Authorities urge curbs on burning incense sticks, golden paper offerings for Year of the Pig

[webfact]

Authorities urge curbs on burning incense sticks, golden paper offerings for Year of the Pig

By THE NATION

 

Samut Prakan officials spray water into the air yesterday in a move to remove fine PM2.5 dust particles yesterday, an exercise that scientists say is pointless.

 

THE PUBLIC Health Ministry is calling on people to burn shorter incense sticks and avoid setting fire to paper offerings during this Chinese New Year in order to stop pollution from worsening.

 

 

The amount of PM2.5 dust particles in many parts of Thailand, particularly Greater Bangkok, has now exceeded the safety limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air. 

 

Chinese people usually burn paper offerings in dedication to gods, goddesses or ancestors on special occasions such as the Chinese New Year, which falls on February 5 this year. 

 

“Please help reduce the dust,” Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Sukhum Karnchanapimai said yesterday, urging people to use incense sticks that met Thai industrial standards.

 

“Also avoid lighting incense sticks in air-conditioned rooms or windowless rooms,” he advised.

 

The minister added that children, pregnant women as well as those suffering from chronic diseases such as asthma and allergies, should avoid exposure to smoke. 

 

“If it cannot be avoided, ensure you wear a proper facemask,” he said. 

 

Health Department director-general Dr Panpimol Wipulakorn warned that ash from incense sticks and golden paper offerings contained carcinogenic substances. 

 

Meanwhile, Sonthi Kotchawat, an environmental expert, posted a message on Facebook calling on the authorities to seriously address the problem of fine dust in the air. 

 

“Samut Sakhon province has a high amount of PM2.5 particles for several days already. It’s time a law was invoked to control this,” he said. It was over 120 micrograms per cubic metre of air yesterday.

 

He also pointed out that the Pollution Control Department (PCD) had previously proposed that provincial authorities take action if PM2.5 particles in the air went beyond 75 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

 

“But nothing has been done,” he lamented.

 

As of press time yesterday, areas along Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district had 119 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air and the air-quality index stood at 229, the worst so far this year. 

 

Other areas reporting beyond-safe levels of PM2.5 included Rama III-Charoen Krung roadside in Bangkok’s Bang Kho Laem district (71 micrograms); tambon Song Khanong in Samut Prakan’s Phra Pradaeng district (70 micrograms); and tambon Nakhon Pathom in Nakhon Pathom’s Muang district (70 micrograms). The air was no better in tambon Bang Sao Thong in Samut Prakan’s Bang Sao Thong district (69 micrograms) and tambon Om Noi of Samut Sakhon’s Krathum Baen district (69 micrograms). 

 

The PCD, meanwhile, is calling on people to refrain from using vehicles that emit black exhaust fumes, avoid outdoor burning and reduce the use of personal cars. People with sensitivities or chronic illness should seek medical attention if they experience anything abnormal. 

 

 

Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Surasak Karnjanarat held a meeting with Bangkok Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang and relevant authorities yesterday afternoon to follow up on anti-dust operations. 

 

Asked about the serious pollution in Samut Sakhon, Surasak said the provincial governor was authorised to declare the province a controlled area if necessary. 

 

Updates on air quality are available via www.air4thai.pcd.go.th and the phone app “air4thai”.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30363172

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-30

[leeneeds]

With an estimated 9 million vehicles in and around  Bangkok and thousands of buses, 

one thinks that the seriousness has still not hit home,

 

one police with particle testing unit and 6 standing by

fantastic  use of resources,

officer 1 working the machine

officer 2 confirming the reading from officer 1

officer 3 agreeing with reading that officer 2 saw and officer one took

officer 4 concuring with officer 3, and officer 2 

officer 5 approved the findings  with officer 4, 3 and 2  

officer 6 was agreeable with officers 5, 4, 3, 2, and one, 

job done, 

next !

 

[kannot]

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

“If it cannot be avoided

beggars  belief, easily avoided.................DONT LIGHT EM, however whole things a  farce and the amount it adds  would be immeasurable, its   vehicle exhausts the real problem

[kannot]

3 minutes ago, leeneeds said:

With an estimated 9 million vehicles in and around  Bangkok and thousands of buses, 

one thinks that the seriousness has still not hit home,

 

one police with particle testing unit and 6 standing by

fantastic  use of resources,

officer 1 working the machine

officer 2 confirming the reading from officer 1

officer 3 agreeing with reading that officer 2 saw and officer one took

officer 4 concuring with officer 3, and officer 2 

officer 5 approved the findings  with officer 4, 3 and 2  

officer 6 was agreeable with officers 5, 4, 3, 2, and one, 

job done, 

next !

 

needs  more officers

[Prissana Pescud]

Even "Chuckles the clown" would be astounded by this report. Burning incense sticks is the cause of pollution in Thailand??

Not a mention of aged polluting vehicles. Nor burning dry rice paddies, sugar cane fields and burning all dead plant life.

Not a mention of city gridlock where stationary vehicles going nowhere churn out the smog.

Not a mention that low heat non complete combustion of the fields does more harm than a very dry high heat combustion.

Not a mention that this warning offers no solution to the pollution problem. Just makes Thailand a laughing stock. Well no surprise there really. 

[overherebc]

34 minutes ago, leeneeds said:

With an estimated 9 million vehicles in and around  Bangkok and thousands of buses, 

one thinks that the seriousness has still not hit home,

 

one police with particle testing unit and 6 standing by

fantastic  use of resources,

officer 1 working the machine

officer 2 confirming the reading from officer 1

officer 3 agreeing with reading that officer 2 saw and officer one took

officer 4 concuring with officer 3, and officer 2 

officer 5 approved the findings  with officer 4, 3 and 2  

officer 6 was agreeable with officers 5, 4, 3, 2, and one, 

job done, 

next !

 

Your system leaves No1 underworked.

Please try harder next time.

????????????????

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“But nothing has been done,” he lamented.

a defining attribute of where we live

[mok199]

Farting should be avoided , just keep them bottled in with the rage and fear , and pray for the rainy season to arrive early..SOS

Edited January 29, 2019 by mok199

[Artisi]

About the same effect as peeing in the ocean is causing rising sea levels 

Edited January 29, 2019 by Artisi

[inThailand]

This is their solution to the air quality problem? It's the year of the idiots! 

[colinneil]

Did i read the OP correctly?

What bloody brain dead clown come up with that nonsense?

If that is the best they can come up with, then the country is doomed.

Old clapped out buses/ trucks spewing out filth every minute of every day, and the clowns say use shorter incense sticks..... Priceless bloody priceless.????

[canopy]

This is a another real gem. Instead of fixing the problem, blame the incense. A similar thing happened a number of years back when they blamed the smog in Chiang Mai on the Korean bbq restaurants.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He also pointed out that the Pollution Control Department (PCD) had previously proposed that provincial authorities take action if PM2.5 particles in the air went beyond 75

Why not demand they step down then?

 

[Emdog]

Perhaps legalize vaping as less polluting than a regular cigarette. That ought to do the trick.

[scorecard]

34 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Did i read the OP correctly?

What bloody brain dead clown come up with that nonsense?

If that is the best they can come up with, then the country is doomed.

Old clapped out buses/ trucks spewing out filth every minute of every day, and the clowns say use shorter incense sticks..... Priceless bloody priceless.????

Plus there has been countless orders etc., in the past 20 years that these old buses be removed from the roads, they weren't, and nobody followed this up. 

 

Stand on many roads in Bkk, Ramkhamhaeng Rd just one example, and you can still see numerous buses belching out very thick black smoke, every hour of the day.

 

The various officers involved in removing these vehicles from the roads, and their supervisors / managers are derelict in their duties. 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2019 by scorecard

[Bundooman]

3 hours ago, Prissana Pescud said:

Even "Chuckles the clown" would be astounded by this report. Burning incense sticks is the cause of pollution in Thailand??

Not a mention of aged polluting vehicles. Nor burning dry rice paddies, sugar cane fields and burning all dead plant life.

Not a mention of city gridlock where stationary vehicles going nowhere churn out the smog.

Not a mention that low heat non complete combustion of the fields does more harm than a very dry high heat combustion.

Not a mention that this warning offers no solution to the pollution problem. Just makes Thailand a laughing stock. Well no surprise there really. 

You either forgot dead bodies, or you correctly included them in "dead plant life" ????

Other than that - spot on!

[edwinchester]

It's not widely known but burning just one incense stick releases more 2.5 particulate than torching 2.4 Rai of sugar cane.

[overherebc]

Around my way they are definately becoming a bit more conscious of the polution.

On the way to the shop early this morning I noticed almost everyone who was burning rubbish, leaves etc was wearing a mask.

[Bill Miller]

The black smoke from diesel exhaust is often due to dirty injectors.  Simple maintainance.

Oh! Forgot where I am.

[NightSky]

Meanwhile..

 

According to the Aqi index PM2.5 readings in Bangkok today are close to 200 and,

 

• The BBQ stands are still bellowing out smoke all day long
• The older buses belch out black smoke and pass our soi every minute
• The crop fields are burning and rubbish is burnt uncontrolled every weekend near our village 
• The diesel pickups are parked up outside Tesco's with engines running to run the aircon and keep driver cool whilst wife does the shopping

 

No one cares here until people begin dropping and even then it might not be enough.

 

If my wife didnt own the property we live in here we would be gone.

 

https://aqicn.org/city/bangkok/

 

Edited January 30, 2019 by NightSky
added link

[Zack61]

I knew all along there was an easy fix to this pollution problem  Well done. 

[Chippy151]

Authorities will be urging smokers to smoke indoors next.

[overherebc]

3 minutes ago, Chippy151 said:

Authorities will be urging smokers to smoke indoors next.

Ssshhhh!

[Phuketshrew]

Yep, that should do it coupled with the ban on smoking on the beaches. Job done.

[samsensam]

 

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

Plus there has been countless orders etc., in the past 20 years that these old buses be removed from the roads, they weren't, and nobody followed this up. 

 

Stand on many roads in Bkk, Ramkhamhaeng Rd just one example, and you can still see numerous buses belching out very thick black smoke, every hour of the day.

 

The various officers involved in removing these vehicles from the roads, and their supervisors / managers are derelict in their duties. 

 

 

 

indeed, i remember back in the early 2000s much talk about getting rid of the polluting buses. no one did anything for years, then when they did buy some buses someone couldn't resist a bit of corruption and got 200 odd of them stuck at a port.

 

it's all so reactive here, no forward thinking/planning, no strategy.

 

thankfully i can go home to a saner place whenever i want.

[Lupatria]

3 hours ago, leeneeds said:

With an estimated 9 million vehicles in and around  Bangkok and thousands of buses, 

one thinks that the seriousness has still not hit home,

 

one police with particle testing unit and 6 standing by

fantastic  use of resources,

officer 1 working the machine

officer 2 confirming the reading from officer 1

officer 3 agreeing with reading that officer 2 saw and officer one took

officer 4 concuring with officer 3, and officer 2 

officer 5 approved the findings  with officer 4, 3 and 2  

officer 6 was agreeable with officers 5, 4, 3, 2, and one, 

job done, 

next !

 

Good measures, to prevent the spirits get confused between incense and the 500.000 charcoal trails of smoke produced by street vendors in Bangkok.

The rest of the cops are catching the sunlight in buckets, to make sure they have enough light in the police station to read the results after nightfall.

[Katia]

*Headdesk*  I mean, one stop of one Chao Phraya boat will churn out more smoke than some temples do with their incense all day (and some, all week!)...

Edited January 30, 2019 by Katia

[Lupatria]

Looks like the ordered the "Light Bulb Changing Task Squad" (LBC) to do the job:

[kannot]

2 hours ago, inThailand said:

This is their solution to the air quality problem? It's the year of the idiots! 

Thats every year

[Snow Leopard]

????You have to be kidding me. Look at the buses, They are Polar Icecap destroyers. Then get a plan together to stop burning coal in the power stations and convert them to LNG. Then go after the HGV trucks. 

[PatOngo]

40 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

It's not widely known but burning just one incense stick releases more 2.5 particulate than torching 2.4 Rai of sugar cane.

But, but, burning incense is luckeeee!