphun Siripimamporn  
The Nation

 

 

Bangkokians were greeted by thick smog on Monday morning forcing a lot of them to wear facemasks to prevent inhaling the dirty air.

 

People wearing masks became a common sight in inner areas of the capital today. 

 

The pollution continued to remain at harmful levels for the fourth straight day today [Monday] and the situation was likely to remain critical for at least another month due to weather patterns, experts said. 

 

This was not regular winter fog but a deadly cloud of fine dust particles and other air pollutants, according to China-based air-pollution monitoring website http://aqicn.org. 

 

The site reported that the PM2.5 air-quality index (AQI) in Bangkok this morning reached a peak of 183, an unhealthy level, while some areas such as Bang Khen district were at hazardous levels, with PM2.5 AQI at 396. 

 

The site forecast that Bangkok would face harmful levels every morning for the rest of the week because there was little wind.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30362198

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-14

Just coming back from downtown Bangkok. Almost nobody is wearing a face mask. I would estimate 1/1000. 

very few of these 'face masks' are even effective

13 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

very few of these 'face masks' are even effective

 

The mask in the OP photo is a cheap, drugstore type mask that basically does nothing to prevent inhaling tiny particle PM2.5 pollution.

 

To make any difference, people need to use 3M N95 rated masks or comparable. And you have to fit those on your face so you get a tight seal all around (so that when you breath out, your mask "puffs up" instead of air escaping around the edges).

 

There aren't enough of them readily available for sale anywhere in BKK to even begin to meet the need, for anyone who doesn't already have them at home. They're not readily stocked in most common Thai supermarkets and super-store type places.

 

Folks need this:

 

 

And like this:

 

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by TallGuyJohninBKK

Govt Short On Solutions As Smog Surges Over Bangkok

By Jintamas Saksornchai, Staff Reporter

 

Smog hangs over Bangkok’s sky Monday morning.

 

BANGKOK — The authorities were scrambling Monday to respond to worsening smog in the capital city.

 

A government spokesman said junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered related agencies to inform people of the danger of ultrafine particles after Bangkok’s air quality this past weekend again fell to “unhealthy” levels.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/bangkok/2019/01/14/govt-short-on-solutions-as-smog-surges-over-bangkok/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2019-01-14

8 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

To make any difference, people need to use 3M N95 rated masks or comparable. And you have to fit those on your face so you get a tight seal all around (so that when you breath out, your mask "puffs up" instead of air escaping around the edges).

 

So, high PM highness has not prayed hard enough  or not at all to avoid his one ? 

IMHO this bad air is due to lack of emissions control , and I would submit that 8 out of 10 cars, trucks,buses and scooters on the roads would fail...and fail misserably

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by mok199

7 minutes ago, mok199 said:

IMHO this bad air is due to lack of emissions control , and I would submit that 8 out of 10 cars, trucks,buses and scooters on the roads would fail...and fail misserably

Correlation between the number of hotspots and the air quality in

the station near the rice field suggests that the emission

from rice straw burning can affect the air quality in the

area significantly. Smoke from the rice straw burning

in Pathumthani is frequently transported toward

Bangkok city

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228702260_Effects_from_Open_Rice_Straw_Burning_Emission_on_Air_Quality_in_the_Bangkok_Metropolitan_Region

 

Just coming back from downtown Bangkok. Almost nobody is wearing a face mask. I would estimate 1/1000. 

I work in central Bangkok and would say it's higher than that, but most of the masks being worn are the ineffective paper ones. Home Pro at Ploen Chit has sold out of the 3M ones.

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Not only BKK same in Pattaya Chaing Mai all big towns !!!!

I invested in a VOG mask (N99) but it is so damn hot. 

 

 

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by GarryP

Everyone who lives here should be concerned about this. On top of all I have to worry about immigration. Now this, I am old want to live in peace the air is tough on All of us. What can be done? 

God help us all. 

Everyone who lives here should be concerned about this. On top of all I have to worry about immigration. Now this, I am old want to live in peace the air is tough on All of us. What can be done? 
God help us all. 

Live with it, or move. Unfortunately, I and my wife and 3 year old, don't have much choice.

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6 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

The mask in the OP photo is a cheap, drugstore type mask that basically does nothing to prevent inhaling tiny particle PM2.5 pollution.

 

To make any difference, people need to use 3M N95 rated masks or comparable. And you have to fit those on your face so you get a tight seal all around (so that when you breath out, your mask "puffs up" instead of air escaping around the edges).

 

There aren't enough of them readily available for sale anywhere in BKK to even begin to meet the need, for anyone who doesn't already have them at home. They're not readily stocked in most common Thai supermarkets and super-store type places.

 

Folks need this:

 

 

And like this:

 

 

It's the IMAGE that counts, same as with the thin motorcycle plastic helmets. Few have any interest in buying something that is actually useful and fit for purpose.

According to Greenpeace, Bangkok was the world's 10th most polluted city on Monday and when the Thai people woke up  there was again a blanket of dirty air over the country's busy capital. A combination of construction work, exhaust from traffic and factories, the spring burning of crops and adverse weather conditions have contributed to unhealthy air quality lately.

 

 

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by Felt 35

11 minutes ago, Felt 35 said:

According to Greenpeace, Bangkok was the world's 10th most polluted city on Monday and when the Thai people woke up  there was again a blanket of dirty air over the country's busy capital. A combination of construction work, exhaust from traffic and factories, the spring burning of crops and adverse weather conditions have contributed to unhealthy air quality lately.

 

Yes, but we're TRYING hard to be No. 1....  Gooooooo Thailand!

 

Just haven't quite made it there yet... Tough competition from India and China....

 

Mask wearing increasing.

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