Researchers find city air full of toxic heavy metals

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

File photo: Smog lingers over the city sky line in Bangkok. // EPA-EFE PHOTO

 

BANGKOK’S AIR is full of toxic heavy metals, researchers have discovered, and it is contributing to year-round hazardous threats to public health.

 

Now is the time for Thai authorities to set out the standards for controlling the emissions of every hazardous heavy metal found in the air, media were told yesterday by the director of the NIDA Centre for Research and Development of Disaster Prevention and Management.

 

Siwatt Pongpiachan said his studies have found that Bangkok air contained harmful levels of cadmium, tungsten, arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

 

His two academic studies of the capital’s air pollution in Bangkok revealed that within the very fine PM2.5 dust particles were at least 51 kinds of heavy metals, of which three – cadmium, tungsten and arsenic – were found at unsafe levels, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.

 

“Right now, Thailand has set a safe emission standard only for lead. Even though we have detected lead in the air, its concentration is still within the safe level, thanks to the authorities’ measures to get rid of lead from vehicle fuels and control the emissions of lead into the environment,” he said.

 

“We need a similar set of safe-emission standards for other kinds of heavy metals, as many of these hazardous substances present very serious threats to human health in both the short- and long-term.”

 

The studies by Greenpeace also noted another threat to health from the toxic heavy metals found within PM2.5 particles. Greenpeace noted that the PM2.5 dust particles are contaminated with toxic environmental substances. The tiny particles (it takes three of them to equal the width of a human hair) can pass through the body’s dust protection system found in the respiratory tract, enter the bloodstream and reach our internal organs, delivering the toxic particles directly into our bodies.

 

Pollution from local sources

 

Siwatt noted that studies found concentrations of these airborne toxic substances did not change much week-to-week throughout the year, indicating the majority of pollution sources were from local areas of Bangkok.

 

“Even though weather patterns during this time of the year and the transboundary haze are partially contributing to the serious smog problem, the research studies indicate that the exhaust from traffic, factories, and crematories are the true major sources of air pollution in Bangkok,” he said.

 

He noted that the transport sector emits pollution in many ways, as the incomplete burning of fuel in the vehicles, especially those that use diesel oil, emits a large amount of PAH. These PAH can cause cancer, while the city’s traffic congestion also causes the level of tungsten in the air to rise significantly as drivers apply their car brakes where the heavy metal serves as a brake lining. Tungsten-contaminated PM2.5 are thus released into the air.

 

Meanwhile, cremation is a major source of air pollution and heavy metals, Siwatt said. Many parts of the human body contain heavy metals, such as prostheses and tooth fillings, and they are released into the environment when burned.

 

“There are so many temples in Bangkok that cremate human bodies every day. Even though many of these temples’ crematories have installed pollution filtering systems, not 100 per cent of heavy metals are filtered,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30362901

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-25

Setting up standards is easy , expecting a culture that cant even use a trash bin to abide by emission control standards is a pipe dream

3 hours ago, webfact said:

city air full of toxic heavy metals

Adds to the flavor of street food, mmmmmmmmm!

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Right now, Thailand has set a safe emission standard only for lead

time for some thai official to come out and declare 'there is no problem'

47 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

time for some thai official to come out and declare 'there is no problem'

Or to come out and say the problem will be solved by the end of the month.

2 hours ago, mok199 said:

expecting a culture that cant even use a trash bin to abide by emission control standards

So why are you here if you do not like thai culture ...?

May be only for the cheap booze and women ?

Do any of the heavy metals come from the burning of plastic and foam food containers waste?

59 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

So why are you here if you do not like thai culture ...?

May be only for the cheap booze and women ?

The old '' why r you here turd''..Wow you are blind..you think the booze is cheap in LOS ...you sir need some updated material...

5 hours ago, webfact said:

as drivers apply their car brakes where the heavy metal serves as a brake lining. Tungsten-contaminated PM2.5 are thus released into the air

Fortunately, this doesn't happen too often.

I will remove my gold fillings when and if I think I'm about to croak.

 

 

Toxic Thailand has a nice ring to it ???? it's the westerners fault of course they invented the car, plastic and just about everything else.

24 minutes ago, mok199 said:

Wow you are blind..you think the booze is cheap here ...

Cheap women ?  Not with you on that there.  Wait Wait; blind get cheap women everywhere.

1 hour ago, nobodysfriend said:

So why are you here if you do not like thai culture ...?

May be only for the cheap booze and women ?

How many times did I read crap like this? However, it hardly came from someone who chose his account name so wisely.

23 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Fortunately, this doesn't happen too often.

It is difficult with so many brake failures I agree.

And next week the independent, investigative journalists will publish a list of companies, revenues, and it's owners profiteering from this mess?????

I always add looking up when driving here to mitigate the chance of very heavy metal???? 

1 hour ago, nobodysfriend said:

So why are you here if you do not like thai culture ...?

May be only for the cheap booze and women ?

Your name says enough.

The fact that living in Thailand, for whatever reason, making you aware of the Thai culture and the Thai "culture", doesn't mean you are not allowed to mention things that are not nice.

Thai culture is nice, Thai "culture" is costing lives.

Strictly enforce the application of Euro 6 emissions standard to all diesel trucks, right now most are not even Euro 3 compliant, makes a huge difference.

More about it here....

https://pattayaone.news/en/scania-urges-thailand-increase-emission/?fbclid=IwAR0wP4DcvMHmw2RciCZpPxNoXxGIp7Z-NHpR_eVbdnmML2Y4yeRJN9drjOg

"Oh what a beautiful mornin'

Oh what a beautiful day..

I've got a beautiful feelin'

Shanghai is comin' my way.."

I have a very young daughter who can't leave our condo in Bangkok at the moment.

It's awful when kids can't go out to play.

Even if I could afford to send her to one of the best international schools in this dirty, stinking, polluted city, I wouldn't.

Bangkok is NO PLACE FOR CHILDREN.

We are leaving this place very soon.

One of the most informative studies I've read yet about pollution and PM2.5 problems in Bangkok.. 

 

Not like the garbage that most government spokespeople like to spin that there is no major problem and spraying water in the air will solve any issue.. Should install a hose on top of all crematorium towers to use after a burn off.. 

2 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

So why are you here if you do not like thai culture ...?

May be only for the cheap booze and women ?

Ah such fellow feeling, or are you working on the other fellow feeling, ie jealousy?

1 hour ago, overherebc said:

Do any of the heavy metals come from the burning of plastic and foam food containers waste?

Dioxin emissions from plastic burning The most dangerous emissions can be caused by burning plastics containing organochlor-based substances like PVC. When such plastics are burned, harmful quantities of dioxins, a group of highly toxic chemicals are emitted. Dioxins are the most toxic to the human organisms. They are carcinogenic and a hormone disruptor and persistent, and they accumulate in our body-fat and thus mothers give it directly to their babies via the placenta. Dioxins also settle on crops and in our waterways where they eventually wind up in our food, accumulate in our bodies and are passed on to our children.

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Dioxin emissions from plastic burning The most dangerous emissions can be caused by burning plastics containing organochlor-based substances like PVC. When such plastics are burned, harmful quantities of dioxins, a group of highly toxic chemicals are emitted. Dioxins are the most toxic to the human organisms. They are carcinogenic and a hormone disruptor and persistent, and they accumulate in our body-fat and thus mothers give it directly to their babies via the placenta. Dioxins also settle on crops and in our waterways where they eventually wind up in our food, accumulate in our bodies and are passed on to our children.

Also heard some plastics can release cyanide but really haven't looked into it.

I always found Heavy Metal toxic, give me rock n' roll any day!

9 hours ago, webfact said:

There are so many temples in Bangkok that cremate human bodies every day.

I imagine the fumes of one burning body pale in comparision to a black smoke belching bus for 5 minutes

Nah! Never! Really? Unfortunate the country is run by toxic morons who have little interest in doing anything about the problem.

30 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

toxic morons

I like this ... nice expression that definitely goes with a few TV members as well ...555

10 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

So why are you here if you do not like thai culture ...?

May be only for the cheap booze and women ?

The answer is most likely his private matter. The pollution is not private, but is shared with Thai and non-Thai alike.

15 hours ago, Chippy151 said:

Or to come out and say the problem will be solved by the end of the month.

Or by spraying water in the air....????